Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve
Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch
10 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 3 hr 22 min
Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch is a 10-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
Getting there
Directions
Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch
10 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 3 hr 22 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 20: Heavy rain, high 69°F / low 61° · precip 100% · wind 12 mph · sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:55 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading NW.
- 4.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.2 miBear left onto West Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading NW.
- 0.5 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto West Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading SE.
- 4.2 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~26 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.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch Trailhead
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 15.1 mi · ▲ 169 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 15.1 mi · ▲ 169 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 15.2 mi · ▲ 169 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 15.3 mi · ▲ 81 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 15.2 mi · ▲ 169 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 9.9 mi · ▲ 54 ft
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