AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch

13.3 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 4 hr 28 min

Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch is a 13.3-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 9/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi742 – 787 ft13.5 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

13.3 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 4 hr 28 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. 3.7 miTurn right, heading E.
  7. 0.6 miTurn right, heading NE.
  8. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  9. 100 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  10. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  11. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  12. 0.6 miTurn left, heading W.
  13. 3.7 miTurn left onto North Central DuPage Regional Trail, heading E.
  14. 1 miTurn left, heading N.
  15. 450 ftBear right onto East Trail, heading N.
  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-21-km-3e30

Trail surface

52% gravel26% paved22% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:56 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.9 mi in (~46 min). Leave by 5:49 PM for the 6:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:56 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