Big Woods Trail & River Ridge Back Pack Trail
3.3 mi · ▲ 141 ft · 1 hr 10 min
Big Woods Trail & River Ridge Back Pack Trail is a 3.3-mile out-and-back in Forest Glen County Preserve near Meeks, IL. It is mostly level, with 141 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 50/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Big Woods Trail & River Ridge Back Pack Trail
3.3 mi · ▲ 141 ft · 1 hr 10 min
Elevation 571–667 ft
Out & Back · Forest Glen County Preserve
Trailhead: Beech Grove Trail · 40.00962, -87.55887
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:37 AM · sunset 6:52 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Beech Grove Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Big Woods Trail, heading E.
- 1.3 miReach Big Woods Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.4 miTurn left onto Beech Grove Trail, heading SW.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.8 mi in (~23 min). Leave by 6:09 PM for the 6:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:30 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Beech Grove Trail Trailhead
- Big Woods Trail–Deer Meadow Trail, 3 sights 5.6 mi · ▲ 202 ft
- Big Woods Viewpoint–Big Woods Trail, 3 sights 4.9 mi · ▲ 610 ft
- Vermillion River–Big Woods Viewpoint, 4 sights 7.4 mi · ▲ 502 ft
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Hikes near Meeks, Illinois