Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve
West Trail via Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch
11.2 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 3 hr 46 min
West Trail via Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch is an 11.2-mile out-and-back in Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve near Wayne, IL. It is mostly level, with 53 ft of elevation gain. It scores 10/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
West Trail via Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch
11.2 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 3 hr 46 min
Elevation 742–787 ft
Out & Back · Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve
Trailhead: 41.96216, -88.23910
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:54 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto East Trail, heading S.
- 1.2 miBear left, heading SE.
- 450 ftTurn right onto North Central DuPage Regional Trail, heading S.
- 1 miTurn right onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading NW.
- 3 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.2 miBear left onto West Trail, heading W.
- 300 ftReach West Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 300 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading SE.
- 3 miTurn left onto North Central DuPage Regional Trail, heading E.
- 1 miTurn left, heading N.
- 450 ftBear right onto East Trail, heading NW.
- 1.2 miTurn left, heading N.
- 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 1.9 mi in (~47 min). Leave by 5:47 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:55 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 12.1 mi · ▲ 53 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 10.8 mi · ▲ 59 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 12.2 mi · ▲ 53 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 13.3 mi · ▲ 53 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 10.2 mi · ▲ 59 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 13.4 mi · ▲ 53 ft
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