Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve
Night Heron Viewpoint & Night Heron Trail via Salt Creek Bicycle Trail
6.3 mi · ▲ 59 ft · 2 hr 8 min
Night Heron Viewpoint & Night Heron Trail via Salt Creek Bicycle Trail is a 6.3-mile out-and-back in Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve near Mammoth Springs, IL. The route reaches Night Heron Viewpoint at the turnaround, 3.1 miles in. It is mostly level, with 59 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Night Heron Viewpoint & Night Heron Trail via Salt Creek Bicycle Trail
6.3 mi · ▲ 59 ft · 2 hr 8 min
Elevation 644–688 ft
Out & Back · Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve
Trailhead: 41.84667, -87.94609
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:53 PM
Transit-accessible: 22nd Street & McDonald stop 95 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading E.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading SE.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Salt Creek Bicycle Trail, heading S.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Night Heron Trail, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Rainbow Bridge, heading SW.
- 200 ftTurn left onto Night Heron Trail, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Riverbend Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Night Heron Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miReach Night Heron Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Riverbend Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Night Heron Trail, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Rainbow Bridge, heading NW.
- 200 ftTurn right onto Night Heron Trail, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Salt Creek Bicycle Trail, heading NW.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading N.
- 50 ftBear right, heading N.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 350 ftBear left, heading N.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
- 0.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~27 min). Leave by 6:05 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:36 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: 22nd Street & McDonald stop 95 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Salt Creek Bicycle Trail 4.9 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Salt Creek Bicycle Trail 4.8 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Salt Creek Bicycle Trail 4.9 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Salt Creek Bicycle Trail 4.8 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Salt Creek Bicycle Trail 4.8 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Salt Creek Bicycle Trail 4.7 mi · ▲ 0 ft
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