Greene Valley Forest Preserve

Whalon Lake–Oak Spur Trail, 3 sights

4.7 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 1 hr 35 min

Whalon Lake–Oak Spur Trail, 3 sights is a 4.7-mile out-and-back in Greene Valley Forest Preserve near Heritage Creek, IL. The route reaches Whalon Lake at the turnaround, 2.3 miles in. It is mostly level, with 27 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi650 – 699 ft4.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.73812, -88.07519
Nearest town Heritage Creek, IL

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Whalon Lake–Oak Spur Trail, 3 sights

4.7 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 1 hr 35 min

Elevation 650–699 ft

Out & Back · Greene Valley Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 41.73812, -88.07519

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

Bikes allowed on the whole route · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 0.2 miTurn right onto Greene Trail, heading SE.
  3. 350 ftTurn right onto Valley Trail (1.0 mi), heading SE.
  4. 50 ftContinue straight onto Greene Trail, heading SE.
  5. 250 ftTurn right onto Oak Spur Trail, heading S.
  6. 0.8 miBear left, heading NW.
  7. 1.2 miReach Whalon Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  8. 2 miTurn left onto Greene Trail, heading E.
  9. 300 ftContinue straight onto Valley Trail (1.0 mi), heading N.
  10. 50 ftTurn left onto Greene Trail, heading N.
  11. 350 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  12. 0.1 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

100% gravel

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.5 mi in (~37 min). Leave by 5:56 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:45 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Bikes allowed on the whole route
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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