AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Poplar Creek Forest Preserve

Poplar Creek Yellow Unpaved Trail

8.9 mi · ▲ 110 ft · 3 hr 1 min

Poplar Creek Yellow Unpaved Trail is an 8.9-mile out-and-back in Poplar Creek Forest Preserve near Streamwood, IL. It is mostly level, with 110 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi771 – 856 ft9.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.01956, -88.19571
Nearest town Streamwood, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Poplar Creek Yellow Unpaved Trail

8.9 mi · ▲ 110 ft · 3 hr 1 min

Elevation 770–855 ft

Out & Back · Poplar Creek Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 42.01956, -88.19571

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  3. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
  4. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  5. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  6. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  7. 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  8. 0.4 miSharp right, heading NW.
  9. 0.2 miBear right, heading NW.
  10. 100 ftBear right, heading N.
  11. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  12. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  13. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NW.
  14. 450 ftBear left, heading NE.
  15. 250 ftBear left, heading NE.
  16. 0.1 miBear right onto Poplar Creek Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading N.
  17. 1.5 miTurn right onto Poplar Creek Tan Unpaved Trail, heading N.
  18. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Red Trail, heading NE.
  19. 50 ftBear left onto Poplar Creek Orange Unpaved Trail, heading NE.
  20. 0.1 miTurn right onto Poplar Creek Brown Unpaved Trail, heading N.
  21. 150 ftContinue straight onto Poplar Creek Red Paved Trail, heading N.
  22. 50 ftContinue straight onto Poplar Creek Brown Unpaved Trail, heading N.
  23. 0.4 miBear right onto Poplar Creek Red Paved Trail, heading N.
  24. 0.5 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  25. 0.5 miBear left onto Poplar Creek Brown Unpaved Trail, heading SE.
  26. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Poplar Creek Red Paved Trail, heading S.
  27. 50 ftContinue straight onto Poplar Creek Brown Unpaved Trail, heading S.
  28. 200 ftTurn left onto Poplar Creek Orange Unpaved Trail, heading S.
  29. 0.1 miBear right onto Red Trail, heading S.
  30. 50 ftContinue straight onto Poplar Creek Tan Unpaved Trail, heading S.
  31. 0.2 miTurn left onto Poplar Creek Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading S.
  32. 1.5 miBear left, heading SW.
  33. 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
  34. 250 ftBear right, heading S.
  35. 450 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  36. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SW.
  37. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  38. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  39. 100 ftBear left, heading E.
  40. 0.1 miSharp left, heading S.
  41. 0.4 miTurn right, heading N.
  42. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  43. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  44. 100 ftTurn right, heading E.
  45. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  46. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  47. 450 ftArrive 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-14-km-a9b9

Trail surface

48% paved36% dirt11% grass4% gravel1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:54 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.4 mi in (~111 min). Leave by 4:42 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:58 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Streamwood, Illinois