AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

North Central DuPage Regional Trail via Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch

14.7 mi · ▲ 55 ft · 4 hr 56 min

North Central DuPage Regional Trail via Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch is a 14.7-mile out-and-back in Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve near Clintonville, IL. It is mostly level, with 55 ft of elevation gain. It scores 5/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi742 – 810 ft14.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.97818, -88.27211
Nearest town Clintonville, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

North Central DuPage Regional Trail via Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch

14.7 mi · ▲ 55 ft · 4 hr 56 min

Elevation 740–811 ft

Out & Back · Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 41.97818, -88.27211

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:54 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 150 ftContinue straight onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading E.
  3. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  4. 0.5 miTurn left onto West Trail, heading E.
  5. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  6. 0.2 miTurn left onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading SE.
  7. 3 miTurn left onto North Central DuPage Regional Trail, heading E.
  8. 3.5 miReach North Central DuPage Regional Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 3.5 miTurn right onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading S.
  10. 3 miTurn right, heading NW.
  11. 0.2 miBear left onto West Trail, heading NW.
  12. 100 ftTurn right onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading NW.
  13. 0.6 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/north-central-dupage-regional-trail-out-back-24-km-39c7

Trail surface

42% gravel31% paved27% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:54 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.3 mi in (~105 min). Leave by 4:49 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:53 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Clintonville, Illinois