Lake Defiance Trail Hiking Guide
Moraine Hills State Park is a landscape the glaciers left behind: rolling ridges of gravel and kettle lakes where ice blocks melted, about 3 miles south of McHenry. Roughly half of its 2,200 acres is wetland and water, and the Lake Defiance Trail circles the largest of its lakes on an easy, almost level path. It is one of the best birding walks within reach of Chicago.
The Loop
Mapping apps list the Lake Defiance loop at about 3.9 miles with roughly 150 feet of gain, on a surface that alternates between asphalt and crushed limestone. It circles 48-acre Lake Defiance through marsh edges, oak woods and open ground. It pairs well with the nearby Leatherleaf Bog Trail, about 3.2 miles, for a longer day.
Birds and Bogs
The Illinois DNR counts more than 200 bird species in the park, which makes spring and autumn migration the prime time to visit. The park's bogs, like the one along the Leatherleaf Bog Trail, add habitat you rarely see this close to Chicago. Bring binoculars and walk slowly in the early morning.
Seasonal Closures
Moraine Hills closes for Illinois firearm deer season — the Friday through Sunday before Thanksgiving and the Thursday through Sunday after — and on Christmas and New Year's Day. Snow or ice can delay opening in winter. These are routine closures, but check the DNR park page before a late-autumn visit so you don't arrive to a locked gate.
Winter
In winter the trails are used for cross-country skiing, and the flat loop is a good beginner ski route. Hikers are welcome to walk when trails are not groomed, but stay off set ski tracks. The lake freezes and the wetlands take on a stark, quiet beauty.
Practicalities
Illinois charges no entrance fee at its state parks. Leashed dogs are allowed under general state park rules. Mosquitoes and ticks can be intense around the wetlands from late spring through summer, so bring repellent. The park is about 75 minutes northwest of downtown Chicago.
Hiking tips for Lake Defiance Trail
- Bring binoculars in spring and fall — the DNR counts more than 200 bird species here.
- Check the DNR page before late-November visits; the park closes for firearm deer season.
- Add the Leatherleaf Bog Trail for a longer, varied day.
- Pack insect repellent from late spring through summer around the wetlands.
- Stay off set ski tracks when the trails are groomed in winter.
Nearby trails to explore
- Busse Woods Loop
- Morton Arboretum Big Rock Loop
- Waterfall Glen Trail
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Lake Defiance is an easy, peaceful loop and a great birding walk to share. Use TrailMates to find Chicago-area hikers heading to McHenry County. Download the TrailMates app to connect.