James "Pate" Philip State Park

Blazing Star Trail & Bluestem Trail

4.5 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 30 min

Blazing Star Trail & Bluestem Trail is a 4.5-mile out-and-back in James "Pate" Philip State Park near Spaulding, IL. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi742 – 774 ft4.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.98946, -88.24174
Nearest town Spaulding, IL

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Blazing Star Trail & Bluestem Trail

4.5 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 30 min

Elevation 742–774 ft

Out & Back · James "Pate" Philip State Park

Trailhead: 41.98946, -88.24174

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:54 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Blazing Star Trail, heading W.
  3. 0.8 miTurn left onto Bluestem Trail, heading SE.
  4. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  5. 0.1 miTurn right onto Indigo Trail, heading SW.
  6. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  7. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  8. 0.6 miReach Blazing Star Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 0.6 miTurn right, heading NE.
  10. 200 ftTurn left, heading E.
  11. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  12. 0.1 miTurn right onto Bluestem Trail, heading NW.
  13. 0.2 miTurn right onto Blazing Star Trail, heading NW.
  14. 1.1 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

78% gravel20% paved2% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:54 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.0 mi in (~49 min). Leave by 5:45 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:57 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby