Sunset hikes

A short walk out, the whole show, and back at your car before dark. Times are estimates at a relaxed pace; give yourself extra buffer, especially with kids or in a group.

1. Blue Unpaved Trail–Brown Unpaved Trail, 8 sights 1.5 mi away

   Leave by 5:32 PM

   1. Leave trailhead5:32 PM
   2. Sunset6:52 PM
   3. Head back7:07 PM
   4. At your car8:08 PM
   5. Dark7:20 PM

   Back at your car by 8:08 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   2.4 mi to the viewpoint · 70 ft climb · 122 min of walking

2. Green Unpaved Trail & Tan Unpaved Spur 1.9 mi away

   Leave by 6:09 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:09 PM
   2. Sunset6:52 PM
   3. Head back7:07 PM
   4. At your car7:31 PM
   5. Dark7:20 PM

   Back at your car by 7:31 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   0.9 mi to the viewpoint · 46 min of walking

3. Horsetail Lake–Green Unpaved Trail, 4 sights 1.9 mi away

   Leave by 5:31 PM

   1. Leave trailhead5:31 PM
   2. Sunset6:52 PM
   3. Head back7:07 PM
   4. At your car8:09 PM
   5. Dark7:20 PM

   Back at your car by 8:09 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   2.5 mi to the viewpoint · 60 ft climb · 123 min of walking

4. Sag Valley Brown Unpaved Loop & Sag Valley Red Unpaved Trail 2 mi away

   Be there by 6:32 PM

   1. Be there6:32 PM
   2. Sunset6:52 PM
   3. Dark7:20 PM

   Your car is right there — dark at 7:20 PM.

   The viewpoint is right at the trailhead

5. Edelweiss Lake & Green Unpaved Trail via Cal-Sag Trail 1.9 mi away

   Leave by 6:28 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:28 PM
   2. Sunset6:52 PM
   3. Head back7:07 PM
   4. At your car7:12 PM
   5. Dark7:20 PM

   Back at your car by 7:12 PM — 9 min before dark.

   0.2 mi to the viewpoint · 9 min of walking

6. Tan Unpaved Trail 2.4 mi away

   Leave by 6:06 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:06 PM
   2. Sunset6:52 PM
   3. Head back7:07 PM
   4. At your car7:32 PM
   5. Dark7:20 PM

   Back at your car by 7:32 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   1.0 mi to the viewpoint · 110 ft climb · 52 min of walking

7. Sag Quarry West & John Husar I&M Canal Paved Trail 1 mi away

   Leave by 5:45 PM

   1. Leave trailhead5:45 PM
   2. Sunset6:52 PM
   3. Head back7:07 PM
   4. At your car7:55 PM
   5. Dark7:20 PM

   Back at your car by 7:55 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   2.0 mi to the viewpoint · 96 min of walking

8. Sag Quarry East–Sag Quarry West, 3 lakes 1 mi away

   Leave by 5:56 PM

   1. Leave trailhead5:56 PM
   2. Sunset6:53 PM
   3. Head back7:08 PM
   4. At your car7:44 PM
   5. Dark7:20 PM

   Back at your car by 7:44 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   1.5 mi to the viewpoint · 72 min of walking

9. Saganashkee Slough–Tomahawk Slough, 4 sights 0 mi away

   Leave by 5:21 PM

   1. Leave trailhead5:21 PM
   2. Sunset6:52 PM
   3. Head back7:07 PM
   4. At your car8:22 PM
   5. Dark7:20 PM

   Back at your car by 8:22 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   2.9 mi to the viewpoint · 145 min of walking

10. Paw Paw Woods Nature Preserve–Saganashkee Slough, 6 sights 0.2 mi away

    Leave by 4:02 PM

    1. Leave trailhead4:02 PM
    2. Sunset6:52 PM
    3. Head back7:07 PM
    4. At your car9:40 PM
    5. Dark7:20 PM

    Back at your car by 9:40 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

    5.9 mi to the viewpoint · 240 ft climb · 303 min of walking

11. Main Trail 5.3 mi away

    Leave by 6:26 PM

    1. Leave trailhead6:26 PM
    2. Sunset6:53 PM
    3. Head back7:08 PM
    4. At your car7:15 PM
    5. Dark7:21 PM

    Back at your car by 7:15 PM — 6 min before dark.

    0.3 mi to the viewpoint · 14 min of walkingCar visible from the viewpoint

12. Des Plaines River Scenic Overlook & Main Trail 6 mi away

    Leave by 6:28 PM

    1. Leave trailhead6:28 PM
    2. Sunset6:53 PM
    3. Head back7:08 PM
    4. At your car7:12 PM
    5. Dark7:21 PM

    Back at your car by 7:12 PM — 8 min before dark.

    0.2 mi to the viewpoint · 10 min of walkingCar visible from the viewpoint