AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Sauk Trail Forest Preserve

Sauk Trail Lake–Old Plank Road Trail, 3 sights

15.8 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 5 hr 18 min

Sauk Trail Lake–Old Plank Road Trail, 3 sights is a 15.8-mile out-and-back in Sauk Trail Forest Preserve near Matteson, IL. The route reaches Sauk Trail Lake. It is mostly level, with 54 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi663 – 725 ft16.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Old Plank Road Trail 41.49895, -87.73352
Nearest town Matteson, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Sauk Trail Lake–Old Plank Road Trail, 3 sights

15.8 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 5 hr 18 min

Elevation 664–724 ft

Out & Back · Sauk Trail Forest Preserve

Trailhead: Old Plank Road Trail · 41.49895, -87.73352

Weather Sep 20: Heavy rain, high 69°F / low 61° · precip 93% · wind 14 mph · sunrise 6:37 AM · sunset 6:53 PM

Transit-accessible: 21430 Cicero Ave stop 206 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Old Plank Road Trail, heading SE.
  2. 4.4 miSharp right onto Thorn Creek Red Paved Trail, heading E.
  3. 0.6 miPass Sauk Trail Lake.
  4. 450 ftSharp left onto Thorn Creek Black Paved Loop, heading S.
  5. 1.1 miSharp left, heading SW.
  6. 0.5 miBear left onto Thorn Creek Purple Paved Trail, heading SW.
  7. 1.5 miReach Sauk Trail Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  8. 1.5 miBear right onto Thorn Creek Black Paved Loop, heading E.
  9. 0.5 miTurn left, heading NE.
  10. 1.1 miSharp right onto Thorn Creek Red Paved Trail, heading W.
  11. 0.6 miSharp left onto Old Plank Road Trail, heading N.
  12. 4.1 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/sauk-trail-lake-old-plank-road-trail-out-back-3-sights-25-km

Trail surface

100% paved

Weather

Heavy rainTemperature 69°F61°
Precip93%Wind14 mphUV1Humidity94%
Rained 2.5″ yesterday (3.6″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperatureRain chance
70°60° 12 AM: 58% rain1 AM: 66% rain2 AM: 90% rain3 AM: 93% rain4 AM: 92% rain5 AM: 84% rain6 AM: 89% rain7 AM: 62% rain8 AM: 60% rain9 AM: 62% rain10 AM: 25% rain11 AM: 27% rain12 PM: 40% rain1 PM: 66% rain2 PM: 71% rain3 PM: 51% rain4 PM: 42% rain5 PM: 26% rain6 PM: 6% rain7 PM: 10% rain8 PM: 3% rain9 PM: 3% rain10 PM: 3% rain11 PM: 4% rain
Sunrise 6:37 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:53 PM
Mon 61°58° 17%
Tue 61°54°
Wed 62°56°
Thu 65°58°
Fri 71°55°
Sat 63°57°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.8 mi in (~44 min). Leave by 5:50 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:53 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: 21430 Cicero Ave stop 206 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Old Plank Road Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Matteson, Illinois