AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Wild Meadows Trace

Illinois Prairie Path

6.6 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 2 hr 14 min

Illinois Prairie Path is a 6.6-mile out-and-back in Wild Meadows Trace near Hillside, IL. It is mostly level, with 53 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi656 – 702 ft7.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.88159, -87.90709
Nearest town Hillside, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Illinois Prairie Path

6.6 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 2 hr 14 min

Elevation 658–703 ft

Out & Back · Wild Meadows Trace

Trailhead: 41.88159, -87.90709

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:52 PM

Transit-accessible: Wolf & Butterfield stop 613 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 350 ftContinue straight onto Illinois Prairie Path, heading W.
  3. 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
  4. 2.3 miBear right, heading W.
  5. 0.7 miSharp right onto Great Western Trail, heading N.
  6. 450 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  7. 450 ftSharp left onto Illinois Prairie Path, heading W.
  8. 0.7 miBear right, heading E.
  9. 2.3 miBear right, heading E.
  10. 450 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-out-back-11-km-0a14

Trail surface

77% gravel20% paved3% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:52 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.7 mi in (~17 min). Leave by 6:16 PM for the 6:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:23 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Wolf & Butterfield stop 613 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Hillside, Illinois