AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Pickerel Lake–Catfish Pond, 5 lakes

5.2 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 44 min

Pickerel Lake–Catfish Pond, 5 lakes is a 5.2-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, 2.4 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

0 mi742 – 768 ft5.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.98008, -88.25390
Nearest town Clintonville, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Pickerel Lake–Catfish Pond, 5 lakes

5.2 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 44 min

Elevation 740–766 ft

Out & Back · Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 41.98008, -88.25390

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

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 50 ftBear left onto Indigo Trail, heading W.
  3. 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  4. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  5. 0.6 miTurn left, heading W.
  6. 50 ftContinue straight onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading W.
  7. 0.5 miTurn left onto West Trail, heading E.
  8. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  9. 0.2 miBear left, heading SE.
  10. 0.5 miTurn right, heading E.
  11. 0.2 miPass Catfish Pond.
  12. 50 ftPass Horsetail Pond.
  13. 50 ftPass Beaver Slough.
  14. 150 ftTurn right onto Lake Trail, heading SE.
  15. 400 ftPass Pickerel Lake.
  16. 0.2 miBear right, heading E.
  17. 150 ftReach Pickerel Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  19. 0.2 miTurn left onto West Trail, heading NW.
  20. 0.5 miBear right, heading W.
  21. 0.2 miTurn right onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading NW.
  22. 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
  23. 0.6 miTurn right, heading E.
  24. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  25. 0.2 miTurn right onto Indigo Trail, heading E.
  26. 450 ftBear right, heading NE.
  27. 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/pickerel-lake-catfish-pond-out-back-9-lakes-8-km

Trail surface

36% gravel26% paved17% grass21% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:54 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.6 mi in (~15 min). Leave by 6:19 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:24 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Clintonville, Illinois