Illinois · Hiking

Group 63 Trail

6.7 mi
loop
30 ft
climb
660 ft
high point
Loop
route
Apr, Jun–Oct
best months

Is Group 63 Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. It doesn't name Group 63 Trail, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Group 63 Trail is an easy hike of about 6.7 miles on the Forest Service land of Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie in Illinois. The route is almost flat, with a total elevation gain of 30 feet, and it starts at about 635 feet, reaching a high of 660 feet before the end. The trail has a slight downhill stretch as well, with a total loss of about 90 feet. The most comfortable months are late spring and early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 71°F and September highs around 76°F, with lows in the 40s and 50s. That station sits about 117 feet lower than the trail's starting point. The trail runs close to other routes, so it works well as part of a longer outing. Henslow Trail is about 0.1 mile away, and Route 53 Trail is about 0.4 mile off. Twin Oaks Trail is roughly 1.3 miles away. For time on the water, the Illinois and Michigan Canal Paddle Route is about 8.8 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Apr, Jun–Oct

    Best time to visit Group 63 Trail

    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

      31° / 17°

      11 wet

    2. Feb

      35° / 20°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      47° / 29°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      60° / 39°

      12 wet

    5. May

      71° / 49°

      13 wet

    6. Jun

      80° / 60°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      84° / 64°

      9 wet

    8. Aug

      82° / 63°

      9 wet

    9. Sep

      76° / 55°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      63° / 43°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      49° / 32°

      10 wet

    12. Dec

      36° / 22°

      11 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Joliet Brandon Rd Dam, IL, 8.8 mi away at 543 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Bailey Bridge TrailPhoto: davidwilson1949, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Bailey Bridge Trail

~6 min drive

4.75-mile out-and-back trail in Illinois with 22 ft of elevation gain.

Prairie Creek Woods TrailPhoto: Joe K Gage, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Prairie Creek Woods Trail

~6 min drive

1.24-mile out-and-back trail in Illinois with 82 ft of elevation gain.

Twin Oaks TrailPhoto: davidwilson1949, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Twin Oaks Trail

~2 min drive

11.60-mile out-and-back hike in Illinois with 90 ft of elevation gain.

Orange Unpaved LoopPhoto: davidwilson1949, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Orange Unpaved Loop

~42 min drive

4-mile unpaved point-to-point trail through Illinois countryside.

Tan TrailPhoto: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Tan Trail

~41 min drive

0.53-mile point-to-point trail in Illinois with 51 ft elevation gain

HIKE

Henslow Trail

Next door

10-mile out-and-back hike in Illinois with 78 ft gain.

Yellow LoopPhoto: Darek214, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Yellow Loop

~43 min drive

8.06-mile loop trail in Illinois with 766 ft elevation gain.

Red South Single TrackPhoto: davidwilson1949, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Red South Single Track

~42 min drive

Compact point-to-point single track through Illinois woodland.

HIKE

Adt - Illinois - I - Seg 1

~15 min drive

A 39.55-mile point-to-point Illinois trail for experienced hikers.

Main TrailPhoto: Joe K Gage, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Main Trail

~43 min drive

9.49-mile loop trail in Illinois with 675 ft elevation gain.