Illinois Prairie Path
7.4 mi · ▲ 81 ft · 2 hr 30 min
Illinois Prairie Path is a 7.4-mile out-and-back in Wild Meadows Trace near Hillside, IL. It is mostly level, with 81 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Illinois Prairie Path
7.4 mi · ▲ 81 ft · 2 hr 30 min
Elevation 646–703 ft
Out & Back · Wild Meadows Trace
Trailhead: 41.88262, -87.89985
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:52 PM
Transit-accessible: Butterfield & Buckthorn stop 445 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
- 400 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 250 ftSharp left, heading S.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Illinois Prairie Path, heading W.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading W.
- 2.3 miBear right, heading W.
- 0.7 miSharp right onto Great Western Trail, heading N.
- 450 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 450 ftSharp left onto Illinois Prairie Path, heading E.
- 0.7 miBear right, heading E.
- 2.3 miBear right, heading E.
- 0.7 miSharp left, heading E.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading E.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 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 1.1 mi in (~27 min). Leave by 6:05 PM for the 6:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:33 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Butterfield & Buckthorn stop 445 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Illinois Prairie Path 7.3 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path 7.6 mi · ▲ 80 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path 8.2 mi · ▲ 107 ft
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