AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Big Oak

4 mi · ▲ 454 ft · 1 hr 34 min

Big Oak is a 4-mile out-and-back near Elsah, IL. The route reaches Big Oak at the turnaround, 1.9 miles in. It climbs 454 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 50/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi443 – 666 ft · steepest grade: 25%4.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 38.95708, -90.35949
Nearest town Elsah, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Big Oak

4 mi · ▲ 454 ft · 1 hr 34 min

Elevation 443–667 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 38.95708, -90.35949

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:03 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  3. 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
  4. 200 ftBear left, heading NW.
  5. 300 ftBear right, heading W.
  6. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NW.
  7. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  8. 450 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  9. 0.3 miSharp right, heading SE.
  10. 50 ftPass Big Oak.
  11. 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
  12. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  13. 1.3 miTurn right, heading SE.
  14. 0.1 miBear left, heading SE.
  15. 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
  16. 0.2 miArrive 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/big-oak-out-back-6-km-908b

Trail surface

84% dirt16% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:48 AMSunset 7:03 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.6 mi in (~47 min). Leave by 5:56 PM for the 7:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:00 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Elsah, Illinois