Hike McDonald Woods in Lake County 4.5 miles, option for 5.5 on Millennium Trail

Temperature extremes last two times I led a hike here. During 11/2022 it was frigid. Last year 06/2025 heat index over 100. Both times it was a very small group that came out.
Lets try this again, its a very pretty but is a small preserve and not many miles of trails.

Optional post hike Lunch
TBD

Summary:
This preserve is partially wooded and goes around a few lakes. The hike is pretty easy, flat paths, not asphalt. Its a small preserve but possible to squeeze about 4.5 miles out of it. Its a pretty trail and very pleasant hiking!
End up back at the parking lot.

For 5.5 miles we have an option to take an asphalt bike path known as the Millennium trail. Its not wooded and borders US 45 but adds extra steps and forms a loop.

This hike is cross posted with Chicagoland Trailblazers Hiking Group https://www.meetup.com/chicagoland-trailblazers-hiking-group/events/315738171 and my guest rsvp includes members of the group.

Map pin
https://maps.app.goo.gl/roQaMk1zsuehd88b8?g_st=ic

From the website
https://www.lcfpd.org/mcdonald-woods/

Description from the website
Behold the gentle, rolling grassy terrain of this scenic preserve.
The dips and rises here were formed by the advance and retreat
of immense ice chunks during the last Ice Age.
When the weather warmed, grasslands dominated.
In autumn, big bluestem and switch grass turn amber
brown and yellow, swaying to the music of the wind.

McDonald Woods is a perfect place to hike, bike and cross-country ski.
Trails here connect to the Millennium Trail and other community hiking and biking paths.

Gravel: 3.8-mile loop trail winds around the woods and wetlands.
Woodchip: 0.3-mile trail is open for hiking and cross-country skiing and
leads to a basswood and sugar maple forest, glowing yellow in autumn.