Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve
Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch
13.5 mi · ▲ 114 ft · 4 hr 33 min
Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch is a 13.5-mile out-and-back in Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve near West Chicago, IL. It is mostly level, with 114 ft of elevation gain. It scores 4/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch
13.5 mi · ▲ 114 ft · 4 hr 33 min
Elevation 732–807 ft
Out & Back · Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve
Trailhead: 41.88574, -88.18494
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:54 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 1.3 miTurn left 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 W.
- 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 miTurn right, heading E.
- 1.2 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 4.1 mi in (~102 min). Leave by 4:52 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:50 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
More from this trailhead
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 8.6 mi · ▲ 88 ft
- Great Western Trail 6.1 mi · ▲ 109 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 3.2 mi · ▲ 54 ft
- Great Western Trail 3.4 mi · ▲ 81 ft
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