Hike Grassy Lake preserve in Lake County 3, 5, 6, or 7 miles

Optional Post Hike Lunch
TBD

This hike offers a little bit of everything, gentle hills, woodlands with old growth oak, open meadows, scenic overlook with 200 foot elevation, and a wooden bridge over Flint Creek. The 1:30 end time is assuming 7 miles total.

There are great views of the Fox river and we’ll walk to it’s bank. Trails are crushed limestone, mowed grass, and asphalt. A small portion is off trail as we climb the hill.

After 3.2 miles there and back we’ll be back at the parking lot. The hike continues to the other side of Kelsey road for another mile to Old Barrington road and back.

This hike is cross posted with Chicagoland Trailblazers Hiking Group
https://www.meetup.com/chicagoland-trailblazers-hiking-group/events/310560783
and my guest rsvp includes members of the group.

Directions
The entrance is off of Kelsey road.
From route 14 take Kelsey road north for 2 miles.
From route 22 go 1.2 miles north on Kelsey.

There are two parking areas. Be sure to park
at 23900 Kelsey road Barrington.

Hike 1
Has a hill to climb :)
From the parking lot head toward the Fox River. This area is mostly open meadows with rolling hills on a wide crushed limestone path. Scattered large trees grow within an open area; its not heavily forested here.

We’ll pass mile marker 1 as we head toward open barren meadow. A small lake comes into view. Continue walking and then notice that we’re going uphill. A pretty view of the Fox River from above is the highlight in this section of the trail.

Shades of beige dry barren meadow landscape was prominent here. The blue sky and river along with white patches of snow added color to an otherwise bland winter landscape.

We’ll see a large boulder with memorials to Stephanie Smith Choo and Carrie Smith Grant, and Polly Smith Douglas before coming to the Abella Overlook. This is the peek elevation gain, estimated 230 feet.

Head back down the way we came. We’ll make a lefthand turn onto a mowed grass section and walk to the bank of the Fox River. There is another rock monument for Rehbein-Weltsch dedicated to this scenic area.

Continue walking down the mowed grass trail taking a right toward Cutter Lane. Look for a small foot trail that goes straight up the hill. Didn’t look too bad, no bushwhacking since its Winter.

When we get to the top we’ll be back at the Polly Smith Douglas rock memorial. Head back down again and return back to the parking lot.

This is 3.2 miles and you can continue on or leave as your schedule permits.

Hike 2:
We will walk across Kelsey road and they have a flashing traffic beacon which lets us safely cross. This section of the trail has an entirely different character which I enjoyed. It crosses Flint creek and nearby private property is on huge parcels of open beautiful land.

There are multiple options and I've done both on various hikes. Either way, it can add up to a total hike of 6 or even more miles. These are there and back so its easy to make a shorter hike.

Website:
https://www.lcfpd.org/grassy-lake/

Parking
Main lot has 26 parking spots. Plenty of parking nearby but allow extra time.

Overflow Parking (choice 1) if main lot is filled
9 parking spots 1 block to the west.
Its on the same side of the road. It has an address BCFPD 23N 872
Please make a right hand turn and go about 1 city block down to the very next drive. Its a park and legal parking.
If you choose this parking option you will be walking along side of a road, not a busy one, but one that has at least 45 miles mph hour or more. On this option you would be facing traffic if any.

Overflow Parking (choice 2) if main lot is filled:
Many side street parking spots available on Alice Lane.
You would have to make a left hand turn out of main parking lot.
Then drive 1 city block and immediate right hand turn.
There you will find residential houses on a side street
that has no parking restrictions. I verified with the village that it would be ok to park on Alice street