5 mile hike in Cary, McHenry County at Fel-Pro RRR Conservation Area
Details
Optional post hike lunch
TBD
There are two parking lots. We're meeting in the east lot which is an enormous gravel lot.
Summary
Its been two years since I've led a hike here and I'm getting it on the schedule for this year. This was one of the places that I discovered early on in 2020 while exploring places with my son. There was a big "WOW" factor for me at the time.
Unfortunately there are not many miles of trails here. To make 5 miles we may repeat one loop a second time.
This hike features excellent scenery with a few nice hills for elevation changes, about 80 foot elevation change in a short interval. Its a moderate hike and expect some rocky inclines.
The hike is 60 to 65 percent shaded and we will be in and out of the sun. Some trails are very rocky and steep. I found hiking poles very helpful. There are 3 big steep hills and only one of them is optional. Didn't encounter mud.
Its a 5 star hike imo for Illinois and one of the better ones I've done. It has something for everyone! Crystal clear ponds, creeks, bridges, a waterfall (man-made), forest, meadow, marsh, well-groomed trails mostly grass and packed dirt, rolling hills and some steep (for Illinois) hills to climb.
Trails are mostly grass and packed dirt. Well groomed ranging from 10 feet wide to 1 foot wide.
Please bring bug spray and water.
Location
1520 Crystal Lake Road, Cary. GPS on my iPhone worked very well.
There are two entrances, we are meeting at the east entrance. Its located on the north side of Crystal Lake Road, west of South Rawson Bridge Road and east of Silver Lake Road.
Directions
There are two parking lots. From Rawson Bridge road, go 1 mile down Crystal Lake Road to the second parking lot. I tested the map pin and it works.
http://www.visitmchenrycounty.com/Fel-Pro-RRR-Conservation-Area
Details
It will look like a beautiful park with hills and 10 foot wide asphalt trails. At .5 miles come to fork and go left. We'll walk down an asphalt path for a bit then come to a pretty lake.
Go to the pond and keep right on a trail that loops around the pond. This is where the man-made waterfall is and its lovely!
Continue walking around the lake over pretty bridges along a grassy trail right beside the pond. Then head right down a narrow forest path. This area of the trail is single file around the lake.
After we cross the last of some little bridges we will head up the first steep hill. Its probably 75 feet. When we come to the top we then go thru a narrow area about a foot wide.
At 1.4 miles we will be back on a hard-packed wide dirt path. At 1.6 miles we will be hiking on mowed grass thru one of several open meadows.
At 1.8 miles walk around a second beautiful little pond on mowed grass. We'll then go right and go back into the woods instead of going around the lake. Soon a second pond will appear.
At 2.6 miles there is a 2nd steep hill to climb. This is the optional one. Later an option to see a stone abacus.
At 3.8 miles there is a choice of 3 trails. This hike will go toward the right on a narrow footpath up a very steep hill for the 3rd time.
This hike is cross posted with Chicagoland Trailblazers Hiking Group
https://www.meetup.com/chicagoland-trailblazers-hiking-group/events/312133353
and my guest rsvp includes members of the group.