Name: 7.5 mile hike in the Northwest Suburbs, 4.5 mile option, optional lunch
Start: 2024-12-22T10:00:00-06:00
End: 2024-12-22T12:30:00-06:00

I first led a hike here in Dec 2020 and we saw Santa and family on the trail! It was a magic moment I'll never forget. Will we see Santa on this hike? Don't know but guessing odds are far less than spotting a bald eagle.

This hike is cross posted with
https://4142298.xyz/chicagoland-trailblazers-hiking-group/events/304055795/
and my guest RSVP will include members of that group.

**Location**
Spring Lake Equestrian Parking
361 Bateman Rd.
Barrington (May come up as Barrington Hills)
Cook County

**Summary:**
Good hiking boots highly recommended for this hike. Unlevel ground in areas and some sections have deep ruts from horses. Hidden branches or rocks under some sections which were covered by leaves. All flat terrain and some sections of hike 2 have gentle inclines. Encountered small (\~15 foot long) muddy sections but we were able to navigate around them. Dogs welcome but may get muddy. Its an easy hike and I did not need poles. Its mostly shaded and some areas open to meadow.

**They ask people to please drive slow, 5 mph, as you enter. There are blind spots where a horse may be entering the drive.**

**Lunch TBD**

**First hike, 4.5 miles**
Under 2.5 hours
We'll walk the outermost perimeter of the preserve. The trail is an equestrian trail and at least 8 to 12 feet wide in many areas. Its mostly packed dirt and grass except for Old Donlea road which is concrete for half mile. Trees surround both sides of the trail making it a nice, pleasant hike. Some areas of the trail run near Algonquin road and pick up a bit of background noise. We'll see portions of Spring Creek on the eastern boundary of this trail. The vast equestrian field trails also come into view but we'll avoid those staying on a wooded trail. The hike ends back at the parking lot.

**Second Hike, 3 miles**
Add another 1.5 hours if you join us for this one. We can take a short break in the parking lot for those who wish to use the facility.
Soft forest earth cushions your feet and there are gentle inclines up and down for just a bit of a workout. A few small creeks come into view and the trail will show a portion of open meadow. There is an old rusty car on this trail too, but no tree growing out of it lol. Here the trail is narrower and we will walk single file in many areas.

**Details:**
You can hike 45 miles in this preserve according to the website, there are a staggering number of trails to explore! We came here 3 times before I had a few decent hikes figured out.

This preserve offers a whopping 4000 acres of forest and meadows with much of it designated as "highest quality natural area" by the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission. The web site said there are hills and valleys here but we did not see any today because we ran out of daylight.

What I loved was this place was totally deserted yet well-maintained and not overgrown. Nature is free and wild here. We saw 4 deer the first time we hiked, and none the second time. Except a large bone from a carcass which my dog happily carried around for a time. We heard the coyotes howl late in the evening as the sun prepared to set.

**Location**
Spring Lake Equestrian Parking
361 Bateman Rd.
Barrington (May come up as Barrington Hills)

**Directions**
Turn onto Bateman Road from Algonquin Road
and go north about .3 miles.
Turn right at the Equestrian stalls.
Follow the gravel road all the way (less than .25 miles)
until it ends in the parking lot. Drive slow, 5 mph!

Don't park in one of the long equestrian parking spots.
Those are designed for horse trailers. There is plenty of parking.

**Where to meet**
By the information sign at 10, we'll start walking at 10:10.
Call or text me 847 757-1230 if you need other directions

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7.5 mile hike in the Northwest Suburbs, 4.5 mile option, optional lunch

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