AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch

15.4 mi · ▲ 86 ft · 5 hr 11 min

Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch is a 15.4-mile out-and-back in Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve near Clintonville, IL. It is mostly level, with 86 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 5/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi722 – 807 ft15.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.97811, -88.25796
Nearest town Clintonville, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch

15.4 mi · ▲ 86 ft · 5 hr 11 min

Elevation 720–807 ft

Out & Back · Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 41.97811, -88.25796

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:56 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  3. 0.6 miTurn left, heading S.
  4. 50 ftContinue straight onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading S.
  5. 0.5 miTurn left onto West Trail, heading E.
  6. 100 ftBear right, heading E.
  7. 0.2 miTurn left onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading SW.
  8. 6 miContinue straight onto Great Western Trail, heading E.
  9. 0.4 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  10. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading W.
  11. 6 miTurn right, heading NW.
  12. 0.2 miBear left onto West Trail, heading NW.
  13. 50 ftTurn right onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading NW.
  14. 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
  15. 0.6 miTurn right, heading E.
  16. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/illinois-prairie-path-elgin-branch-out-back-25-km-66ea

Trail surface

86% gravel11% paved3% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:56 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.5 mi in (~109 min). Leave by 4:46 PM for the 6:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:00 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Clintonville, Illinois