AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch

5.3 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 46 min

Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch is a 5.3-mile out-and-back in Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve near Wayne, IL. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 10/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi742 – 768 ft5.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.94786, -88.23747
Nearest town Wayne, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch

5.3 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 46 min

Elevation 740–766 ft

Out & Back · Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 41.94786, -88.23747

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading NW.
  3. 1.7 miTurn right, heading NE.
  4. 0.2 miBear left onto West Trail, heading NW.
  5. 50 ftTurn right onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading NW.
  6. 0.5 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  7. 0.5 miTurn left onto West Trail, heading E.
  8. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  9. 0.2 miTurn left onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading SE.
  10. 1.9 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-9-km-8540

Trail surface

78% gravel15% paved7% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:56 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 6:35 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 6:56 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:23 PM.

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