AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Great Western Trail

7.5 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 2 hr 32 min

Great Western Trail is a 7.5-mile out-and-back near Gretna, IL. It is mostly level, with 53 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi732 – 794 ft7.7 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

7.5 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 2 hr 32 min

Elevation 731–793 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Great Western Trail · 41.89778, -88.10213

Weather Sep 21: 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. 3.8 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  3. 3.7 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-out-back-12-km-237e

Trail surface

100% gravel

Weather

Sunrise 6:38 AMSunset 6:55 PM

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