Sunset hikes

A short walk out, the whole show, and back at your car before dark. Times are estimates at a relaxed pace; give yourself extra buffer, especially with kids or in a group.

1. Deer Grove Lake–Deer Grove - East Black Paved Trail, 6 sights 1.2 mi away

   Leave by 4:55 PM

   1. Leave trailhead4:55 PM
   2. Sunset6:53 PM
   3. Head back7:08 PM
   4. At your car8:43 PM
   5. Dark7:21 PM

   Back at your car by 8:43 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   3.9 mi to the viewpoint · 150 ft climb · 193 min of walking

2. Deer Grove - East Black Paved Trail–Deer Grove - East Brown Unpaved Loop, 5 sights 1.2 mi away

   Leave by 4:57 PM

   1. Leave trailhead4:57 PM
   2. Sunset6:53 PM
   3. Head back7:08 PM
   4. At your car8:40 PM
   5. Dark7:21 PM

   Back at your car by 8:40 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   3.8 mi to the viewpoint · 150 ft climb · 188 min of walking

3. Deer Grove Lake–Black Trail, 3 sights 3.4 mi away

   Leave by 5:52 PM

   1. Leave trailhead5:52 PM
   2. Sunset6:53 PM
   3. Head back7:08 PM
   4. At your car7:48 PM
   5. Dark7:21 PM

   Back at your car by 7:48 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   1.6 mi to the viewpoint · 100 ft climb · 81 min of walking

4. Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve Trail 1 mi away

   Be there by 6:33 PM

   1. Be there6:33 PM
   2. Sunset6:53 PM
   3. Dark7:21 PM

   Your car is right there — dark at 7:21 PM.

   The viewpoint is right at the trailhead

5. Buffalo Creek Reservoir via Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve Trail 1.3 mi away

   Be there by 6:33 PM

   1. Be there6:33 PM
   2. Sunset6:53 PM
   3. Dark7:21 PM

   Your car is right there — dark at 7:21 PM.

   The viewpoint is right at the trailhead

6. Deer Grove - East Brown Unpaved Loop & Deer Grove - West Blue Unpaved Trail via Palatine Bike Trail 1.5 mi away

   Leave by 6:12 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:12 PM
   2. Sunset6:53 PM
   3. Head back7:08 PM
   4. At your car7:28 PM
   5. Dark7:21 PM

   Back at your car by 7:28 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   0.8 mi to the viewpoint · 41 min of walking

7. Lake Louise via Palatine Bike Trail 2.1 mi away

   Leave by 6:26 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:26 PM
   2. Sunset6:53 PM
   3. Head back7:08 PM
   4. At your car7:15 PM
   5. Dark7:21 PM

   Back at your car by 7:15 PM — 6 min before dark.

   0.3 mi to the viewpoint · 14 min of walking

8. Indian Creek–Buffalo Grove-Lincolnshire Bike Path, 3 sights 5.2 mi away

   Leave by 5:53 PM

   1. Leave trailhead5:53 PM
   2. Sunset6:52 PM
   3. Head back7:07 PM
   4. At your car7:46 PM
   5. Dark7:20 PM

   Back at your car by 7:46 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   1.6 mi to the viewpoint · 77 min of walking

9. Miceli Pond–Half Day Pond, 3 lakes 6.6 mi away

   Leave by 5:54 PM

   1. Leave trailhead5:54 PM
   2. Sunset6:52 PM
   3. Head back7:07 PM
   4. At your car7:45 PM
   5. Dark7:20 PM

   Back at your car by 7:45 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   1.5 mi to the viewpoint · 76 min of walking

10. Half Day Pond–Ranney Pond, 5 lakes 6.2 mi away

    Leave by 6:28 PM

    1. Leave trailhead6:28 PM
    2. Sunset6:53 PM
    3. Head back7:08 PM
    4. At your car7:12 PM
    5. Dark7:20 PM

    Back at your car by 7:12 PM — 9 min before dark.

    0.2 mi to the viewpoint · 9 min of walkingCar visible from the viewpoint

11. Prospect Heights Bike Trail 6.3 mi away

    Leave by 6:29 PM

    1. Leave trailhead6:29 PM
    2. Sunset6:52 PM
    3. Head back7:07 PM
    4. At your car7:11 PM
    5. Dark7:20 PM

    Back at your car by 7:11 PM — 9 min before dark.

    0.1 mi to the viewpoint · 8 min of walkingCar visible from the viewpoint

12. Ranney Pond–Willow Lawn Memorial Park Pond, 4 sights 6.2 mi away

    Leave by 5:39 PM

    1. Leave trailhead5:39 PM
    2. Sunset6:52 PM
    3. Head back7:07 PM
    4. At your car8:00 PM
    5. Dark7:20 PM

    Back at your car by 8:00 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

    2.2 mi to the viewpoint · 106 min of walking