All Saints Hike: Swallow Cliff Woods (South)!

Let’s dedicate this hike to everyone who can no longer hike with us in person. ❤️

Swallow Cliff Woods is best known for its dramatic “front lawn,” which rises to a 100-foot-tall bluff. This spot offers one of the best sledding hills in the county — and one of the toughest (and most scenic) stair workouts around. On top of the bluff, trails wind through 800 acres of peaceful forest preserve, where hikers can enjoy hilly terrain, stream crossings, majestic oaks, and flocks of migratory birds around the wetlands.

At 15,000 acres, the Palos Preserves form the largest concentration of protected land in the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Decades of restoration have made it home to some of the county’s highest-quality natural areas. The trails connect to many beloved sites, including the Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, Pulaski Woods, Saganashkee Slough, and Maple Lake — where a mountain bike staging area provides access to nearly 40 miles of unpaved trails.

Depending on everyone’s mood, we might stop by Imperial Oak Brewing afterward for a bite and a beer:
👉 imperialoakbrewing.com/category/food-trucks/food-trucks-willow-springs

📍 Meeting Point: Swallow Cliff Woods (South) Parking Lot
🕙 Meet at: 10:00 AM
🚶‍♀️ Take off: 10:15 AM

South Entrance:
S La Grange Rd, south of 119th St
Cook County, IL 60464
📄 Sag Valley Trail System Map (PDF)

See you all on Saturday (tomorrow)!
— Magda