Tinley Creek Forest Preserve

Turtlehead Lake & Turtlehead Pond via Tinley Creek Red Paved Loop

4.9 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 1 hr 40 min

Turtlehead Lake & Turtlehead Pond via Tinley Creek Red Paved Loop is a 4.9-mile out-and-back in Tinley Creek Forest Preserve near Palos Heights, IL. The route passes Turtlehead Lake before reaching Turtlehead Pond at the turnaround, 2.4 miles in. It is mostly level, with 53 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi627 – 686 ft5.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.67138, -87.81060
Nearest town Palos Heights, IL

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Turtlehead Lake & Turtlehead Pond via Tinley Creek Red Paved Loop

4.9 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 1 hr 40 min

Elevation 628–686 ft

Out & Back · Tinley Creek Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 41.67138, -87.81060

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

Bikes allowed on the whole route

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 250 ftSharp right onto Tinley Creek Tan Paved Spur, heading SW.
  3. 1.6 miContinue straight onto Tinley Creek Red Paved Loop, heading S.
  4. 0.7 miPass Turtlehead Pond.
  5. 250 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  6. 450 ftReach Turtlehead Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  7. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Tinley Creek Tan Paved Spur, heading N.
  8. 1.6 miSharp left, heading N.
  9. 50 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

95% paved5% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:38 AMSunset 6:52 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.4 mi in (~34 min). Leave by 5:58 PM for the 6:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:41 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Bikes allowed on the whole route

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