About trails in McHenry County, Illinois

McHenry County has 77 named trails on the map, covering 168 miles in total, an average of 2.2 miles per trail. That is the 8th largest mapped trail network among 65 counties in Illinois. 56 of them are tagged for hiking and 17 for mountain biking.

The longest single trail is McHenry County Prairie Trail, at 26.3 miles. 9 trails run 5 miles or longer. Mapped points of interest in the county include 14 trailheads, 14 campsites, 1 waterfall, and 21 boat launches. The nearest towns to these trails are Lakewood, Marengo, and Hartland.

What the trails in McHenry County are like

By length, 40 are under a mile, 28 run 1 to 5 miles, and 9 are 5 miles or longer. 12 are loops, ending where they start; the longest is Stone Mill Trail, at 5.9 miles.

Of the 77 with measured elevation, McHenry County Prairie Trail climbs the most, about 806 ft.

Explore by activity

168Total miles

14Campsites

21Boat launches

1Waterfalls

14Trailheads

McHenry County Prairie TrailMTB26.3 mi Cary Community Bike TrailsMTB15.0 mi Hebron TrailMTB13.3 mi Ridgefield TraceMTB13.2 mi Crystal Lake Bike RoutesMTB8.6 mi H.U.M. TrailHike6.0 mi Lake Defiance TrailMTB5.9 mi Stone Mill TrailMTB5.8 mi IL 31 Bike PathMTB5.1 mi Leatherleaf Bog TrailMTB3.4 mi Moraine View TrailHike3.3 mi The H.U.M. trailMTB3.3 mi Leatherleaf Bog Trail (3.2 mi)2.7 mi VA Sterne's Woods TrailHike2.6 mi Brown TrailHike2.5 mi Hiking / Ski TrailHike2.4 mi Lake In the Hills Bike RoutesMTB2.3 mi Fox River TrailMTB2.2 mi Fox River Trail (2.0 mi)2.2 mi Fen View TrailHike2.0 mi Oak View TrailHike1.9 mi Sunset Park PathHikeMTB1.9 mi Nature Loop (1.2 mi)Hike1.8 mi Lakewood Cycle RoutesMTB1.8 mi Kettle View TrailHike1.6 mi Lake Defiance Trail (3.7 mi)1.6 mi Prairie View TrailHike1.6 mi Peter J Exner Marsh Convervation AreaHike1.5 mi Entire Trail (1.98 mi)Hike1.5 mi Horse Trail Loop (1.35 mi)Hike1.4 mi South-East LoopHike1.4 mi Nature LoopHike1.3 mi Horse trailHike1.3 mi West Trail LoopHike1.2 mi Long LoopHike1.2 mi South-West LoopHike1.1 mi East Trail LoopHike1.0 mi Middle LoopHike0.9 mi 0.8 Mile LoopHike0.8 mi Timbertown PathHikeMTB0.8 mi South Loop (.75 mi)Hike0.7 mi North LoopHike0.7 mi Trail Loop (0.6 mi)Hike0.7 mi Short LoopHike0.7 mi 1.0 Mile LoopHike0.6 mi Sugar Maple Loop (0.4 mi)Hike0.6 mi Leatherleaf Bog Trail (3.2 mi) / Lake Defiance Trail (3.7 mi)0.5 mi McHenry River WalkHike0.5 mi Red TrailHike0.4 mi Trail Loop (0.38 mi)Hike0.4 mi Yellow TrailHike0.4 mi Walk PathHike0.4 mi West Loop (0.38mi)Hike0.3 mi Sugar Maple LoopHike0.3 mi Short Loop (.5 mi)Hike0.3 mi Route to bike pathMTB0.3 mi Lyons Loop0.3 mi Trail to RiverHike0.3 mi Sky Dance TrailHike0.3 mi South TrailHike0.2 mi West Pond Loop (0.22mi)Hike0.2 mi Medela/Follet Footpath0.2 mi [ROUGH TRACE]Hike0.2 mi Shady WayHike0.2 mi 0.9 Mile LoopHike0.2 mi PeninsulaHike0.2 mi deer pathHike0.2 mi Main Fen TrailHike0.2 mi Lower Paved Trail (0.25 mi)Hike0.2 mi Turkey RunHike0.2 mi (0.16mi)Hike0.1 mi Lion's Park Walk PathHike0.1 mi Whispering Oaks Trail PathHikeMTB0.1 mi Follet Employee Footpath0.1 mi Woodsrock Woods Walk - Intergenerational Nature TrailHike0.1 mi Embers MeadowHike0.1 mi Nannybery LaneHike0.1 mi

Trails by town in McHenry County

More Illinois counties

679 trails · 2,006 mi

Trail geometry from OpenStreetMap contributors, licensed ODbL. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Compiled and published by Trailmonger · trail data last rebuilt September 24, 2026.