Prairie Loop Trail via Virgil Gilman Trail
10.5 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 3 hr 32 min
Prairie Loop Trail via Virgil Gilman Trail is a 10.5-mile out-and-back in Aurora West Forest Preserve near Prestbury, IL. It is mostly level, with 53 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Prairie Loop Trail via Virgil Gilman Trail
10.5 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 3 hr 32 min
Elevation 671–720 ft
Out & Back · Aurora West Forest Preserve
Trailhead: Airfield Trail · 41.77884, -88.39552
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:41 AM · sunset 6:54 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Red Pine Loop, heading NW.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Great Prairie Trail, heading NW.
- 1.4 miTurn right onto Virgil Gilman Trail, heading NW.
- 3.3 miTurn right onto Prairie Loop Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftReach Prairie Loop Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto Virgil Gilman Trail, heading S.
- 2.7 miTurn left onto Great Prairie Trail, heading SE.
- 1.4 miTurn right onto Red Pine Loop, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Access Trail, heading SE.
- 450 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 right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 6:34 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 6:54 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:22 PM.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Airfield Trail Trailhead
- Virgil Gilman Trail 10.3 mi · ▲ 53 ft
- Virgil Gilman Trail 7 mi · ▲ 26 ft
- Virgil Gilman Trail 10.6 mi · ▲ 26 ft
- Turnstone Lake via Virgil Gilman Trail 9.2 mi · ▲ 26 ft
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