Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve
Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch
14.8 mi · ▲ 87 ft · 4 hr 59 min
Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch is a 14.8-mile out-and-back in Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve near Geneva Road, IL. It is mostly level, with 87 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 3/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch
14.8 mi · ▲ 87 ft · 4 hr 59 min
Elevation 720–807 ft
Out & Back · Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve
Trailhead: 41.90509, -88.15544
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:53 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Great Western Trail, heading W.
- 1.6 miContinue straight onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading W.
- 3.1 miSharp right onto North Central DuPage Regional Trail, heading E.
- 1 miTurn left, heading W.
- 450 ftBear right onto East Trail, heading N.
- 1.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 1.4 miBear left, heading S.
- 450 ftTurn right onto North Central DuPage Regional Trail, heading E.
- 1 miSharp left onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading W.
- 3.1 miContinue straight onto Great Western Trail, heading E.
- 1.6 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.2 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 4.9 mi in (~120 min). Leave by 4:33 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:08 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- West Branch DuPage River Trail 11.3 mi · ▲ 107 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 9.9 mi · ▲ 60 ft
- Great Western Trail 3.9 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Great Western Trail 3.1 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Great Western Trail 4.5 mi · ▲ 27 ft
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Hikes near Geneva Road, Illinois