AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve

Des Plaines River Trail

8.7 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 2 hr 56 min

Des Plaines River Trail is an 8.7-mile out-and-back in MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve near Mettawa, IL. It is mostly level, with 54 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi643 – 722 ft10.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.22626, -87.94708
Nearest town Mettawa, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Des Plaines River Trail

8.7 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 2 hr 56 min

Elevation 641–722 ft

Out & Back · MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 42.22626, -87.94708

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

Transit-accessible: 145 N Milwaukee Ave stop 470 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NE.
  3. 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  4. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  5. 50 ftSharp right, heading E.
  6. 50 ftSharp left, heading E.
  7. 400 ftTurn right, heading N.
  8. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  9. 350 ftBear right, heading N.
  10. 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
  11. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  12. 500 ftTurn right, heading N.
  13. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  14. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
  15. 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  16. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  17. 100 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  18. 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
  19. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  20. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  21. 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
  22. 200 ftTurn left onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading E.
  23. 3.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  24. 3.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  25. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  26. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  27. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  28. 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
  29. 450 ftTurn right, heading W.
  30. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  31. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  32. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  33. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  34. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  35. 500 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  36. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  37. 200 ftBear left, heading NW.
  38. 400 ftTurn right, heading S.
  39. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  40. 400 ftSharp right, heading S.
  41. 50 ftSharp left, heading S.
  42. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  43. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  44. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
  45. 150 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-14-km-9d30

Trail surface

71% gravel1% boardwalk28% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.7 mi in (~90 min). Leave by 5:03 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:38 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: 145 N Milwaukee Ave stop 470 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Mettawa, Illinois