AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch

13.4 mi · ▲ 82 ft · 4 hr 30 min

Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch is a 13.4-mile out-and-back in Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve near Dunham Castle, IL. It is mostly level, with 82 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 5/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi722 – 807 ft13.5 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

13.4 mi · ▲ 82 ft · 4 hr 30 min

Elevation 720–807 ft

Out & Back · Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 41.96215, -88.26220

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 0.5 miTurn right onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading SE.
  3. 5.8 miContinue straight onto Great Western Trail, heading E.
  4. 0.4 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  5. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading W.
  6. 5.8 miTurn left, heading NW.
  7. 0.4 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-16-km-4edd

Trail surface

89% gravel3% paved8% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:54 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.4 mi in (~84 min). Leave by 5:10 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:33 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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