AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch

11.4 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 3 hr 48 min

Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch is an 11.4-mile out-and-back in Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve near Dunham Castle, IL. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain. It scores 10/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi742 – 787 ft11.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.96215, -88.26220
Nearest town Dunham Castle, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch

11.4 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 3 hr 48 min

Elevation 742–787 ft

Out & Back · Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 41.96215, -88.26220

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 6:41 AM · sunset 6:52 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 0.5 miTurn right onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading SE.
  3. 2.8 miTurn left onto North Central DuPage Regional Trail, heading E.
  4. 1 miTurn left, heading W.
  5. 450 ftBear right onto East Trail, heading N.
  6. 1.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  7. 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  8. 1.4 miBear left, heading S.
  9. 450 ftTurn right onto North Central DuPage Regional Trail, heading E.
  10. 1 miTurn right onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading W.
  11. 2.8 miTurn left, heading NW.
  12. 0.5 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-13-km-c32e

Trail surface

47% gravel18% paved35% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:41 AMSunset 6:52 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.7 mi in (~92 min). Leave by 5:01 PM for the 6:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:38 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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