Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Fox River Trail via Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch

15.5 mi · ▲ 169 ft · 5 hr 15 min

Fox River Trail via Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch is a 15.5-mile out-and-back in Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve near Lakewood, IL. It is mostly level, with 169 ft of elevation gain. It scores 5/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi686 – 807 ft15.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 41.92090, -88.20844
Nearest town Lakewood, IL

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Fox River Trail via Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch

15.5 mi · ▲ 169 ft · 5 hr 15 min

Elevation 686–807 ft

Out & Back · Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Trailhead: Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch · 41.92090, -88.20844

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading NW.
  2. 6.4 miTurn right, heading W.
  3. 0.1 miTurn left onto Fox River Trail, heading S.
  4. 1.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
  5. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  6. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  7. 0.2 miReach Fox River Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  8. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  9. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  10. 1.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  11. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  12. 1.2 miContinue straight onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading E.
  13. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  14. 4.9 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

57% gravel39% paved2% boardwalk2% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:54 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~26 min). Leave by 6:08 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:35 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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