AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Mulberry–Pickerel Lake, 6 lakes

13 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 4 hr 22 min

Mulberry–Pickerel Lake, 6 lakes is a 13-mile out-and-back in Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve near Wayne, IL. The route passes Catfish Pond, Beaver Slough, Pickerel Lake and 2 more before reaching Mulberry at the turnaround, 6.5 miles in. It is mostly level, with 53 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi702 – 768 ft13.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Lake Trail 41.96746, -88.24345
Nearest town Wayne, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mulberry–Pickerel Lake, 6 lakes

13 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 4 hr 22 min

Elevation 703–766 ft

Out & Back · Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Trailhead: Lake Trail · 41.96746, -88.24345

Weather Sep 22: Light drizzle, high 61°F / low 54° · precip 5% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 6:41 AM · sunset 6:52 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Lake Trail, heading W.
  2. 50 ftPass Catfish Pond.
  3. 50 ftPass Beaver Slough.
  4. 50 ftPass Pickerel Lake.
  5. 0.2 miPass Horsetail Pond.
  6. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  7. 0.2 miTurn left onto West Trail, heading W.
  8. 0.5 miBear right, heading NW.
  9. 0.2 miTurn right onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading NW.
  10. 3.2 miBear right onto Fox River Trail, heading N.
  11. 1 miPass Mulberry.
  12. 0.3 miBear right, heading NW.
  13. 0.7 miSharp right, heading NW.
  14. 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  15. 0.3 miReach Mulberry, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  16. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  17. 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
  18. 0.7 miBear right, heading SE.
  19. 1.3 miBear left onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading S.
  20. 2.6 miTurn right, heading S.
  21. 0.5 miTurn left onto West Trail, heading S.
  22. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  23. 0.2 miBear left, heading SE.
  24. 0.5 miTurn right, heading SE.
  25. 0.2 miTurn left onto Lake Trail, heading E.
  26. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/mulberry-mulberry-out-back-3-trees-23-km

Trail surface

85% paved5% grass3% gravel1% boardwalk6% unspecified

Weather

Light drizzleTemperature 61°F54°
Precip5%Wind8 mphUV5Humidity85%
Rained 1.9″ 2 days ago (4.4″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
65°50°
Sunrise 6:41 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:52 PM
Wed 63°56°
Thu 68°55°
Fri 64°56°
Sat 58°55°
Sun 57°54°
Mon 72°52°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.4 mi in (~33 min). Leave by 5:59 PM for the 6:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:40 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Wayne, Illinois