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Twisting through the center of the natural area, Green Trail offers the most solitude out of Saw Wee Kee's many trails.


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Map Key

0.9

Miles

1.4

KM

100%

Runnable

611' 186 m

High

599' 183 m

Low

34' 10 m

Up

35' 11 m

Down

1%

Avg Grade (1°)

7%

Max Grade (4°)

Dogs Leashed

Saw Wee Kee Park is open during daylight hours only.

Need to Know

Local mountain bikers have come up with their own trail names, separate from the official ones on the park district's trail map. This can lead to come confusion when comparing routes online. To make things more difficult, trails sometimes diverge from the official map, particularly around the southern convergence of the Red, Yellow, and Blue Trail. GPX tracks shown on Adventure Project's sites are accurate, and the wrong course won't take visitors far anyway. It's a small park.

Sundown Lane, the road used to access the park, is lined with a number of private residences. Please keep your speed and noise levels down when visiting.

Canoes and kayaks can take advantage of the small boat launch at the northern parking area.

The marsh and river are home to hoards of mosquitos in the warmer months. Come prepared.

Runner Notes

Mostly flat and usually smooth, runners can get away with street shoes in Saw Wee Kee Park. Rock plates may be nice in the few bumpy areas, but these are easy, low key trails that most visitors will manage without any trouble.

Saw Wee Kee is popular among mountain bikers. Keep an eye open around blind corners and please stay off of any MTB-specific features.

Description

Thanks to fewer connections to other trails, Green Trail is one of the quieter options in Saw Wee Kee Park. Its northern end can be found a short distance into the Blue Trail. Look for a green painted rock (instead of the usual metal marker or painted tree) near where the smooth dirt singletrack heads north.

The path soon joins the Yellow Trail as it makes a lazy circle around a peaceful marsh. Stay left as Yellow Trail breaks off to the right. From here, it's a winding path with some gentle rollercoaster ups and downs, meandering through the woodland. The challenge is light, but it's enough to keep things interesting, similar to the Red Trail.

About three quarters of a mile in, the path again rejoins the Yellow Trail at a four way intersection. Follow for another couple hundred feet, splitting off to the left to end at the Blue Trail.

Flora & Fauna

Acquired from the State of Illinois in 1963, this former strip mine has been converted into a natural area. Adjacent to the Fox River, the park features shady woodlands and marshy wetlands. Animals typical to the area can be seen -- badgers, cottontail rabbits, deer -- and bald eagles have been spotted. On the less desirable side, the park asks visitors to check their shoes and gear for invasive plant seeds before leaving. Buckthorn, multiflora rose, garlic mustard, and reed canary are all called out by the park district as problematic species.

Contacts

Land Manager: Oswegoland Park District

Shared By:

Brendan Ross

Trail Ratings

  3.0 from 1 vote

#40123

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  3.0 from 1 vote
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Trail Rankings

#470

in Illinois

#40,123

Overall
3 Views Last Month
6 Since Sep 17, 2020
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Photos

Green, shady, quiet, and flat -- Saw Wee Kee Park is a low key, easygoing escape about an hour from Chicago.
Sep 17, 2020 near Lynwood, IL
A bit different terrain from the rest of the park - on the Saw Wee Kee Trail
Apr 8, 2015 near Lynwood, IL

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