Des Plaines River Scenic Overlook & Main Trail
8.7 mi · ▲ 134 ft · 2 hr 58 min
Des Plaines River Scenic Overlook & Main Trail is an 8.7-mile out-and-back near Darien, IL. The route reaches Des Plaines River Scenic Overlook at the turnaround, 4.3 miles in. It is mostly level, with 134 ft of elevation gain. It scores 3/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Des Plaines River Scenic Overlook & Main Trail
8.7 mi · ▲ 134 ft · 2 hr 58 min
Elevation 637–770 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: 41.72139, -88.00736
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:53 PM
Dogs allowed on leash · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 1.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.8 miBear left, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Main Trail, heading N.
- 0.8 miBear right onto Saint Patrick Road, heading E.
- 350 ftTurn left onto Main Trail, heading E.
- 0.8 miTurn right, heading E.
- 150 ftReach Des Plaines River Scenic Overlook, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.8 miTurn right onto Saint Patrick Road, heading W.
- 350 ftBear left onto Main Trail, heading W.
- 0.8 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading SW.
- 0.8 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 1.2 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 2.7 mi in (~67 min). Leave by 5:26 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:15 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Drinking water at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Centennial Trail & Veterans Memorial Trail 11.7 mi · ▲ 167 ft
- Greene Trail 10.5 mi · ▲ 84 ft
- Greene Trail 10.3 mi · ▲ 84 ft
- Bruce Lake & Plainfield Road Walking Path 10.4 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Main Trail 10.3 mi · ▲ 106 ft
- Lake Harriet & Hawthorne Hill Woods Trail 10.4 mi · ▲ 27 ft
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