Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Catfish Pond–Horsetail Pond, 3 lakes

3.5 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 10 min

Catfish Pond–Horsetail Pond, 3 lakes is a 3.5-mile out-and-back in Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve near Dunham Castle, IL. The route passes Catfish Pond and Horsetail Pond before reaching Beaver Slough at the turnaround, 1.6 miles in. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi742 – 768 ft3.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.96215, -88.26220
Nearest town Dunham Castle, IL

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Catfish Pond–Horsetail Pond, 3 lakes

3.5 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 10 min

Elevation 742–766 ft

Out & Back · Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 41.96215, -88.26220

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 0.5 miTurn left onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading NW.
  3. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
  4. 300 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  5. 450 ftBear left, heading E.
  6. 450 ftContinue straight onto West Trail, heading E.
  7. 0.4 miTurn right, heading S.
  8. 0.3 miSharp left, heading NW.
  9. 50 ftPass Catfish Pond.
  10. 50 ftPass Horsetail Pond.
  11. 50 ftPass Beaver Slough.
  12. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  13. 0.8 miSharp left onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading W.
  14. 0.4 miTurn right, heading SE.
  15. 0.5 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

25% grass15% gravel60% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:54 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.0 mi in (~1 min). Leave by 6:33 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:10 PM — 12 min before dark. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint

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