Outside Chicago Are Once-Thriving Quarries That Are Now An Artificial Lake Escape With Fishing And Trail Fun

A trip to Chicago would hardly be complete without visiting the historic buildings that make up its famous skyline. From the Willis Tower to the Wrigley Building, these structures form a sparkling cityscape that glistens across Lake Michigan. However, iconic buildings like Holy Name Cathedral only exist because of a unique limestone from the once-productive quarries of Lemont, Cook County. Today, visitors can stop by Sag Quarries to see where miners pulled this precious stone from the earth, and explore the paved Cal-Sag Trail or cast a line.

Sag Quarries is a public park managed by the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Driving up the tree-lined entrance road, it's hard to imagine the land as anything other than a lush green space, filled with cattails and other water-loving plants. However, from approximately 1850 to 1900, the Lemont quarries yielded "Athens Marble," a dolomite limestone known for its exceptionally high quality. A United States Geological Survey report from 1902 described the stone as "a fine-grained, even-textured limestone, of an agreeable light-drab color," highlighting its accessible location close to the surface.

Nowadays, Sag Quarries is an unexpected gem for anyone craving a nature retreat in the Chicago area. Accumulating only 120 Google Maps reviews (and a none-too-shabby 4.4-star rating), the park is about 45 minutes from Downtown Chicago. There's no way to get from the city center to the quarries with public transportation, so you'll need to drive yourself. The park is open year-round from sunrise to sunset, and leashed dogs are allowed.

Without a doubt, Sag Quarries' biggest draw is its location at the western end of the Cal-Sag Trail. Stretching between Sag Quarries and Freedom Park, it features a paved path for biking, running, walking, cross-country skiing, birdwatching, or taking your dog out. The trail currently spans 13 miles (one-way), but there are plans in the works to extend the path up to 26 miles.

The trail follows the 16-mile Calumet-Saganashkee Channel, a working waterway completed in 1922 that connects to another canal leading to the Chicago River. In its current state, "the multi-use trail turns a disused and ignored river front into a 3.7+ million sq. ft. health club — that's free for everyone to join," as described by Friends of the Cal-Sag Trail. Besides breaking a sweat, visitors can explore the tree-lined canal and watch barges make their way across the water. This sets Cal-Sag apart from other extensive urban or suburban trails, such as Chicago's 18-mile Lakefront Trail that cuts through the uncrowded oasis of Ohio Street Beach.

The trail meanders through a series of forested preserves, and the section near Sag Quarries is particularly beautiful. Describing the atmosphere, Suburban Chicago Bicycling explains, "you feel separated from the surrounding sprawl and manufacturing world," while other visitors have spotted bald eagles, hawks, and American Woodcocks. The area within Sag Quarries isn't known for nature trails or short paths, but the parking lot is a great place to start your Cal-Sag adventure.

Overall, Sag Quarries doesn't offer a huge variety of recreational activities. You won't find playgrounds, sports fields, or boat rentals. However, it's one of the best day trips from Chicago if you're craving a few hours of fishing. The preserve is divided between two lakes — Sag Quarry East and Sag Quarry West— both of which are open for fishing.

Depending on the season, anglers can try their hand at catching warmouth, black crappie, carp, and brown bullhead, but largemouth bass and bluegill are the most common in both bodies of water. Notably, Sag Quarry East is stocked with rainbow trout twice a year (in the spring and fall). In addition, this artificial lake is also deeper and slightly bigger. Anglers on r/ChicagoFishing recommend using the depth map provided by the Forest Preserves of Cook County to make your outing smoother. You'll be able to find points and other underwater structures where fish hide. However, keep in mind that neither lake has a boat launch, so you'll be fishing from the shore.

In order to fish at any Forest Preserves property, anyone aged 16 or older must have a valid Illinois fishing license. In addition, if you plan on trout fishing, make sure you've secured an inland trout stamp. For another well-regarded Forest Preserve park in Cook County, visit Cap Sauers Holding Nature Preserve's wetland trails and remote beauty.