AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch

7.5 mi · ▲ 28 ft · 2 hr 31 min

Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch is a 7.5-mile out-and-back in Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve near Lakewood, IL. It is mostly level, with 28 ft of elevation gain. It scores 6/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi755 – 807 ft7.6 mi

Getting there

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

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Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch

7.5 mi · ▲ 28 ft · 2 hr 31 min

Elevation 754–807 ft

Out & Back · Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

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

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:55 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading NW.
  2. 1.3 miSharp right onto North Central DuPage Regional Trail, heading E.
  3. 1 miTurn left, heading W.
  4. 450 ftBear right onto East Trail, heading N.
  5. 1.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  6. 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  7. 1.4 miBear left, heading SE.
  8. 450 ftTurn right onto North Central DuPage Regional Trail, heading S.
  9. 1 miSharp left onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading S.
  10. 1.3 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/illinois-prairie-path-elgin-branch-out-back-12-km-e6df

Trail surface

33% gravel28% paved39% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:55 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~27 min). Leave by 6:09 PM for the 6:55 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:38 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch Trailhead

Hikes near Lakewood, Illinois