James "Pate" Philip State Park
Mulberry & Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch
12.8 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 4 hr 18 min
Mulberry & Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch is a 12.8-mile out-and-back in James "Pate" Philip State Park near Clintonville, IL. The route passes Mulberry before reaching Mulberry at the turnaround, 6.4 miles in. It is mostly level, with 54 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Mulberry & Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch
12.8 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 4 hr 18 min
Elevation 703–765 ft
Out & Back · James "Pate" Philip State Park
Trailhead: 41.98198, -88.26872
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:56 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Bluestem Trail, heading S.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Indigo Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading W.
- 2.6 miBear right onto Fox River Trail, heading N.
- 1 miPass Mulberry.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
- 0.7 miSharp right, heading NW.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.3 miReach Mulberry, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.7 miBear right, heading SE.
- 1.3 miBear left onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading S.
- 3.2 miTurn right, heading E.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Bluestem Trail, heading E.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 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 1.4 mi in (~34 min). Leave by 6:01 PM for the 6:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:45 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 15.9 mi · ▲ 59 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 15.9 mi · ▲ 59 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 10.4 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 15.4 mi · ▲ 54 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 15.4 mi · ▲ 54 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 10.5 mi · ▲ 0 ft
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Hikes near Clintonville, Illinois