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 1.6 mi away

   Leave by 6:09 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:09 PM
   2. Sunset6:52 PM
   3. Head back7:07 PM
   4. At your car7:31 PM
   5. Dark7:20 PM

   Back at your car by 7:31 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   1.0 mi to the viewpoint · 48 min of walking

2. Skokie Valley Bikeway 1.5 mi away

   Leave by 6:18 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:18 PM
   2. Sunset6:52 PM
   3. Head back7:07 PM
   4. At your car7:21 PM
   5. Dark7:20 PM

   Back at your car by 7:21 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 1.5 mi away

   Leave by 5:44 PM

   1. Leave trailhead5:44 PM
   2. Sunset6:52 PM
   3. Head back7:07 PM
   4. At your car7:56 PM
   5. Dark7:20 PM

   Back at your car by 7:56 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   2.0 mi to the viewpoint · 96 min of walking

4. Robert McClory Bike Path 0.1 mi away

   Leave by 6:28 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:28 PM
   2. Sunset6:52 PM
   3. Head back7:07 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 · 8 min of walking

5. Covington Bluff–Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve Beach, 5 beaches 0.1 mi away

   Leave by 6:21 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:21 PM
   2. Sunset6:52 PM
   3. Head back7:07 PM
   4. At your car7:18 PM
   5. Dark7:20 PM

   Back at your car by 7:18 PM — 3 min before dark.

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

6. Patton Pond–Jean and John Greene Nature Preserve Beach, 4 beaches 0.1 mi away

   Leave by 5:12 PM

   1. Leave trailhead5:12 PM
   2. Sunset6:53 PM
   3. Head back7:08 PM
   4. At your car8:28 PM
   5. Dark7:21 PM

   Back at your car by 8:28 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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

7. Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve Beach–Patton Pond, 4 beaches 0.1 mi away

   Leave by 5:20 PM

   1. Leave trailhead5:20 PM
   2. Sunset6:53 PM
   3. Head back7:08 PM
   4. At your car8:20 PM
   5. Dark7:21 PM

   Back at your car by 8:20 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   2.9 mi to the viewpoint · 146 min of walking

8. Hutchinson Viewpoint–Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve Viewpoint, 6 beaches 0.1 mi away

   Leave by 6:01 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:01 PM
   2. Sunset6:52 PM
   3. Head back7:07 PM
   4. At your car7:38 PM
   5. Dark7:20 PM

   Back at your car by 7:38 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   1.2 mi to the viewpoint · 62 min of walking

9. Lake Bluff Pond & Robert McClory Bike Path 0.1 mi away

   Leave by 6:08 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:08 PM
   2. Sunset6:52 PM
   3. Head back7:07 PM
   4. At your car7:31 PM
   5. Dark7:20 PM

   Back at your car by 7:31 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   1.0 mi to the viewpoint · 47 min of walking

10. Pond 1–Pond 2, 4 sights 0.1 mi away

    Leave by 6:01 PM

    1. Leave trailhead6:01 PM
    2. Sunset6:52 PM
    3. Head back7:07 PM
    4. At your car7:39 PM
    5. Dark7:20 PM

    Back at your car by 7:39 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

    1.3 mi to the viewpoint · 64 min of walking

11. Lake Bluff Pond via Robert McClory Bike Path 3.3 mi away

    Leave by 6:19 PM

    1. Leave trailhead6:19 PM
    2. Sunset6:52 PM
    3. Head back7:07 PM
    4. At your car7:21 PM
    5. Dark7:20 PM

    Back at your car by 7:21 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

    0.5 mi to the viewpoint · 27 min of walkingCar visible from the viewpoint

12. Eagle Lake–Conway Park Pond 3, 3 lakes 3.3 mi away

    Leave by 6:15 PM

    1. Leave trailhead6:15 PM
    2. Sunset6:52 PM
    3. Head back7:07 PM
    4. At your car7:24 PM
    5. Dark7:20 PM

    Back at your car by 7:24 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

    0.7 mi to the viewpoint · 34 min of walkingCar visible from the viewpoint