Des Plaines River Trail

4.1 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 1 hr 24 min

Des Plaines River Trail is a 4.1-mile out-and-back near Prairie View, IL. It is mostly level, with 54 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi640 – 709 ft4.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.22043, -87.95242
Nearest town Prairie View, IL

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Des Plaines River Trail

4.1 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 1 hr 24 min

Elevation 639–708 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 42.22043, -87.95242

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:53 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 500 ftSharp right, heading N.
  3. 0.5 miTurn right, heading N.
  4. 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
  5. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  6. 250 ftContinue straight onto Vernon Hills High School Drop-off Loop, heading SE.
  7. 0.7 miBear left, heading S.
  8. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  9. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  10. 0.1 miTurn right onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading S.
  11. 0.5 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  12. 0.5 miTurn left, heading NW.
  13. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  14. 150 ftBear left, heading NW.
  15. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  16. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Vernon Hills High School Drop-off Loop, heading N.
  17. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  18. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  19. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  20. 0.5 miSharp left, heading S.
  21. 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

48% paved21% gravel2% boardwalk29% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.3 mi in (~8 min). Leave by 6:25 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:16 PM — 5 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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