Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve
Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch
14 mi · ▲ 89 ft · 4 hr 43 min
Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch is a 14-mile out-and-back in Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve near Coleman, IL. It is mostly level, with 89 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 5/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch
14 mi · ▲ 89 ft · 4 hr 43 min
Elevation 721–807 ft
Out & Back · Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve
Trailhead: 41.97874, -88.27934
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:54 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 400 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto West Trail, heading E.
- 100 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading SE.
- 5.7 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 5.7 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.2 miBear left onto West Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading NW.
- 1.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftArrive 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 4.5 mi in (~113 min). Leave by 4:41 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:00 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 15.4 mi · ▲ 116 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 15.4 mi · ▲ 116 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 14.5 mi · ▲ 89 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 14 mi · ▲ 89 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 14.6 mi · ▲ 89 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 8.5 mi · ▲ 27 ft
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Hikes near Coleman, Illinois