AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve

Des Plaines River Trail

12.5 mi · ▲ 107 ft · 4 hr 13 min

Des Plaines River Trail is a 12.5-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 ft14.2 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

12.5 mi · ▲ 107 ft · 4 hr 13 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 miContinue straight onto Yellow Trail, heading SE.
  21. 0.4 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  22. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading SE.
  23. 0.7 miTurn left, heading NW.
  24. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  25. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  26. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  27. 350 ftBear right, heading NW.
  28. 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
  29. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  30. 500 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  31. 0.2 miSharp left, heading NW.
  32. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  33. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  34. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  35. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  36. 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
  37. 250 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  38. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  39. 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
  40. 4.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  41. 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-20-km-d869

Trail surface

81% gravel1% boardwalk18% 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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