AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Catfish Pond–Horsetail Pond, 3 lakes

7.7 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 2 hr 36 min

Catfish Pond–Horsetail Pond, 3 lakes is a 7.7-mile out-and-back in Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve near South Elgin, IL. The route passes Catfish Pond and Horsetail Pond before reaching Beaver Slough at the turnaround, 3.9 miles in. 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 mi689 – 768 ft7.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Fox River Trail 41.99135, -88.29468
Nearest town South Elgin, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Catfish Pond–Horsetail Pond, 3 lakes

7.7 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 2 hr 36 min

Elevation 688–766 ft

Out & Back · Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Trailhead: Fox River Trail · 41.99135, -88.29468

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

Transit-accessible: La Fox & Prairie stop 515 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Fox River Trail, heading S.
  2. 1 miTurn left, heading E.
  3. 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  4. 1.2 miContinue straight onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading E.
  5. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  6. 0.5 miTurn left onto West Trail, heading E.
  7. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  8. 0.2 miBear left, heading SE.
  9. 0.5 miTurn right, heading E.
  10. 0.1 miPass Horsetail Pond.
  11. 50 ftPass Beaver Slough.
  12. 150 ftReach Catfish Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  13. 0.7 miBear right, heading W.
  14. 0.2 miTurn right onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading NW.
  15. 1.9 miTurn right, heading W.
  16. 0.1 miTurn right onto Fox River Trail, heading W.
  17. 0.9 miArrive back at the trailhead.

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

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/catfish-pond-horsetail-pond-out-back-5-lakes

Trail surface

71% paved11% grass3% gravel15% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:54 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.8 mi in (~69 min). Leave by 5:25 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:16 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: La Fox & Prairie stop 515 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Fox River Trail Trailhead

Hikes near South Elgin, Illinois