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. Birch?–Green trails, 3 sights 0.8 mi away

   Leave by 6:07 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:07 PM
   2. Sunset6:50 PM
   3. Head back7:05 PM
   4. At your car7:29 PM
   5. Dark7:18 PM

   Back at your car by 7:29 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   1.0 mi to the viewpoint · 48 min of walking

2. Skokie Valley Bikeway 1 mi away

   Leave by 6:16 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:16 PM
   2. Sunset6:50 PM
   3. Head back7:05 PM
   4. At your car7:19 PM
   5. Dark7:18 PM

   Back at your car by 7:19 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   0.6 mi to the viewpoint · 28 min of walkingTrailhead visible from the viewpoint

3. Gavin Woods Pond 2 via Skokie Valley Bikeway 1 mi away

   Leave by 5:42 PM

   1. Leave trailhead5:42 PM
   2. Sunset6:50 PM
   3. Head back7:05 PM
   4. At your car7:54 PM
   5. Dark7:18 PM

   Back at your car by 7:54 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   2.0 mi to the viewpoint · 96 min of walking

4. Patton Pond–Jean and John Greene Nature Preserve Beach, 4 beaches 2.5 mi away

   Leave by 5:11 PM

   1. Leave trailhead5:11 PM
   2. Sunset6:51 PM
   3. Head back7:06 PM
   4. At your car8:26 PM
   5. Dark7:19 PM

   Back at your car by 8:26 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   3.2 mi to the viewpoint · 60 ft climb · 160 min of walking

5. Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve Beach–Patton Pond, 4 beaches 2.5 mi away

   Leave by 5:18 PM

   1. Leave trailhead5:18 PM
   2. Sunset6:51 PM
   3. Head back7:06 PM
   4. At your car8:19 PM
   5. Dark7:19 PM

   Back at your car by 8:19 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   2.9 mi to the viewpoint · 146 min of walking

6. Hutchinson Viewpoint–Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve Viewpoint, 6 beaches 2.5 mi away

   Leave by 6:00 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:00 PM
   2. Sunset6:51 PM
   3. Head back7:06 PM
   4. At your car7:36 PM
   5. Dark7:19 PM

   Back at your car by 7:36 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   1.2 mi to the viewpoint · 62 min of walking

7. Lake Bluff Pond & Robert McClory Bike Path 2.5 mi away

   Leave by 6:06 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:06 PM
   2. Sunset6:51 PM
   3. Head back7:06 PM
   4. At your car7:29 PM
   5. Dark7:19 PM

   Back at your car by 7:29 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   1.0 mi to the viewpoint · 47 min of walking

8. Pond 1–Pond 2, 4 sights 2.5 mi away

   Leave by 5:59 PM

   1. Leave trailhead5:59 PM
   2. Sunset6:51 PM
   3. Head back7:06 PM
   4. At your car7:37 PM
   5. Dark7:19 PM

   Back at your car by 7:37 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   1.3 mi to the viewpoint · 64 min of walking

9. Robert McClory Bike Path 2.5 mi away

   Leave by 6:26 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:26 PM
   2. Sunset6:51 PM
   3. Head back7:06 PM
   4. At your car7:10 PM
   5. Dark7:19 PM

   Back at your car by 7:10 PM — 9 min before dark.

   0.2 mi to the viewpoint · 8 min of walking

10. Covington Bluff–Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve Beach, 5 beaches 2.5 mi away

    Leave by 6:19 PM

    1. Leave trailhead6:19 PM
    2. Sunset6:51 PM
    3. Head back7:06 PM
    4. At your car7:16 PM
    5. Dark7:19 PM

    Back at your car by 7:16 PM — 3 min before dark.

    0.4 mi to the viewpoint · 21 min of walkingCar visible from the viewpoint

11. North Shore Bike Path 2.7 mi away

    Leave by 5:11 PM

    1. Leave trailhead5:11 PM
    2. Sunset6:50 PM
    3. Head back7:05 PM
    4. At your car8:24 PM
    5. Dark7:18 PM

    Back at your car by 8:24 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

    3.2 mi to the viewpoint · 158 min of walking

12. Prairie Wolf Slough & Buffalo Grove-Lincolnshire Bike Path 0.1 mi away

    Leave by 5:45 PM

    1. Leave trailhead5:45 PM
    2. Sunset6:51 PM
    3. Head back7:06 PM
    4. At your car7:51 PM
    5. Dark7:19 PM

    Back at your car by 7:51 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

    1.8 mi to the viewpoint · 50 ft climb · 91 min of walking