Hike Silver Springs State Park 8 miles option for 3, 5, or 6 miles

Summary:
This hike is located in Kendall County about 35 minutes Southwest of Naperville, approximately 23 miles.

This is the first time I'm leading this hike in Fall Season. I've always came here in Summer and the lake is such a pretty color!

This hike is cross posted with the Trailblazers group and my guest rsvp includes members of the group
4142298.xyz/chicagoland-trailblazers-hiking-group/events/303515769

Hike 1 (5.25 miles option for 3)
This is a moderate hike so please wear shoes with good traction. Many areas are very uneven. Expect tree roots and some steep (45 degree)
inclines for maybe just 6-8 feet. I did not need hiking poles but had to take it slow in areas. Expect some hills. The hike will follow the Fox river and circle around both Loon and Beaver Lakes.
This hike is very pretty and at times your looking down at a lake from a 40 foot bluff..
Trails are a combination of packed dirt, crushed limestone, and grass. They range from 6 feet to 1 foot wide. After 3 miles we'll be near the parking lot for those who want a 3 mile option.
After 5 miles we end up back in the parking lot.

Hike 2 (8 miles cumulative, option to limit it to 6)
For a longer 8 mile hike we'll hike the Fox Bluff trail.
It has some hills and 75% wooded 25% full sun.
Full sun exposure sometimes for 10 minutes at a time then we're back in shade. Features bluffs and ravines 40 feet down and dense shade in tall forested areas. Walk across a meadow and power transformers are visible only for a short time.

After 1 mile its easy to get back and limit the hike to 6 miles.
I stumbled upon a little homemade disk golf course out in the middle of nowhere :) We can cross a little creek (1 inch deep water running over rocks), head over to Fox river, then turn around when trail ends. Its quite charming what someone put together back in there.

Location:
13608 Fox Road Yorkville IL
Closest main intersection is route 34 and route 47. My GPS took the scenic route thru back country farm roads. If you prefer a larger highway stay on route 47 or route 34. Its located to the southwest of that intersection. Enter Illinois in your GPS. There is a Silver Springs in Florida that comes up.
There are two entrances and both are located off of Fox road.
We are meeting at the East Entrance. Its located .9 miles east of Fox River Drive.
You will know that you are near the correct entrance when enormous power transformers come into view. The entrance is just a few blocks west of those.

Directions
When I entered the address 13608 Fox Road Yorkville IL, The GPS took us to Red Gate Lane and overshot the entrance. I have no control over that; please rely on directions above.

If that happens then you need to turn around and go west maybe half mile.
Look for the giant transformers and the entrance sign near those.
When you turn into the preserve go .2 miles.

Do not make a right-hand turn at the Fox Hill toboggan hill parking lot. Go straight. You will see a pond and lake on your left. A lake and parking lot will come into view. Meet in front of the information sign. Please allow extra time and plan on arriving before 10:00am in case of navigation challenges.

From the web:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Springs_State_Fish_and_Wildlife_Area
https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/Parks/Pages/SilverSprings.aspx

The park was established in the late 1960s and is named for the natural spring within its boundaries.