Sag Quarry East–Sag Quarry West, 3 lakes
9.1 mi · ▲ 128 ft · 3 hr 6 min
Sag Quarry East–Sag Quarry West, 3 lakes is a 9.1-mile out-and-back in Sag Valley Forest Preserve near Palos Park, IL. The route passes Sag Quarry West before reaching Sag Quarry East at the turnaround, 4.5 miles in. It is mostly level, with 128 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Sag Quarry East–Sag Quarry West, 3 lakes
9.1 mi · ▲ 128 ft · 3 hr 6 min
Elevation 587–711 ft
Out & Back · Sag Valley Forest Preserve
Trailhead: Swallow Cliff Woods-South Trail Access · 41.67421, -87.86001
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:52 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Brown Unpaved Trail, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Tan Unpaved Spur, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Swallow Cliff Stairs, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Yellow Unpaved Loop, heading W.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Cal-Sag Trail, heading W.
- 2.9 miPass Sag Quarry West.
- 0.2 miReach Sag Quarry East, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 3.4 miTurn left onto Yellow Unpaved Loop, heading S.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Swallow Cliff Stairs, heading E.
- 250 ftTurn left onto Tan Unpaved Spur, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Brown Unpaved Trail, heading S.
- 150 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.1 mi in (~74 min). Leave by 5:18 PM for the 6:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:24 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Swallow Cliff Woods-South Trail Access Trailhead
- Edelweiss Lake & Tan Unpaved Spur via Cal-Sag Trail 9.9 mi · ▲ 128 ft
- Brown Unpaved Trail–Tan Unpaved Spur, 3 sights 5.3 mi · ▲ 137 ft
- Horsetail Lake–Black Unpaved Trail, 4 sights 5 mi · ▲ 137 ft
- Purple Unpaved Trail & Tan Unpaved Spur Loop via Yellow Unpaved Loop 2.2 mi · ▲ 120 ft
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