7 mile hike at Hoover Forest, 4.75 option, features bluffs & view of Fox river

Optional post hike lunch
The Vault
220 S. Bridge st Yorkville
https://vaultyorkville.com/
A group favorite when we're in the area!
Separate checks ok per Dylan
Reservation at 12:30 for 10 under Lynette/Hiking group. More or less people is fine, they are flexible.

I haven't led a hike here in nearly 3 years, time to go back!

Summary
This is the largest forest preserve in Kendall County at just over 400 acres. Its located 40 minutes West of Naperville, 45 minutes SW of St. Charles and about an hour SW of Bartlett.

There is a campground washroom facility where we meet and another one about 2 miles into the first hike.

Hike 1:
4.75 mile loop thru Hoover forest with stop at the observation deck. Many of the trails on this hike are wider and well groomed wide crushed gravel. A mile or less is asphalt and around half mile is a grass trail. Short portions may be packed dirt trails.

Its an easy hike with minimal elevation changes.

The hike is mostly dense woods and only a half mile or so is full sun exposure. I liked the way the sun sparkled thru the trees, almost glowing. The land gently slopes down into wooded ravines in certain sections while the other side is also heavily wooded.

This hike is a loop with a few sections there and back. This hike does not end up back at the parking lot. The parking lot is about quarter mile away. Should finish hike 1 before 12.

Hike 2:
Adds about another 2.25 miles and is 75% full sun exposure. Has a few intermediate sections and unlevel surfaces. There are some elevation changes of up to 50 feet in one spot. One area is kind of steep and I brought my poles just in case. Some trails are loose gravel and go downhill. About a third of this hike is very scenic with narrow dirt trails.
Lovely bluffs rise up ~20 feet with root systems on the edges. It goes along the Fox river on a bluff for a bit.

It then goes under a bridge on Edlaman road and connects to Fox Bluff forest. This is a newly built trail and does not go very far. Its a asphalt/crushed limestone bike trail and has a few scenic spots. But then it goes along Edlaman road and a soybean field and not so scenic. It ends with a short loop thru a prairie with very pretty wildflowers and returns back.

Add another hour for this section.

This hike is cross posted with Chicagoland Trailblazers Hiking Group https://www.meetup.com/chicagoland-trailblazers-hiking-group/events/312133443 and my guest rsvp includes members of the group.

Address:
11285 W Fox Rd, Yorkville

How to find us:
Drive about a half mile straight back to the end of the parking lot. Go straight down the preserve road and cross railroad tracks. Its about as far back as you can drive.

Google map link:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/CmnVcyiD6ZEngMA5A?g_st=ic

website
https://www.kendallforest.com/pdf/Hoover%20Campgrounds.pdf