AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Oak Ridge Forest Preserve

Blue Path–Blue Trail, 5 sights

8.6 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 2 hr 53 min

Blue Path–Blue Trail, 5 sights is an 8.6-mile out-and-back in Oak Ridge Forest Preserve near Thorne Ledge, IL. It is mostly level, with 26 ft of elevation gain, and mostly grass. It scores 47/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi702 – 735 ft8.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.18071, -88.95248
Nearest town Thorne Ledge, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Blue Path–Blue Trail, 5 sights

8.6 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 2 hr 53 min

Elevation 703–735 ft

Out & Back · Oak Ridge Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 42.18071, -88.95248

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:42 AM · sunset 6:58 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 400 ftTurn right onto Blue Trail, heading E.
  3. 1.1 miTurn right onto Green Trail, heading NW.
  4. 1.3 miTurn left onto Blue Path, heading NE.
  5. 250 ftBear right, heading NW.
  6. 0.7 miBear left onto Orange Path, heading E.
  7. 0.4 miTurn right onto Green Path, heading N.
  8. 250 ftContinue straight onto Orange Path, heading N.
  9. 250 ftContinue straight onto Green Path, heading NE.
  10. 0.8 miReach Blue Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  11. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Orange Path, heading S.
  12. 250 ftContinue straight onto Green Path, heading SW.
  13. 250 ftTurn left onto Orange Path, heading W.
  14. 0.4 miBear right, heading SW.
  15. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Blue Path, heading N.
  16. 0.3 miBear left, heading SW.
  17. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  18. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Green Trail, heading SE.
  19. 1 miTurn left onto Blue Trail, heading S.
  20. 1.1 miTurn left, heading SE.
  21. 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/blue-path-blue-trail-out-back-5-sights-14-km

Trail surface

94% grass6% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:42 AMSunset 6:58 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.9 mi in (~21 min). Leave by 6:18 PM for the 6:58 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:34 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Thorne Ledge, Illinois