AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch

14.5 mi · ▲ 108 ft · 4 hr 53 min

Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch is a 14.5-mile out-and-back in Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve near Clintonville, IL. It is mostly level, with 108 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 5/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi722 – 807 ft14.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.97818, -88.27211
Nearest town Clintonville, IL
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Directions

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Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch

14.5 mi · ▲ 108 ft · 4 hr 53 min

Elevation 720–807 ft

Out & Back · Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 41.97818, -88.27211

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:56 PM

Bikes allowed on the whole route · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 150 ftContinue straight onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading E.
  3. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  4. 6.7 miContinue straight onto Great Western Trail, heading E.
  5. 0.4 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  6. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading W.
  7. 6.8 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-24-km-e7dd

Trail surface

90% gravel10% paved

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:56 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.0 mi in (~98 min). Leave by 4:58 PM for the 6:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:48 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Bikes allowed on the whole route
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Clintonville, Illinois