AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Sag Valley Forest Preserve

Purple Unpaved Trail & Tan Unpaved Spur via Cal-Sag Trail

8.6 mi · ▲ 262 ft · 3 hr

Purple Unpaved Trail & Tan Unpaved Spur via Cal-Sag Trail is an 8.6-mile out-and-back in Sag Valley Forest Preserve near Palos Park, IL. It climbs 262 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi584 – 719 ft · steepest grade: 18%9.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Cal-Sag Trail 41.68270, -87.82985
Nearest town Palos Park, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Purple Unpaved Trail & Tan Unpaved Spur via Cal-Sag Trail

8.6 mi · ▲ 262 ft · 3 hr

Elevation 585–719 ft

Out & Back · Sag Valley Forest Preserve

Trailhead: Cal-Sag Trail · 41.68270, -87.82985

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:38 AM · sunset 6:52 PM

Transit-accessible: 111th Street & 86th Avenue stop 712 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Cal-Sag Trail, heading W.
  2. 2.8 miTurn left onto Yellow Unpaved Loop, heading SE.
  3. 0.6 miTurn right onto Swallow Cliff Stairs, heading SE.
  4. 250 ftTurn left onto Tan Unpaved Spur, heading S.
  5. 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
  6. 0.4 miTurn right onto Yellow Unpaved Loop, heading N.
  7. 0.2 miSharp right, heading E.
  8. 0.3 miTurn right onto Purple Unpaved Trail, heading SE.
  9. 100 ftReach Tan Unpaved Spur, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 100 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  11. 0.3 miSharp left onto Yellow Unpaved Loop, heading N.
  12. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  13. 0.4 miTurn right onto Tan Unpaved Spur, heading NW.
  14. 250 ftTurn right onto Swallow Cliff Stairs, heading NW.
  15. 250 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  16. 150 ftContinue straight onto Yellow Unpaved Loop, heading NW.
  17. 0.6 miTurn right, heading W.
  18. 0.3 miSharp right onto Cal-Sag Trail, heading N.
  19. 2.3 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/purple-unpaved-trail-tan-unpaved-spur-out-back

Trail surface

65% paved35% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:38 AMSunset 6:52 PM

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: 111th Street & 86th Avenue stop 712 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Cal-Sag Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Palos Park, Illinois