AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Seward Bluffs Forest Preserve

Blue Trail & Red Trail

2.3 mi · ▲ 140 ft · 50 min

Blue Trail & Red Trail is a 2.3-mile out-and-back in Seward Bluffs Forest Preserve near Pecatonica, IL. It is mostly level, with 140 ft of elevation gain, and mostly grass. It scores 14/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi778 – 889 ft2.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Red Trail 42.27692, -89.36985
Nearest town Pecatonica, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Blue Trail & Red Trail

2.3 mi · ▲ 140 ft · 50 min

Elevation 777–891 ft

Out & Back · Seward Bluffs Forest Preserve

Trailhead: Red Trail · 42.27692, -89.36985

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:43 AM · sunset 7:00 PM

Horses allowed on the whole route · Toilets at the trailhead

  1. Start on Red Trail, heading SE.
  2. 0.8 miSharp right, heading NW.
  3. 150 ftBear right, heading N.
  4. 250 ftTurn right onto Blue Trail, heading NE.
  5. 0.3 miReach Red Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  6. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
  7. 250 ftBear left, heading S.
  8. 150 ftSharp left onto Red Trail, heading SE.
  9. 0.8 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/blue-trail-red-trail-out-back-e88c

Trail surface

100% grass

Weather

Sunrise 6:43 AMSunset 7:00 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~3 min). Leave by 6:38 PM for the 7:00 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:17 PM — 11 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Horses allowed on the whole route
  • Toilets at the trailhead

Hikes near Pecatonica, Illinois