MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve
Des Plaines River Trail Loop
4.8 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 1 hr 38 min
Des Plaines River Trail Loop is a 4.8-mile loop in MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve near Melody, IL. It is mostly level, with 53 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Des Plaines River Trail Loop
4.8 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 1 hr 38 min
Elevation 654–720 ft
Loop · MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve
Trailhead: 42.24615, -87.90564
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:53 PM
Bikes allowed on the whole route
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 1.8 miTurn right onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading N.
- 450 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 1.7 miTurn left, heading S.
- 450 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.8 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 50 ftThe loop closes 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 1.4 mi in (~34 min). Leave by 5:59 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:41 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Bikes allowed on the whole route
More from this trailhead
- Des Plaines River Trail 5.2 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Des Plaines River Trail 8.2 mi · ▲ 28 ft
- Des Plaines River Trail 7.4 mi · ▲ 28 ft
- Des Plaines River Trail 3.7 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Des Plaines River Trail 6.9 mi · ▲ 28 ft
- Des Plaines River Trail 9 mi · ▲ 56 ft
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