MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve

Des Plaines River Trail

6.8 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 2 hr 17 min

Des Plaines River Trail is a 6.8-mile out-and-back in MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve near Mettawa, IL. It is mostly level, with 27 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi653 – 722 ft7.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.24009, -87.91041
Nearest town Mettawa, IL

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Des Plaines River Trail

6.8 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 2 hr 17 min

Elevation 654–722 ft

Out & Back · MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 42.24009, -87.91041

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:53 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 350 ftSharp right, heading N.
  3. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NW.
  4. 150 ftBear left onto North Bennett Road, heading NW.
  5. 150 ftSharp left, heading N.
  6. 0.5 miTurn right, heading W.
  7. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  8. 450 ftTurn right onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading NW.
  9. 2.5 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  10. 2.5 miTurn left, heading SW.
  11. 450 ftBear right, heading S.
  12. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  13. 0.5 miSharp right onto North Bennett Road, heading E.
  14. 150 ftBear right, heading E.
  15. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  16. 0.3 miSharp left, heading E.
  17. 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

74% gravel26% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.7 mi in (~65 min). Leave by 5:27 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:12 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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