Overview
An ancient, well-worn path known as the Great Sauk Trail stretches 400 miles, crossing the southern edge of Cook County. This old American Indian thoroughfare now forms the southern boundary of Sauk Trail Woods Forest Preserve. Thorn Creek cuts through the middle of this preserve and forms Sauk Lake within its steep valley walls. The sweeping views and five miles of paved trails draw visitors to this 630-acre preserve.
The Thorn Creek trail system connects multiple forest preserves and offers over 20 miles of paved and stone trails. These trails wind past lakes and wetlands, and through woodlands abundant with birds and wildlife.
The Thorn Creek Trail forms a loop around the lake and can be directly reached from King’s Grove via a 1.5-mile paved trail. The paved loop around Sauk Lake is about 3.5 miles and is mostly shaded by the surrounding woods. The paved trails are open to hikers, cyclists, in-line skaters, and cross-country skiers.
The Thorn Creek Trail System connects to the Burnham Greenway trail system at Lansing Woods and to the regional Old Plank Road Trail at Indian Hills Woods.