AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve

Des Plaines River Trail

9.2 mi · ▲ 108 ft · 3 hr 7 min

Des Plaines River Trail is a 9.2-mile out-and-back in MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve near Prairie View, IL. It is mostly level, with 108 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi643 – 705 ft11.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.21906, -87.95878
Nearest town Prairie View, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Des Plaines River Trail

9.2 mi · ▲ 108 ft · 3 hr 7 min

Elevation 641–706 ft

Out & Back · MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 42.21906, -87.95878

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

Transit-accessible: Vernon Hills stop 628 m from the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  3. 400 ftTurn left, heading E.
  4. 0.5 miTurn right, heading N.
  5. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  6. 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
  7. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  8. 250 ftContinue straight onto Vernon Hills High School Drop-off Loop, heading E.
  9. 0.6 miSharp left, heading E.
  10. 250 ftBear left, heading E.
  11. 450 ftSharp right, heading S.
  12. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  13. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  14. 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
  15. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  16. 500 ftTurn right, heading S.
  17. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  18. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  19. 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  20. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  21. 100 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  22. 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
  23. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  24. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  25. 150 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  26. 200 ftTurn left onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading NE.
  27. 2.5 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  28. 2.5 miTurn right, heading W.
  29. 200 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  30. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  31. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  32. 250 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  33. 450 ftTurn right, heading W.
  34. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  35. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  36. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  37. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  38. 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
  39. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  40. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  41. 250 ftBear right, heading SW.
  42. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  43. 50 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  44. 400 ftBear right, heading W.
  45. 250 ftSharp right, heading NW.
  46. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Vernon Hills High School Drop-off Loop, heading S.
  47. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  48. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  49. 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
  50. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  51. 0.5 miTurn right, heading N.
  52. 400 ftTurn right, heading N.
  53. 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-15-km-36ec

Trail surface

51% gravel25% paved24% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.6 mi in (~112 min). Leave by 4:41 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:01 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Vernon Hills stop 628 m from the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Prairie View, Illinois