MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve
Des Plaines River Trail
7 mi · ▲ 106 ft · 2 hr 23 min
Des Plaines River Trail is a 7-mile out-and-back in MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve near Mettawa, IL. It is mostly level, with 106 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
7 mi · ▲ 106 ft · 2 hr 23 min
Elevation 642–722 ft
Out & Back · MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve
Trailhead: 42.24031, -87.94735
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:53 PM
Transit-accessible: Milwaukee & Townline stop 212 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
- 200 ftTurn left onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading SE.
- 3.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 3.2 miTurn right, heading W.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 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 2.8 mi in (~69 min). Leave by 5:24 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:16 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Milwaukee & Townline stop 212 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Old School Pink Loop & Old School Yellow Trail via Des Plaines River Trail 9.6 mi · ▲ 53 ft
- Des Plaines River Trail 5.5 mi · ▲ 53 ft
- Des Plaines River Trail 4.2 mi · ▲ 26 ft
- Des Plaines River Trail 4.2 mi · ▲ 26 ft
- Des Plaines River Trail 3.3 mi · ▲ 26 ft
- Des Plaines River Trail 3.3 mi · ▲ 26 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Mettawa, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Mettawa, Illinois