Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve
Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch
8.2 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 2 hr 46 min
Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch is an 8.2-mile out-and-back in Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve near Dunham Castle, IL. It is mostly level, with 54 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch
8.2 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 2 hr 46 min
Elevation 688–766 ft
Out & Back · Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve
Trailhead: 41.96215, -88.26220
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:54 PM
Transit-accessible: La Fox & Prairie stop 515 m from the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading NW.
- 2.3 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Fox River Trail, heading N.
- 1.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 1.2 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
- 1.2 miContinue straight onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.9 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.4 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 1.0 mi in (~25 min). Leave by 6:09 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:34 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: La Fox & Prairie stop 515 m from the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 16 mi · ▲ 82 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 13.4 mi · ▲ 82 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 12.5 mi · ▲ 82 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 12 mi · ▲ 82 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 6.5 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 11.4 mi · ▲ 0 ft
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