Illinois · Hiking

Founder's 56

0.9 mi
loop
10 ft
climb
726 ft
high point
Loop
route
Apr, Jun–Oct
best months

Clear today

Weather is good · OpenWeather · checked 3 h ago

Founder's 56 is a short loop in Seth B Atwood Park on regional agency land in Illinois. The trail is under a mile long, with a total elevation gain of about 10 feet, which makes it an easy walk that can be done in about half an hour. The loop starts and ends at nearly the same level, with a high point of 726 feet and a low of 706 feet. The climb is gentle, with the steepest stretch at about 0.06 miles into the route, a slope of about 5 percent. The trail's low elevation change and compact size make it an easy addition to a day spent exploring the park's network of short hikes. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 71°F and October highs around 62°F, while July highs reach about 84°F. Several other short routes sit within half a mile, including Burn and Turn, Big Wheel and Daisy Cutter.

  • Best time to go · Apr, Jun–Oct

    Best time to visit Founder's 56

    Best months: April and June–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      29° / 15°

      10 wet

    2. Feb

      33° / 18°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      46° / 28°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      60° / 38°

      12 wet

    5. May

      71° / 49°

      13 wet

    6. Jun

      81° / 60°

      11 wet

    7. Jul

      84° / 64°

      10 wet

    8. Aug

      82° / 62°

      9 wet

    9. Sep

      75° / 53°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      62° / 42°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      47° / 31°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      34° / 20°

      10 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Rockford Gtr Rockford Ap, IL, 1.9 mi away at 730 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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