Green Trail

Dogs Leashed

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.

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.

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.