Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch

9.9 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 3 hr 20 min

Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch is a 9.9-mile out-and-back in Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve near Lakewood, IL. It is mostly level, with 54 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 7/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi742 – 807 ft10.1 mi

Getting there

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

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch

9.9 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 3 hr 20 min

Elevation 740–807 ft

Out & Back · Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

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

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:55 PM

Bikes allowed on the whole route · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading NW.
  2. 5 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  3. 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

90% gravel10% paved

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 7:37 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Bikes allowed on the whole route
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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