AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

East Trail via Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch

14.6 mi · ▲ 90 ft · 4 hr 55 min

East Trail via Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch is a 14.6-mile out-and-back in Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve near Carol Stream, IL. It is mostly level, with 90 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 3/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi722 – 807 ft15.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.90297, -88.14138
Nearest town Carol Stream, IL
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

East Trail via Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch

14.6 mi · ▲ 90 ft · 4 hr 55 min

Elevation 720–807 ft

Out & Back · Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 41.90297, -88.14138

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:53 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 0.1 miTurn left onto Steve Ravanesi Trail, heading SW.
  3. 0.2 miSharp right onto Great Western Trail, heading W.
  4. 2.1 miContinue straight onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading W.
  5. 3.1 miSharp right onto North Central DuPage Regional Trail, heading NW.
  6. 1 miTurn left, heading N.
  7. 450 ftContinue straight onto East Trail, heading NW.
  8. 0.9 miReach East Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 1 miTurn right onto North Central DuPage Regional Trail, heading E.
  10. 1 miSharp left onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading W.
  11. 3.1 miContinue straight onto Great Western Trail, heading E.
  12. 2.1 miSharp left onto Steve Ravanesi Trail, heading E.
  13. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
  14. 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/east-trail-out-back-24-km-5d38

Trail surface

67% gravel16% paved17% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.3 mi in (~131 min). Leave by 4:23 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:19 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Carol Stream, Illinois