The Sauk Trail was a path used by Native Americans that passed through present-day Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan in the United States. Starting from the west, the trail began at Rock Island on the Mississippi River, then went to the Illinois River near modern-day Peru. From there, it followed the north side of the river to Joliet and continued east to Valparaiso, Indiana. The trail then moved northeast to La Porte and entered southern Michigan, passing through Niles, Sturgis, Ypsilanti, and ending near the Detroit River in Detroit.

Parts of the trail followed the southern edge where thick forests met areas with mixed grasses. Evidence of a path used by mastodons along the same route suggests that Native Americans may have used a long-established trail for hunting, similar to how they followed paths used by bison in other areas.

In 1820, Henry Schoolcraft, who was then in present-day Michigan City, Indiana, described the trail as a "plain horse path" that was often used by traders, hunters, and others. He noted that a traveler would need a guide to follow the trail because there were many side paths that made it difficult to navigate. The Sauk Trail crossed several important trails and early roads, including paths leading to Vincennes, Green Bay, Fort Wayne, and Little Traverse Bay.

Illinois

In Illinois, not many details are known about the exact path of the trail. Scholars think it probably followed the Illinois River and passed near the "Grand Village of the Illini," which was once located near present-day Utica. Settlers also used this trail, and later, U.S. Route 6 (US 6) was built along a similar route.

The trail stretched from Rock Island to Peru and followed the northern side of the Illinois River to Joliet. Settlers reported that the path began where the Rock River met the Mississippi River and extended eastward to Chicago. A highway called the Sauk Trail runs from Frankfort, Illinois, through Park Forest, Illinois, and ends just west of the state line at Dyer, Indiana. U.S. Route 12 (US 12) was built along a known part of the Sauk Trail, which eventually reaches Detroit. U.S. Route 6 (US 6) runs alongside the paths of the Illinois and Des Plaines rivers and some of their tributaries. Native people and settlers often found it easier to travel along riverbanks because the land was more accessible.

Indiana

The path of the trail from Illinois to Indiana is not clearly known. A memorial for the Great Sauk Trail was placed near Iddings Elementary School in Merrillville, Indiana. It is known that the trail passed through the area now called Valparaiso, then continued to La Porte, and eventually reached Michigan. Today, Route 30 becomes Route 2 along this same route.

Michigan

In Michigan, the modern US Highway 12 has been connected to the Sauk Trail since 1962. Before 1962, this same route was known as US 112. The route in Michigan has also been called the Chicago Road or Chicago Trail.

In literature

Greene, Merritt. (1959). The land lies pretty = "Op-Jah-mo-mak-y-a": a story of the Great Sauk Trail in 1832 and includes an introduction to the Northwest Territory. Hillsdale, Mich.: Hillsdale School Supply.