AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve

Riverbend Viewpoint via Night Heron Trail

8.2 mi · ▲ 144 ft · 2 hr 48 min

Riverbend Viewpoint via Night Heron Trail is an 8.2-mile out-and-back in Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve near Oakbrook Terrace, IL. The route reaches Riverbend Viewpoint at the turnaround, 4.1 miles in. It is mostly level, with 144 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi643 – 722 ft8.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.84222, -87.95790
Nearest town Oakbrook Terrace, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Riverbend Viewpoint via Night Heron Trail

8.2 mi · ▲ 144 ft · 2 hr 48 min

Elevation 644–722 ft

Out & Back · Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 41.84222, -87.95790

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:53 PM

Transit-accessible: 22nd Street & Kingery stop 519 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 1.3 miTurn left, heading S.
  3. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  4. 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
  5. 1.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  6. 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
  7. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  8. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  9. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  10. 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
  11. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Night Heron Trail, heading S.
  12. 0.3 miTurn left onto Rainbow Bridge, heading S.
  13. 250 ftTurn left onto Night Heron Trail, heading W.
  14. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Monarch Trail, heading E.
  15. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SE.
  16. 250 ftBear left, heading SE.
  17. 50 ftTurn left onto Riverbend Trail, heading SE.
  18. 50 ftReach Riverbend Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  19. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  20. 50 ftBear right onto Monarch Trail, heading E.
  21. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Night Heron Trail, heading E.
  22. 0.1 miTurn right onto Rainbow Bridge, heading SW.
  23. 200 ftTurn right onto Night Heron Trail, heading W.
  24. 0.5 miTurn left, heading NE.
  25. 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
  26. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  27. 0.2 miBear left, heading W.
  28. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  29. 250 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  30. 1.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  31. 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
  32. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  33. 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/riverbend-viewpoint-out-back-13-km

Trail surface

50% paved19% gravel1% boardwalk30% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.3 mi in (~58 min). Leave by 5:35 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:05 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: 22nd Street & Kingery stop 519 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois