MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve
Des Plaines River Trail
6.9 mi · ▲ 80 ft · 2 hr 20 min
Des Plaines River Trail is a 6.9-mile out-and-back in MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve near Mettawa, IL. It is mostly level, with 80 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
6.9 mi · ▲ 80 ft · 2 hr 20 min
Elevation 654–722 ft
Out & Back · MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve
Trailhead: 42.23602, -87.91062
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:53 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading N.
- 100 ftBear left onto North Bennett Road, heading N.
- 150 ftSharp left, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left, heading W.
- 450 ftTurn right onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading NW.
- 2.5 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 2.5 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 450 ftBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.5 miSharp right onto North Bennett Road, heading E.
- 150 ftBear right, heading E.
- 150 ftBear right, heading E.
- 0.2 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 (~66 min). Leave by 5:26 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:14 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Minear Lake–North Bay, 6 lakes 16 mi · ▲ 55 ft
- The Lake at Independence Grove–Minear Lake, 5 lakes 15.7 mi · ▲ 55 ft
- Old School Pink Loop & Old School Yellow Trail via Des Plaines River Trail 9.4 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Des Plaines River Trail 6.9 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Des Plaines River Trail 5.4 mi · ▲ 54 ft
- Liberty Lake via Des Plaines River Trail 10.2 mi · ▲ 55 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Mettawa, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Mettawa, Illinois