AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Central Trail & West Trail via Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch

15.9 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 5 hr 20 min

Central Trail & West Trail via Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch is a 15.9-mile out-and-back in Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve near Wayne, IL. It is mostly level, with 54 ft of elevation gain. It scores 12/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi742 – 787 ft16.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.96671, -88.24077
Nearest town Wayne, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Central Trail & West Trail via Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch

15.9 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 5 hr 20 min

Elevation 742–787 ft

Out & Back · Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 41.96671, -88.24077

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 50 ftTurn right onto West Trail, heading N.
  3. 0.6 miTurn left, heading S.
  4. 0.5 miBear right, heading W.
  5. 450 ftSharp left, heading NW.
  6. 300 ftTurn left onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading SW.
  7. 3 miTurn left onto North Central DuPage Regional Trail, heading E.
  8. 1 miTurn left, heading N.
  9. 450 ftBear right onto East Trail, heading NW.
  10. 1.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  11. 1.4 miReach West Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  12. 2.6 miBear left, heading S.
  13. 450 ftTurn right onto North Central DuPage Regional Trail, heading SE.
  14. 1 miTurn right onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading S.
  15. 3 miTurn right, heading NW.
  16. 350 ftSharp right, heading NW.
  17. 450 ftBear left, heading N.
  18. 500 ftContinue straight onto West Trail, heading E.
  19. 0.4 miTurn left, heading E.
  20. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  21. 0.6 miTurn left, heading SE.
  22. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/central-trail-west-trail-out-back-26-km

Trail surface

43% gravel21% grass13% paved23% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:54 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.8 mi in (~118 min). Leave by 4:36 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:06 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Wayne, Illinois