MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve
Des Plaines River Trail
9.8 mi · ▲ 80 ft · 3 hr 18 min
Des Plaines River Trail is a 9.8-mile out-and-back in MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve near Oak Grove, 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
9.8 mi · ▲ 80 ft · 3 hr 18 min
Elevation 639–722 ft
Out & Back · MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve
Trailhead: 42.26635, -87.92494
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:53 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading SE.
- 2.9 miTurn right, heading W.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.1 miSharp right, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
- 500 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 250 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 500 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.8 miContinue straight onto Yellow Trail, heading SE.
- 0.4 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading E.
- 0.7 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 400 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 500 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.2 miSharp left, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 3 miTurn left, heading N.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.5 mi in (~12 min). Leave by 6:21 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:19 PM — 2 min before dark.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Drinking water at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Des Plaines River Trail 9 mi · ▲ 80 ft
- Des Plaines River Trail 8.5 mi · ▲ 80 ft
- Minear Lake Beach via Des Plaines River Trail 4.6 mi · ▲ 27 ft
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