Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve
Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch
15.9 mi · ▲ 139 ft · 5 hr 22 min
Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch is a 15.9-mile out-and-back in Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve near Carol Stream, IL. It is mostly level, with 139 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 3/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch
15.9 mi · ▲ 139 ft · 5 hr 22 min
Elevation 720–807 ft
Out & Back · Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve
Trailhead: Great Western Trail · 41.90095, -88.13623
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:53 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Great Western Trail, heading W.
- 2.5 miContinue straight onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading W.
- 3.1 miSharp right onto North Central DuPage Regional Trail, heading E.
- 1 miTurn left, heading N.
- 450 ftBear right onto East Trail, heading NW.
- 1.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 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 SW.
- 3.1 miContinue straight onto Great Western Trail, heading E.
- 2.4 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 5.5 mi in (~134 min). Leave by 4:19 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:22 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Great Western Trail Trailhead
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 11 mi · ▲ 139 ft
- Great Western Trail 5 mi · ▲ 54 ft
- Great Western Trail 4.1 mi · ▲ 26 ft
- Great Western Trail 11.7 mi · ▲ 53 ft
- Great Western Trail 5.6 mi · ▲ 81 ft
- Great Western Trail 7.8 mi · ▲ 82 ft
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Hikes near Carol Stream, Illinois