Illinois · Hiking

Route 53 Trail

5.2 mi
round trip
212 ft
climb
640 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Apr–Oct
best months

Is Route 53 Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. It doesn't name Route 53 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.

Route 53 Trail is a 5.2-mile out-and-back hike on the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie in Illinois, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is rated moderate, with a total climb of 212 feet and a steepest grade of about 4% at the 1-mile mark. The route starts at roughly 634 feet and reaches a high point of 640 feet before returning to the starting elevation. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 72°F and September highs around 77°F, with July the warmest month at about 85°F. Several other trails sit close by. Henslow Trail and Group 63 Trail are each about 0.4 miles away, and Twin Oaks Trail is about 1.7 miles off. For paddling, the Illinois and Michigan Canal Paddle Route is about 8.5 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Apr–Oct

    Best time to visit Route 53 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° / 17°

      11 wet · 4 snow

    2. Feb

      37° / 20°

      10 wet · 3 snow

    3. Mar

      48° / 30°

      11 wet · 1 snow

    4. Apr

      61° / 40°

      11 wet

    5. May

      72° / 51°

      11 wet

    6. Jun

      81° / 60°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      85° / 65°

      9 wet

    8. Aug

      83° / 63°

      8 wet

    9. Sep

      77° / 56°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      64° / 44°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      50° / 33°

      10 wet · 1 snow

    12. Dec

      37° / 23°

      11 wet · 3 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Channahon Dresden Isl Dam, IL, 8.1 mi away at 505 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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