AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Poplar Creek Forest Preserve

Poplar Creek Spur via Poplar Creek Yellow Unpaved Trail

8.7 mi · ▲ 214 ft · 3 hr

Poplar Creek Spur via Poplar Creek Yellow Unpaved Trail is an 8.7-mile out-and-back in Poplar Creek Forest Preserve near Sherwood Oaks, IL. It is mostly level, with 214 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi771 – 866 ft9.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.02223, -88.20322
Nearest town Sherwood Oaks, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Poplar Creek Spur via Poplar Creek Yellow Unpaved Trail

8.7 mi · ▲ 214 ft · 3 hr

Elevation 770–867 ft

Out & Back · Poplar Creek Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 42.02223, -88.20322

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:55 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  3. 100 ftBear right, heading NW.
  4. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  5. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  6. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
  7. 450 ftBear left, heading NE.
  8. 250 ftBear left, heading N.
  9. 0.1 miBear right onto Poplar Creek Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading NE.
  10. 1.5 miTurn right onto Poplar Creek Tan Unpaved Trail, heading N.
  11. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Red Trail, heading NE.
  12. 50 ftBear left onto Poplar Creek Orange Unpaved Trail, heading N.
  13. 0.1 miTurn right onto Poplar Creek Brown Unpaved Trail, heading N.
  14. 150 ftContinue straight onto Poplar Creek Red Paved Trail, heading NW.
  15. 50 ftContinue straight onto Poplar Creek Brown Unpaved Trail, heading NW.
  16. 0.4 miBear right onto Poplar Creek Red Paved Trail, heading N.
  17. 0.5 miTurn left onto Poplar Creek Spur, heading NE.
  18. 0.7 miReach Poplar Creek Spur, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  19. 0.7 miTurn right onto Poplar Creek Red Paved Trail, heading E.
  20. 0.5 miBear left onto Poplar Creek Brown Unpaved Trail, heading S.
  21. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Poplar Creek Red Paved Trail, heading S.
  22. 50 ftContinue straight onto Poplar Creek Brown Unpaved Trail, heading S.
  23. 200 ftTurn left onto Poplar Creek Orange Unpaved Trail, heading S.
  24. 0.1 miBear right onto Red Trail, heading S.
  25. 50 ftContinue straight onto Poplar Creek Tan Unpaved Trail, heading S.
  26. 0.2 miTurn left onto Poplar Creek Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading S.
  27. 1.5 miBear left, heading SW.
  28. 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
  29. 250 ftBear right, heading W.
  30. 450 ftTurn left, heading W.
  31. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SW.
  32. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  33. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  34. 100 ftBear left, heading E.
  35. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/poplar-creek-spur-out-back-14-km

Trail surface

48% paved36% dirt11% grass5% gravel

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:55 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.8 mi in (~97 min). Leave by 4:59 PM for the 6:55 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:45 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Sherwood Oaks, Illinois