AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Great Western Trail

8.3 mi · ▲ 80 ft · 2 hr 48 min

Great Western Trail is an 8.3-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 mi696 – 791 ft8.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Great Western Trail 41.89778, -88.10213
Nearest town Gretna, IL
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Great Western Trail

8.3 mi · ▲ 80 ft · 2 hr 48 min

Elevation 696–792 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Great Western Trail · 41.89778, -88.10213

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:51 PM

Transit-accessible: St. Charles & Schmale stop 79 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Great Western Trail, heading NE.
  2. 4.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  3. 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-out-back-13-km-dc91

Trail surface

97% gravel2% paved1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:51 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.8 mi in (~19 min). Leave by 6:13 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:25 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • 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