AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve

Des Plaines River Trail

11.7 mi · ▲ 107 ft · 3 hr 57 min

Des Plaines River Trail is an 11.7-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 ft13.3 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

11.7 mi · ▲ 107 ft · 3 hr 57 min

Elevation 639–722 ft

Out & Back · MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 42.27669, -87.94023

Weather Sep 22: Overcast, high 60°F / low 55° · precip 7% · wind 7 mph · 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. 0.8 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  21. 0.7 miTurn left, heading NW.
  22. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  23. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  24. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  25. 350 ftBear right, heading N.
  26. 250 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  27. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  28. 500 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  29. 0.2 miSharp left, heading N.
  30. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  31. 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
  32. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  33. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  34. 450 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  35. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  36. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  37. 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
  38. 4.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  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-19-km-f2e0

Trail surface

79% gravel1% boardwalk20% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 60°F55°
Precip7%Wind7 mphUV5Humidity87%
Rained 1.8″ 2 days ago (2.3″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
65°50°
Sunrise 6:40 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:51 PM
Wed 63°56°
Thu 66°59°
Fri 66°60°
Sat 63°60°
Sun 60°57°
Mon 69°57°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.8 mi in (~45 min). Leave by 5:46 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:49 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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