Poplar Creek Forest Preserve

Poplar Creek Red Paved Trail

10.1 mi · ▲ 164 ft · 3 hr 27 min

Poplar Creek Red Paved Trail is a 10.1-mile out-and-back in Poplar Creek Forest Preserve near South Barrington, IL. It is mostly level, with 164 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi771 – 866 ft10.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.06172, -88.14963
Nearest town South Barrington, IL

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Poplar Creek Red Paved Trail

10.1 mi · ▲ 164 ft · 3 hr 27 min

Elevation 770–866 ft

Out & Back · Poplar Creek Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 42.06172, -88.14963

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:53 PM

Bikes allowed on the whole route · Transit-accessible: Pace I-90/Barrington Road Park-n-Ride stop 766 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 50 ftTurn left onto Poplar Creek Red Paved Trail, heading SW.
  3. 3.2 miBear left onto Poplar Creek Brown Unpaved Trail, heading S.
  4. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Poplar Creek Red Paved Trail, heading S.
  5. 50 ftContinue straight onto Poplar Creek Brown Unpaved Trail, heading S.
  6. 150 ftTurn left onto Poplar Creek Orange Unpaved Trail, heading SW.
  7. 0.1 miBear right onto Red Trail, heading S.
  8. 50 ftContinue straight onto Poplar Creek Tan Unpaved Trail, heading S.
  9. 0.2 miTurn left onto Poplar Creek Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading W.
  10. 1.1 miReach Poplar Creek Red Paved Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  11. 1.1 miTurn right onto Poplar Creek Tan Unpaved Trail, heading N.
  12. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Red Trail, heading E.
  13. 50 ftBear left onto Poplar Creek Orange Unpaved Trail, heading E.
  14. 0.1 miTurn right onto Poplar Creek Brown Unpaved Trail, heading N.
  15. 150 ftContinue straight onto Poplar Creek Red Paved Trail, heading N.
  16. 50 ftContinue straight onto Poplar Creek Brown Unpaved Trail, heading N.
  17. 0.4 miBear right onto Poplar Creek Red Paved Trail, heading N.
  18. 3.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
  19. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

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

Trail surface

63% paved32% dirt4% grass1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.7 mi in (~68 min). Leave by 5:26 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:15 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Bikes allowed on the whole route
  • Transit-accessible: Pace I-90/Barrington Road Park-n-Ride stop 766 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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