AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch

8.5 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 2 hr 50 min

Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch is an 8.5-mile out-and-back in Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve near Clintonville, IL. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 8/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi742 – 781 ft8.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.97811, -88.25796
Nearest town Clintonville, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch

8.5 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 2 hr 50 min

Elevation 740–781 ft

Out & Back · Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 41.97811, -88.25796

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

Bikes allowed on the whole route · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  3. 0.6 miTurn left, heading S.
  4. 50 ftContinue straight onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading S.
  5. 3.7 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  6. 3.7 miTurn right, heading N.
  7. 0.6 miTurn right, heading N.
  8. 50 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-18-km-35f0

Trail surface

82% gravel17% paved1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:54 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.7 mi in (~92 min). Leave by 5:02 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:40 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Bikes allowed on the whole route
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Clintonville, Illinois