AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Poplar Creek Forest Preserve

Poplar Creek Yellow Unpaved Trail

7.1 mi · ▲ 160 ft · 2 hr 27 min

Poplar Creek Yellow Unpaved Trail is a 7.1-mile out-and-back in Poplar Creek Forest Preserve near Sherwood Oaks, IL. It is mostly level, with 160 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi771 – 856 ft7.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.02417, -88.20508
Nearest town Sherwood Oaks, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Poplar Creek Yellow Unpaved Trail

7.1 mi · ▲ 160 ft · 2 hr 27 min

Elevation 770–855 ft

Out & Back · Poplar Creek Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 42.02417, -88.20508

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
  3. 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
  4. 450 ftBear left, heading N.
  5. 250 ftBear left, heading N.
  6. 0.1 miBear right onto Poplar Creek Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading NE.
  7. 1.5 miTurn right onto Poplar Creek Tan Unpaved Trail, heading N.
  8. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Red Trail, heading N.
  9. 50 ftBear left onto Poplar Creek Orange Unpaved Trail, heading N.
  10. 0.1 miTurn right onto Poplar Creek Brown Unpaved Trail, heading N.
  11. 200 ftContinue straight onto Poplar Creek Red Paved Trail, heading NW.
  12. 50 ftContinue straight onto Poplar Creek Brown Unpaved Trail, heading NW.
  13. 0.4 miBear right onto Poplar Creek Red Paved Trail, heading N.
  14. 0.5 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  15. 0.5 miBear left onto Poplar Creek Brown Unpaved Trail, heading S.
  16. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Poplar Creek Red Paved Trail, heading S.
  17. 50 ftContinue straight onto Poplar Creek Brown Unpaved Trail, heading S.
  18. 150 ftTurn left onto Poplar Creek Orange Unpaved Trail, heading S.
  19. 0.1 miBear right onto Red Trail, heading SW.
  20. 50 ftContinue straight onto Poplar Creek Tan Unpaved Trail, heading SW.
  21. 0.2 miTurn left onto Poplar Creek Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading S.
  22. 1.5 miBear left, heading W.
  23. 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
  24. 250 ftBear right, heading W.
  25. 450 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  26. 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  27. 0.3 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-yellow-unpaved-trail-out-back-11-km-f879

Trail surface

45% dirt36% paved13% grass6% gravel

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:55 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.5 mi in (~89 min). Leave by 5:07 PM for the 6:55 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:38 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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