AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Cahokia Flatwoods Forest Preserve

Potawatomi Woods–Indian Creek, 3 groves

12.6 mi · ▲ 55 ft · 4 hr 14 min

Potawatomi Woods–Indian Creek, 3 groves is a 12.6-mile out-and-back in Cahokia Flatwoods Forest Preserve near Bannockburn, IL. The route passes Indian Creek before reaching Potawatomi Woods at the turnaround, 6.2 miles in. It is mostly level, with 55 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi633 – 696 ft14.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.20003, -87.87725
Nearest town Bannockburn, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Potawatomi Woods–Indian Creek, 3 groves

12.6 mi · ▲ 55 ft · 4 hr 14 min

Elevation 634–696 ft

Out & Back · Cahokia Flatwoods Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 42.20003, -87.87725

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:52 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Buffalo Grove-Lincolnshire Bike Path, heading W.
  3. 0.6 miTurn right, heading W.
  4. 0.9 miPass Indian Creek.
  5. 250 ftBear left onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading W.
  6. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  7. 0.2 miTurn left onto Marriott Drive, heading S.
  8. 300 ftTurn right, heading W.
  9. 100 ftContinue straight onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading S.
  10. 0.3 miBear left, heading S.
  11. 3 miPass Potawatomi Woods.
  12. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Des Plaines River Trail Orange Unpaved (North), heading SE.
  13. 50 ftContinue straight onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading SE.
  14. 150 ftContinue straight onto Des Plaines River Trail Orange Unpaved (North), heading SE.
  15. 100 ftContinue straight onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading SE.
  16. 50 ftContinue straight onto Des Plaines River Trail Orange Unpaved (North), heading SE.
  17. 50 ftReach Potawatomi Woods, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 50 ftContinue straight onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading SE.
  19. 50 ftContinue straight onto Des Plaines River Trail Orange Unpaved (North), heading SE.
  20. 50 ftContinue straight onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading S.
  21. 200 ftContinue straight onto Des Plaines River Trail Orange Unpaved (North), heading SE.
  22. 50 ftContinue straight onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading SE.
  23. 3.7 miTurn left onto Marriott Drive, heading W.
  24. 250 ftTurn right onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading N.
  25. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  26. 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
  27. 300 ftBear right onto Buffalo Grove-Lincolnshire Bike Path, heading N.
  28. 1 miTurn right, heading E.
  29. 1 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/potawatomi-woods-indian-creek-out-back-4-sights-20-km

Trail surface

34% paved19% gravel2% boardwalk1% dirt44% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:52 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.7 mi in (~17 min). Leave by 6:15 PM for the 6:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:25 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Bannockburn, Illinois