James "Pate" Philip State Park

Fox River Trail–Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, 3 sights

10.6 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 3 hr 34 min

Fox River Trail–Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, 3 sights is a 10.6-mile out-and-back in James "Pate" Philip State Park near Clintonville, IL. It is mostly level, with 53 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi696 – 764 ft11.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.98008, -88.25390
Nearest town Clintonville, IL

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Fox River Trail–Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, 3 sights

10.6 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 3 hr 34 min

Elevation 695–765 ft

Out & Back · James "Pate" Philip State Park

Trailhead: 41.98008, -88.25390

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:54 PM

Transit-accessible: La Fox & Prairie stop 305 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 50 ftBear left onto Indigo Trail, heading W.
  3. 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  4. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  5. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading W.
  6. 2.6 miTurn left onto Fox River Trail, heading N.
  7. 1.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  8. 0.4 miReach Indigo Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  10. 1.5 miTurn right onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading NE.
  11. 3.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  12. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  13. 0.2 miTurn right onto Indigo Trail, heading E.
  14. 450 ftBear right, heading NE.
  15. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

92% paved7% gravel1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:54 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.7 mi in (~17 min). Leave by 6:17 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:26 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: La Fox & Prairie stop 305 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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