Virgil Gilman Trail
7 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 2 hr 21 min
Virgil Gilman Trail is a 7-mile out-and-back in Aurora West Forest Preserve near Prestbury, IL. It is mostly level, with 26 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Virgil Gilman Trail
7 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 2 hr 21 min
Elevation 665–708 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 left onto Virgil Gilman Trail, heading SE.
- 1.1 miSharp right, heading E.
- 350 ftContinue straight onto Virgil Gilman Access Trail, heading SE.
- 200 ftBear left onto Virgil Gilman Trail, heading E.
- 0.3 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Virgil Gilman Access Trail, heading NW.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading NW.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Virgil Gilman Trail, heading N.
- 1.1 miTurn right onto Great Prairie Trail, heading NW.
- 1.4 miTurn right onto Red Pine Loop, heading NE.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Access Trail, heading S.
- 0.1 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 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 10.6 mi · ▲ 26 ft
- Prairie Loop Trail via Virgil Gilman Trail 10.5 mi · ▲ 53 ft
- Turnstone Lake via Virgil Gilman Trail 9.2 mi · ▲ 26 ft
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