AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Poplar Creek Forest Preserve

Bode Lake–Poplar Creek Orange Unpaved Trail, 3 sights

10.6 mi · ▲ 112 ft · 3 hr 35 min

Bode Lake–Poplar Creek Orange Unpaved Trail, 3 sights is a 10.6-mile out-and-back in Poplar Creek Forest Preserve near Streamwood, IL. The route passes Bode Lake and Bode Lake. It is mostly level, with 112 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi768 – 824 ft11.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Poplar Creek Red Paved Trail 42.05214, -88.14465
Nearest town Streamwood, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Bode Lake–Poplar Creek Orange Unpaved Trail, 3 sights

10.6 mi · ▲ 112 ft · 3 hr 35 min

Elevation 768–823 ft

Out & Back · Poplar Creek Forest Preserve

Trailhead: Poplar Creek Red Paved Trail · 42.05214, -88.14465

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:53 PM

Transit-accessible: St. Alexius Medical Center stop 220 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Poplar Creek Red Paved Trail, heading S.
  2. 1.4 miTurn right, heading W.
  3. 0.2 miPass Bode Lake.
  4. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  5. 0.3 miPass Bode Lake.
  6. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  7. 0.5 miTurn right onto Poplar Creek Orange Unpaved Trail, heading W.
  8. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Poplar Creek Green Unpaved Trail, heading SW.
  9. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Poplar Creek Orange Unpaved Trail, heading W.
  10. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  11. 50 ftTurn left onto Poplar Creek Tan Unpaved Trail, heading NW.
  12. 0.2 miBear right onto Poplar Creek Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading W.
  13. 1.2 miContinue straight onto Poplar Creek Purple Unpaved Trail, heading SW.
  14. 0.4 miReach Bode Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Poplar Creek Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading N.
  16. 1.2 miBear left onto Poplar Creek Tan Unpaved Trail, heading E.
  17. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
  18. 100 ftTurn right onto Poplar Creek Orange Unpaved Trail, heading E.
  19. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Poplar Creek Green Unpaved Trail, heading S.
  20. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Poplar Creek Orange Unpaved Trail, heading E.
  21. 0.5 miTurn left onto Poplar Creek Red Paved Trail, heading S.
  22. 0.5 miTurn left, heading E.
  23. 200 ftTurn right, heading E.
  24. 0.7 miTurn right, heading E.
  25. 1.4 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/bode-lake-bode-lake-out-back-6-lakes-12-km

Trail surface

41% paved23% grass22% gravel14% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 6:33 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 6:53 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:21 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: St. Alexius Medical Center stop 220 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Poplar Creek Red Paved Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Streamwood, Illinois