Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve
West Trail via Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch
15.1 mi · ▲ 114 ft · 5 hr 5 min
West Trail via Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch is a 15.1-mile out-and-back in Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve near Prince Crossing, IL. It is mostly level, with 114 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 5/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
West Trail via Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch
15.1 mi · ▲ 114 ft · 5 hr 5 min
Elevation 720–807 ft
Out & Back · Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve
Trailhead: 41.91275, -88.17286
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:54 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 0.1 miBear left onto West Branch DuPage River Trail, heading W.
- 0.9 miSharp right onto Great Western Trail, heading W.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading W.
- 6.2 miTurn left onto West Trail, heading NW.
- 250 ftReach West Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 200 ftTurn right onto Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch, heading W.
- 6.2 miContinue straight onto Great Western Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miSharp left onto West Branch DuPage River Trail, heading E.
- 0.9 miBear right, heading E.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.2 mi in (~106 min). Leave by 4:48 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:53 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 16 mi · ▲ 114 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 16.1 mi · ▲ 114 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 13.6 mi · ▲ 114 ft
- North Central DuPage Regional Trail via Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 15.7 mi · ▲ 140 ft
- Mallard Lake–Mallard Lake Trail, 5 sights 16.1 mi · ▲ 81 ft
- Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Branch 8.7 mi · ▲ 87 ft
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