Poplar Creek Forest Preserve

Poplar Creek Yellow Unpaved Trail

8.2 mi · ▲ 111 ft · 2 hr 47 min

Poplar Creek Yellow Unpaved Trail is an 8.2-mile out-and-back in Poplar Creek Forest Preserve near Streamwood, IL. It is mostly level, with 111 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi771 – 856 ft8.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.02462, -88.19706
Nearest town Streamwood, IL

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Poplar Creek Yellow Unpaved Trail

8.2 mi · ▲ 111 ft · 2 hr 47 min

Elevation 770–855 ft

Out & Back · Poplar Creek Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 42.02462, -88.19706

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:54 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 500 ftTurn right, heading W.
  3. 0.4 miSharp right, heading NW.
  4. 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
  5. 100 ftBear right, heading NW.
  6. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  7. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  8. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NW.
  9. 450 ftBear left, heading NE.
  10. 250 ftBear left, heading N.
  11. 0.1 miBear right onto Poplar Creek Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading NE.
  12. 1.5 miTurn right onto Poplar Creek Tan Unpaved Trail, heading N.
  13. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Red Trail, heading NE.
  14. 50 ftBear left onto Poplar Creek Orange Unpaved Trail, heading N.
  15. 0.1 miTurn right onto Poplar Creek Brown Unpaved Trail, heading N.
  16. 150 ftContinue straight onto Poplar Creek Red Paved Trail, heading NW.
  17. 50 ftContinue straight onto Poplar Creek Brown Unpaved Trail, heading NW.
  18. 0.4 miBear right onto Poplar Creek Red Paved Trail, heading N.
  19. 0.5 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  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. 150 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 W.
  28. 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
  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 NE.
  34. 100 ftBear left, heading NE.
  35. 0.1 miSharp left, heading E.
  36. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NE.
  37. 250 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

45% paved39% dirt11% grass5% gravel

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:54 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.1 mi in (~103 min). Leave by 4:50 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:50 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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