MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve
Des Plaines River Trail
4.5 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 1 hr 31 min
Des Plaines River Trail is a 4.5-mile out-and-back in MacArthur Woods 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
Getting there
Directions
Des Plaines River Trail
4.5 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 1 hr 31 min
Elevation 654–705 ft
Out & Back · MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve
Trailhead: 42.23905, -87.91516
Weather Sep 22: sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:51 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 100 ftBear left onto North Bennett Road, heading N.
- 150 ftSharp left, heading NW.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left, heading W.
- 450 ftTurn right onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading NW.
- 1.7 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 1.7 miTurn left, heading S.
- 450 ftBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.5 miSharp right onto North Bennett Road, heading E.
- 150 ftBear right, heading E.
- 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.3 mi in (~55 min). Leave by 5:36 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:01 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- North Shore Bike Path–Old School Blue Loop, 3 sights 13 mi · ▲ 107 ft
- Des Plaines River Trail 6.1 mi · ▲ 26 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Mettawa, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Mettawa, Illinois