AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
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St. James Farm Preserve

Rathje Pond & St. James Farm Bike Trail via Illinois Prairie Path Aurora Branch

7.4 mi · ▲ 28 ft · 2 hr 29 min

Rathje Pond & St. James Farm Bike Trail via Illinois Prairie Path Aurora Branch is a 7.4-mile out-and-back in St. James Farm Preserve near Wheaton, IL. The route reaches Rathje Pond. It is mostly level, with 28 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi712 – 761 ft7.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Illinois Prairie Path Aurora Branch 41.85853, -88.11621
Nearest town Wheaton, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Rathje Pond & St. James Farm Bike Trail via Illinois Prairie Path Aurora Branch

7.4 mi · ▲ 28 ft · 2 hr 29 min

Elevation 712–760 ft

Out & Back · St. James Farm Preserve

Trailhead: Illinois Prairie Path Aurora Branch · 41.85853, -88.11621

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:53 PM

Transit-accessible: West & Indiana stop 459 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Illinois Prairie Path Aurora Branch, heading S.
  2. 50 ftPass Rathje Pond.
  3. 2.8 miTurn right onto St. James Farm Bike Trail, heading NW.
  4. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
  5. 0.5 miTurn right, heading N.
  6. 0.2 miReach Rathje Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  7. 350 ftTurn left, heading N.
  8. 0.3 miSharp left, heading E.
  9. 0.5 miTurn left onto Illinois Prairie Path Aurora Branch, heading S.
  10. 2.8 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/rathje-pond-st-james-farm-bike-trail-out-back-12-km-c733

Trail surface

80% gravel17% dirt3% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.2 mi in (~52 min). Leave by 5:41 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:01 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: West & Indiana stop 459 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Illinois Prairie Path Aurora Branch Trailhead

Hikes near Wheaton, Illinois