Illinois · Hiking

Night Heron Trail

Night Heron TrailPhoto: ingawh, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
2.0 mi
loop
11 ft
climb
668 ft
high point
Loop
route
Apr–Oct
best months

Night Heron Trail is a 2-mile easy hike in Fullersburg Woods Nature Center, on regional agency land in Illinois. The trail rises about 11 feet from a low point of 637 feet to a high of 668 feet, with the steepest stretch at about 0.4 miles in, where the grade reaches 6 percent. Bikes are allowed. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run to highs around 71°F in May and 76°F in September, while July highs average about 84°F and January highs sit near freezing. Riverbend Trail starts just 0.1 mile away, and North Island Loop Trail is about 0.3 mile off. Farther out, the Green Unpaved Trail and Purple Paved Trail are both within about 1.6 miles.

  • Best time to go · Apr–Oct

    Best time to visit Night Heron Trail

    Best months: April–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

      32° / 15°

    2. Feb

      35° / 18°

    3. Mar

      47° / 26°

    4. Apr

      59° / 36°

    5. May

      71° / 47°

    6. Jun

      81° / 58°

    7. Jul

      84° / 62°

    8. Aug

      83° / 60°

    9. Sep

      76° / 52°

    10. Oct

      63° / 40°

    11. Nov

      48° / 30°

    12. Dec

      37° / 21°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lisle-Morton Arboretum, IL, 7.1 mi away at 680 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

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

Tear-Thumb Trail

~13 min drive

1.16-mile point-to-point trail in Illinois with 120 ft elevation gain

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

Orange Unpaved Loop

~15 min drive

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

Blue North TrailPhoto: davidwilson1949, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Blue North Trail

~14 min drive

A 2.4-mile point-to-point trail in Illinois with easy terrain.

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

Yellow Loop

~18 min drive

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

Green Unpaved TrailPhoto: davidwilson1949, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Green Unpaved Trail

~15 min drive

0.49-mile point-to-point trail in Illinois with 78 ft gain and 151 ft loss.

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

Main Trail

~13 min drive

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

Yellow West Single TrackPhoto: davidwilson1949, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Yellow West Single Track

~15 min drive

3.05-mile point-to-point trail in Illinois with 477 ft elevation gain

HIKE

Red Paved Trail

~14 min drive

Red Paved Trail is a 5.54-mile point-to-point trail in Illinois with 104 feet of elevation gain.

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

Red South Single Track

~15 min drive

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

HIKE

Yellow East Trail

~15 min drive

A 5.95-mile point-to-point trail in Illinois with moderate distance.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors