Illinois · Hiking

Henslow Trail

10.0 mi
round trip
256 ft
climb
641 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Apr, Jun–Oct
best months

Is Henslow Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. It doesn't name Henslow 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.

Henslow Trail is a 10-mile out-and-back hike on the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie in Illinois, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is rated hard, and the route is flat with a total elevation gain of 256 feet, so the climb is gentle rather than steep. The high point is 641 feet, and the steepest stretch comes at about 1.1 miles in, with a grade of 2 percent. The most comfortable months for a visit are typically 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 July the warmest month at about 84°F. The trail sits among a network of other routes. Group 63 Trail and its spur are both within a quarter mile, Route 53 Trail is about 0.4 miles away, and Twin Oaks Trail is roughly 1.3 miles off. Paddlers can reach the Illinois and Michigan Canal Paddle Route, about 8.8 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Apr, Jun–Oct

    Best time to visit Henslow 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.

    Closures we've recorded since August 2026

    • Henslow Trail Bridge Closures

      Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie · Order dated July 12, 2023; seen Aug 23, 2026, no lift recorded · Forest Service

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