AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Leroy Oaks Forest Preserve

Chicago Great Western Railway

4.9 mi · ▲ 55 ft · 1 hr 40 min

Chicago Great Western Railway is a 4.9-mile out-and-back in Leroy Oaks Forest Preserve near Knoll Creek West, IL. It is mostly level, with 55 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi742 – 804 ft5.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Cross Country Loop 41.92734, -88.35055
Nearest town Knoll Creek West, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Chicago Great Western Railway

4.9 mi · ▲ 55 ft · 1 hr 40 min

Elevation 741–803 ft

Out & Back · Leroy Oaks Forest Preserve

Trailhead: Cross Country Loop · 41.92734, -88.35055

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:56 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Cross Country Loop, heading W.
  2. 200 ftContinue straight onto Prairie Loop Trail, heading SW.
  3. 150 ftContinue straight onto Cross Country Loop, heading W.
  4. 50 ftContinue straight onto Prairie Loop Trail, heading W.
  5. 50 ftContinue straight onto Cross Country Loop, heading W.
  6. 250 ftBear left, heading W.
  7. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  8. 0.2 miSharp right onto Chicago Great Western Railway, heading SE.
  9. 1.4 miContinue straight onto Great Western Trail, heading NW.
  10. 0.5 miReach Chicago Great Western Railway, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  11. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Chicago Great Western Railway, heading SE.
  12. 1.4 miSharp left, heading NE.
  13. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  14. 150 ftContinue straight onto Cross Country Loop, heading NW.
  15. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Prairie Loop Trail, heading N.
  16. 50 ftContinue straight onto Cross Country Loop, heading N.
  17. 50 ftContinue straight onto Prairie Loop Trail, heading N.
  18. 200 ftContinue straight onto Cross Country Loop, heading N.
  19. 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/chicago-great-western-railway-out-back-8-km-dd20

Trail surface

35% paved11% grass2% gravel52% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:56 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.2 mi in (~54 min). Leave by 5:42 PM for the 6:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:04 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Cross Country Loop Trailhead

Hikes near Knoll Creek West, Illinois