James "Pate" Philip State Park

Bluestem Trail & Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch

5.2 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 44 min

Bluestem Trail & Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch is a 5.2-mile out-and-back in James "Pate" Philip State Park near Clintonville, IL. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi735 – 764 ft5.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.99343, -88.27635
Nearest town Clintonville, IL

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Bluestem Trail & Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch

5.2 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 44 min

Elevation 736–765 ft

Out & Back · James "Pate" Philip State Park

Trailhead: 41.99343, -88.27635

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 0.2 miTurn right onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading S.
  3. 1.9 miTurn right, heading E.
  4. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  5. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  6. 0.1 miTurn right onto Bluestem Trail, heading NW.
  7. 0.2 miReach Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  8. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  9. 0.1 miTurn right onto Indigo Trail, heading E.
  10. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  11. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  12. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading W.
  13. 1.3 miTurn left, heading W.
  14. 0.1 miArrive back at the trailhead.

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

Trail surface

67% paved30% gravel2% boardwalk1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:54 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.7 mi in (~42 min). Leave by 5:52 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:50 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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