AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Great Western Trail

11.2 mi · ▲ 80 ft · 3 hr 46 min

Great Western Trail is an 11.2-mile out-and-back near Gretna, IL. It is mostly level, with 80 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi722 – 794 ft11.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Great Western Trail 41.89778, -88.10213
Nearest town Gretna, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Great Western Trail

11.2 mi · ▲ 80 ft · 3 hr 46 min

Elevation 720–793 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Great Western Trail · 41.89778, -88.10213

Weather Sep 20: Heavy rain, high 69°F / low 61° · precip 100% · wind 12 mph · sunrise 6:38 AM · sunset 6:55 PM

Bikes allowed on the whole route · Transit-accessible: St. Charles & Schmale stop 79 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Great Western Trail, heading NW.
  2. 4.3 miContinue straight onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading W.
  3. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Great Western Trail, heading W.
  4. 1.1 miReach Great Western Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  5. 1.1 miContinue straight onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading E.
  6. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Great Western Trail, heading E.
  7. 4.1 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/great-western-trail-great-western-trail-out-back-18-km-e9b3

Trail surface

99% gravel1% paved

Weather

Heavy rainTemperature 69°F61°
Precip100%Wind12 mphUV1Humidity91%
Rained 0.8″ yesterday (4.3″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperatureRain chance
70°60° 12 AM: 58% rain1 AM: 67% rain2 AM: 76% rain3 AM: 74% rain4 AM: 98% rain5 AM: 100% rain6 AM: 94% rain7 AM: 84% rain8 AM: 73% rain9 AM: 69% rain10 AM: 53% rain11 AM: 44% rain12 PM: 63% rain1 PM: 73% rain2 PM: 68% rain3 PM: 47% rain4 PM: 19% rain5 PM: 10% rain6 PM: 14% rain7 PM: 9% rain8 PM: 16% rain9 PM: 10% rain10 PM: 6% rain11 PM: 8% rain
Sunrise 6:38 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:55 PM
Mon 62°58° 25%
Tue 59°54°
Wed 62°55°
Thu 64°58°
Fri 69°56°
Sat 60°58°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.2 mi in (~6 min). Leave by 6:29 PM for the 6:55 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:16 PM — 7 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Bikes allowed on the whole route
  • Transit-accessible: St. Charles & Schmale stop 79 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Great Western Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Gretna, Illinois