A new hike for Trailbound offers us the unique opportunity to explore the private property of the University of St. Mary of the Lake. This beautiful campus is also home to the Mundelein Seminary, adding a rich historical dimension to our journey. St. Mary’s Lake itself is a 105-acre body of water, nestled within a larger 1,000-acre campus. Established back in 1844, the campus not only showcases the serene beauty of its well-preserved trees and tranquil lake but also features impressive architecture and a grand belvedere pier. Our walk follows a paved path that gracefully circles the entire lake, allowing us to walk peacefully beneath mature oaks, maples, spruce, hickory, and cottonwood trees.

As a special treat, on Wednesday and Thursday, we are invited to a Trailbound hiker’s home in Mundelein for lunch, just a short mile away, also on a beautiful lake.