AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch

10.2 mi · ▲ 59 ft · 3 hr 26 min

Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch is a 10.2-mile out-and-back in Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve near Wayne, IL. It is mostly level, with 59 ft of elevation gain. It scores 4/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi735 – 807 ft10.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.96216, -88.23910
Nearest town Wayne, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch

10.2 mi · ▲ 59 ft · 3 hr 26 min

Elevation 734–807 ft

Out & Back · Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 41.96216, -88.23910

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:56 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 0.1 miTurn right onto East Trail, heading S.
  3. 1.2 miBear left, heading SE.
  4. 450 ftTurn right onto North Central DuPage Regional Trail, heading S.
  5. 1 miSharp left onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading SE.
  6. 2.8 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  7. 2.8 miSharp right onto North Central DuPage Regional Trail, heading NW.
  8. 1 miTurn left, heading N.
  9. 450 ftBear right onto East Trail, heading NW.
  10. 1.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  11. 250 ftArrive 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-17-km-d2b1

Trail surface

51% gravel21% paved28% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:56 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.6 mi in (~63 min). Leave by 5:32 PM for the 6:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:14 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Wayne, Illinois