Old School Forest Preserve

Des Plaines River Trail

2.2 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 45 min

Des Plaines River Trail is a 2.2-mile out-and-back in Old School Forest Preserve near Mettawa, IL. It is mostly level, with 26 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi669 – 722 ft2.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.26196, -87.92476
Nearest town Mettawa, IL

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Des Plaines River Trail

2.2 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 45 min

Elevation 669–722 ft

Out & Back · Old School Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 42.26196, -87.92476

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:38 AM · sunset 6:54 PM

Bikes allowed on the whole route

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 0.3 miTurn left onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading N.
  3. 0.9 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  4. 0.9 miTurn right, heading S.
  5. 0.3 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

76% gravel24% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:38 AMSunset 6:54 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.4 mi in (~10 min). Leave by 6:25 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:18 PM — 4 min before dark. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Bikes allowed on the whole route

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