MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve
Des Plaines River Trail
6.7 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 2 hr 16 min
Des Plaines River Trail is a 6.7-mile out-and-back in MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve near Mettawa, IL. It is mostly level, with 53 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Des Plaines River Trail
6.7 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 2 hr 16 min
Elevation 642–722 ft
Out & Back · MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve
Trailhead: 42.24265, -87.94249
Weather Sep 22: Overcast, high 61°F / low 55° · precip 8% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:51 PM
Transit-accessible: Milwaukee & Townline stop 337 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 400 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 200 ftTurn left onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading E.
- 3.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 3.2 miTurn right, heading W.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 400 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 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 2.6 mi in (~65 min). Leave by 5:26 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:10 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Milwaukee & Townline stop 337 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Potawatomi Woods–Indian Creek, 4 lakes 15 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Gavin Woods Pond 2–Everett Road Bike Path, 3 sights 12.6 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Des Plaines River Trail 6.7 mi · ▲ 106 ft
- Des Plaines River Trail 6.7 mi · ▲ 53 ft
- Des Plaines River Trail 6.8 mi · ▲ 54 ft
- Des Plaines River Trail 5.2 mi · ▲ 27 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Mettawa, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Mettawa, Illinois