Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve
Catfish Pond–Horsetail Pond, 4 lakes
4.6 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 32 min
Catfish Pond–Horsetail Pond, 4 lakes is a 4.6-mile out-and-back in Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve near Clintonville, IL. The route passes Catfish Pond and Horsetail Pond before reaching Beaver Slough at the turnaround, 2.3 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
Getting there
Directions
Catfish Pond–Horsetail Pond, 4 lakes
4.6 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 32 min
Elevation 740–766 ft
Out & Back · Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve
Trailhead: 41.98008, -88.25390
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:54 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left onto Indigo Trail, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading W.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto West Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading SE.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.2 miPass Horsetail Pond.
- 50 ftPass Beaver Slough.
- 50 ftReach Catfish Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.7 miBear right, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading NW.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading E.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Indigo Trail, heading NE.
- 450 ftBear right, heading N.
- 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.6 mi in (~15 min). Leave by 6:19 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:24 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Fox River Trail–Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, 3 sights 10.1 mi · ▲ 26 ft
- Fox River Trail–Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, 3 sights 10.6 mi · ▲ 53 ft
- East Trail & Indigo Trail via Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 13 mi · ▲ 53 ft
- Indigo Trail & West Trail via Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 2.9 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Indigo Trail & West Trail via Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 5.5 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Pickerel Lake–Catfish Pond, 5 lakes 5.2 mi · ▲ 0 ft
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Hikes near Clintonville, Illinois