Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve
Pickerel Lake–Catfish Pond, 4 lakes
3.6 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 12 min
Pickerel Lake–Catfish Pond, 4 lakes is a 3.6-mile out-and-back in Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve near Clintonville, IL. The route passes Catfish Pond, Horsetail Pond and Beaver Slough before reaching Pickerel Lake at the turnaround, 1.7 miles in. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain. It scores 1/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Pickerel Lake–Catfish Pond, 4 lakes
3.6 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 12 min
Elevation 740–766 ft
Out & Back · Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve
Trailhead: 41.97818, -88.27211
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:56 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto West Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading SE.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.2 miPass Catfish Pond.
- 50 ftPass Horsetail Pond.
- 50 ftPass Beaver Slough.
- 200 ftTurn right onto Lake Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miReach Pickerel Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto West Trail, heading NW.
- 0.5 miBear right, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading NW.
- 0.7 miArrive 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 0.6 mi in (~14 min). Leave by 6:22 PM for the 6:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:24 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 14.5 mi · ▲ 108 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 14.6 mi · ▲ 108 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 13.7 mi · ▲ 108 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 13.1 mi · ▲ 108 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 13.8 mi · ▲ 108 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 13.2 mi · ▲ 108 ft
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Hikes near Clintonville, Illinois