AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve

Des Plaines River Trail

7.7 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 2 hr 35 min

Des Plaines River Trail is a 7.7-mile out-and-back in MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve near Mettawa, IL. It is mostly level, with 26 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi640 – 686 ft9.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.23659, -87.90816
Nearest town Mettawa, IL
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Des Plaines River Trail

7.7 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 2 hr 35 min

Elevation 639–685 ft

Out & Back · MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 42.23659, -87.90816

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 0.1 miBear right, heading NW.
  3. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  4. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SW.
  5. 150 ftBear left onto North Bennett Road, heading S.
  6. 150 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  7. 0.5 miTurn right, heading W.
  8. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  9. 450 ftTurn left onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading W.
  10. 0.8 miTurn right, heading W.
  11. 200 ftTurn left, heading W.
  12. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  13. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  14. 250 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  15. 450 ftTurn right, heading W.
  16. 100 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  17. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  18. 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  19. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  20. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  21. 500 ftTurn right, heading W.
  22. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  23. 250 ftBear left, heading W.
  24. 350 ftTurn right, heading S.
  25. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  26. 500 ftTurn left, heading E.
  27. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Yellow Trail, heading S.
  28. 0.4 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  29. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading S.
  30. 0.7 miTurn left, heading NW.
  31. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  32. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  33. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  34. 400 ftBear right, heading N.
  35. 200 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  36. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  37. 500 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  38. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  39. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  40. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  41. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  42. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  43. 450 ftTurn right, heading W.
  44. 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
  45. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  46. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  47. 0.8 miTurn right, heading N.
  48. 450 ftBear right, heading E.
  49. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  50. 0.5 miSharp right onto North Bennett Road, heading N.
  51. 150 ftBear right, heading N.
  52. 100 ftTurn left, heading N.
  53. 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
  54. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  55. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/des-plaines-river-trail-out-back-12-km-31fd

Trail surface

47% gravel2% boardwalk51% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Mettawa, Illinois