AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Tekakwitha Woods Forest Preserve

Fox River Trail & Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch

13.7 mi · ▲ 193 ft · 4 hr 40 min

Fox River Trail & Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch is a 13.7-mile out-and-back in Tekakwitha Woods Forest Preserve near South Elgin, IL. It is mostly level, with 193 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi686 – 791 ft14.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Fox River Trail 41.99437, -88.29378
Nearest town South Elgin, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Fox River Trail & Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch

13.7 mi · ▲ 193 ft · 4 hr 40 min

Elevation 686–789 ft

Out & Back · Tekakwitha Woods Forest Preserve

Trailhead: Fox River Trail · 41.99437, -88.29378

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

Transit-accessible: La Fox & Prairie stop 305 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Fox River Trail, heading N.
  2. 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
  3. 1.5 miTurn right onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading SE.
  4. 2.5 miSharp right, heading SE.
  5. 1.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  6. 0.1 miTurn left onto Fox River Trail, heading W.
  7. 1.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
  8. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  9. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  10. 0.2 miReach Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  11. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  12. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  13. 1.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  14. 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  15. 1.2 miSharp left onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading E.
  16. 2.5 miTurn left onto Fox River Trail, heading N.
  17. 1.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  18. 0.2 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/fox-river-trail-illinois-prairie-path-elgin-branch-out-back-22-km-7425

Trail surface

96% paved2% boardwalk2% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:54 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.3 mi in (~107 min). Leave by 4:47 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:56 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: La Fox & Prairie stop 305 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Fox River Trail Trailhead

Hikes near South Elgin, Illinois