AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve

Des Plaines River Trail

11.2 mi · ▲ 107 ft · 3 hr 47 min

Des Plaines River Trail is an 11.2-mile out-and-back in MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve near Libertyville, IL. It is mostly level, with 107 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi640 – 722 ft12.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.27669, -87.94023
Nearest town Libertyville, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Des Plaines River Trail

11.2 mi · ▲ 107 ft · 3 hr 47 min

Elevation 639–722 ft

Out & Back · MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 42.27669, -87.94023

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:51 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 0.2 miTurn right onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading SW.
  3. 4.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  4. 200 ftTurn left, heading W.
  5. 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  6. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  7. 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
  8. 450 ftTurn right, heading S.
  9. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  10. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  11. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  12. 0.1 miSharp right, heading S.
  13. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  14. 500 ftTurn right, heading S.
  15. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  16. 250 ftBear left, heading SE.
  17. 350 ftTurn right, heading W.
  18. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  19. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  20. 0.6 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  21. 0.5 miTurn left, heading SE.
  22. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  23. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  24. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  25. 350 ftBear right, heading NW.
  26. 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
  27. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  28. 500 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  29. 0.2 miSharp left, heading W.
  30. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  31. 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
  32. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  33. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  34. 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
  35. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  36. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  37. 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  38. 4.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  39. 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-18-km-5719

Trail surface

79% gravel1% boardwalk20% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:51 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.8 mi in (~44 min). Leave by 5:46 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:48 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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