Seward Bluffs Forest Preserve

Orange Trail & Red Trail

4.5 mi · ▲ 218 ft · 1 hr 37 min

Orange Trail & Red Trail is a 4.5-mile out-and-back in Seward Bluffs Forest Preserve near Pecatonica, IL. It is mostly level, with 218 ft of elevation gain, and mostly grass. It scores 11/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi768 – 889 ft4.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Red Trail 42.28182, -89.36346
Nearest town Pecatonica, IL

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Orange Trail & Red Trail

4.5 mi · ▲ 218 ft · 1 hr 37 min

Elevation 767–891 ft

Out & Back · Seward Bluffs Forest Preserve

Trailhead: Red Trail · 42.28182, -89.36346

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:43 AM · sunset 7:00 PM

  1. Start on Red Trail, heading S.
  2. 0.7 miBear right, heading S.
  3. 0.8 miSharp right, heading W.
  4. 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  5. 50 ftContinue straight onto Orange Trail, heading SW.
  6. 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  7. 0.5 miReach Red Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  8. 0.4 miTurn right, heading S.
  9. 0.4 miTurn right, heading E.
  10. 150 ftSharp left onto Red Trail, heading E.
  11. 1.4 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

100% grass

Weather

Sunrise 6:43 AMSunset 7:00 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.0 mi in (~50 min). Leave by 5:50 PM for the 7:00 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:07 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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