AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve

Old School Blue Loop–Old School Yellow Trail, 4 sights

10.8 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 3 hr 38 min

Old School Blue Loop–Old School Yellow Trail, 4 sights is a 10.8-mile out-and-back in MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve near Green Oaks, IL. It is mostly level, with 54 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi640 – 722 ft12.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Old School Blue Loop 42.27334, -87.91506
Nearest town Green Oaks, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Old School Blue Loop–Old School Yellow Trail, 4 sights

10.8 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 3 hr 38 min

Elevation 639–723 ft

Out & Back · MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve

Trailhead: Old School Blue Loop · 42.27334, -87.91506

Weather Sep 23: Overcast, high 64°F / low 56° · precip 5% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 6:41 AM · sunset 6:49 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Old School Blue Loop, heading SE.
  2. 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
  3. 0.2 miTurn left onto Old School Yellow Trail, heading SE.
  4. 0.6 miTurn left onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading S.
  5. 2.5 miTurn right, heading SW.
  6. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  7. 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  8. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  9. 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
  10. 450 ftTurn right, heading W.
  11. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  12. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  13. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  14. 0.1 miSharp right, heading S.
  15. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  16. 500 ftTurn right, heading S.
  17. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  18. 250 ftBear left, heading SE.
  19. 350 ftTurn right, heading W.
  20. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  21. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  22. 0.6 miTurn left onto Yellow Trail, heading E.
  23. 0.3 miTurn right onto Blue Trail, heading S.
  24. 0.1 miTurn left onto Red Trail, heading SE.
  25. 0.3 miReach Old School Blue Loop, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  26. 0.3 miTurn right onto Blue Trail, heading E.
  27. 0.1 miTurn left onto Yellow Trail, heading SE.
  28. 0.3 miTurn right onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading W.
  29. 0.5 miTurn left, heading W.
  30. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  31. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  32. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  33. 400 ftBear right, heading N.
  34. 200 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  35. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  36. 500 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  37. 0.2 miSharp left, heading NW.
  38. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  39. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  40. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  41. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  42. 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
  43. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  44. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  45. 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
  46. 2.5 miTurn right onto Old School Yellow Trail, heading N.
  47. 0.6 miTurn right, heading NE.
  48. 0.2 miBear left onto Old School Blue Loop, heading NE.
  49. 350 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  50. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/anthony-adams-tree-old-school-pink-loop-out-back-4-sights

Trail surface

77% gravel2% paved1% boardwalk20% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 64°F56°
Precip5%Wind7 mphUV5Humidity81%
Rained 2.5″ 3 days ago (3″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
65°55°
Sunrise 6:41 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:49 PM
Thu 65°54°
Fri 67°59°
Sat 68°57°
Sun 70°57° 15%
Mon 72°56°
Tue 78°58° 37%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.8 mi in (~19 min). Leave by 6:10 PM for the 6:49 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:23 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Old School Blue Loop Trailhead

Hikes near Green Oaks, Illinois