Saganashkee Slough

Sunset at Saganashkee Slough. Photo by Robert Schwaan.
Photo by Robert Schwaan.

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Locations & Things to Do

Saganashkee Slough includes multiple locations:


Saganashkee Slough-East

Entrance

S Willow Springs Rd/104th Ave, north of Calumet Sag Rd/Rte 83
Cook County, IL 60480
(near Willow Springs)

Hours

Year-round: Sunrise to Sunset

Closures & Alerts


Saganashkee Slough Boat Launch

Entrance

107th St, west of S Willow Springs Rd/104th Ave
Cook County, IL 60480
(near Willow Springs)

Things to Do & Amenities

Hours

Year-round: Sunrise to Sunset

Closures & Alerts


Saganashkee Slough-Central

Entrance

107th St, west of S Willow Springs Rd/104th Ave
Cook County, IL 60480
(near Willow Springs)

Things to Do & Amenities

Hours

Year-round: Sunrise to Sunset

Closures & Alerts


Trails

Palos Trail System

The extensive and varied Palos Trail System winds through rolling hills and deep ravines, providing beautiful views of the surrounding landscapes.

Location: Hickory Hills, Justice, Palos Hills & Willow Springs

Surface

Unpaved

Estimated Total Length

42.1 miles

Hours

Year-round: Sunrise to Sunset

Closures & Alerts

*Please be a courteous trail user: Follow posted signs and our trail rules and etiquette.

a person in a canoe on Saganashkee Slough. Photo by Jim Phillips.
Photo by Jim Phillips.

Accessible Boat Launch

The Saganashkee Slough Boat Launch entrance features an accessible trailered boat launch for canoes, kayaks, rowboats and boats with electric trolling motors.


Saganashkee Slough Boat Launch
107th St, west of S Willow Springs Rd/104th Ave
(near Willow Springs)

The boat launch closes from roughly October to April each year to accommodate migrating waterfowl. Check if the closure is active.


Fishing at Saganashkee Slough

This large, 377-acre lake is only 6.3 feet deep at the west end and features a barrier free fishing wall at the east end. The Saganashkee Slough Boat Launch entrance features an accessible trailered boat launch for canoes, kayaks, rowboats and boats with electric trolling motors. Designated ice fishing lake.


Fishing Access

Fishing access is available at all Saganashkee Slough entrances. An accessible fishing area is available at Saganashkee Slough-East:

Saganashkee Slough-East
S Willow Springs Rd/104th Ave, north of Calumet Sag Rd/Rte 83
(near Willow Springs)

*Features accessible fishing area.

  • Distance to accessible parking: 20 ft
  • Currently no accessible bathroom

A great blue heron at Saganashkee Slough. Photo by Bill Grabinski.
A great blue heron at Saganashkee Slough. Photo by Bill Grabinski.

Nature Notes

Just as humans are drawn to Saganashkee Slough’s vistas and breathtaking sunsets, a great variety of birds, particularly waterfowl, are attracted to this large, open water body. During spring and fall migration, the slough is a stopover for loons, herons, grebes, mergansers, white-winged scoters, double-crested cormorants, goldeneyes and many others. Bald eagles have been known to roost in the area. Perching birds such as cedar waxwings, red-eyed vireos and blue-gray gnatcatchers fill the woods with their calls.

The slough supports a number of aquatic species. Fish such as crappie, catfish, largemouth bass, northern pike and bullhead all live here–Saganashkee’s yellow bass population is one of the best in the county. With a variety of materials making up the slough’s bottom, natural structures such as sunken trees and inaccessible stretches of shoreline, Saganashkee offers fish plenty of good breeding and hiding places. Combined with the slough’s large size, these factors support thriving fish populations.

Abundant fish and amphibian populations also make the slough prime hunting territory for nonvenomous northern water snakes.