AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch

12.2 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 4 hr 6 min

Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch is a 12.2-mile out-and-back in Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve near Wayne, IL. It is mostly level, with 53 ft of elevation gain. It scores 10/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi742 – 787 ft12.3 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

12.2 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 4 hr 6 min

Elevation 740–787 ft

Out & Back · Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 41.96216, -88.23910

Weather Sep 20: 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 miTurn right onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading NW.
  6. 3 miTurn right, heading NE.
  7. 0.2 miBear left onto West Trail, heading NW.
  8. 100 ftTurn right onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading NW.
  9. 0.5 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  10. 0.5 miTurn left onto West Trail, heading E.
  11. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  12. 0.2 miTurn left onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading SW.
  13. 3 miTurn left onto North Central DuPage Regional Trail, heading E.
  14. 1 miTurn left, heading N.
  15. 450 ftBear right onto East Trail, heading NW.
  16. 1.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  17. 0.1 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-20-km-e153

Trail surface

50% gravel24% paved26% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:56 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.9 mi in (~47 min). Leave by 5:49 PM for the 6:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:57 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