MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve
Des Plaines River Trail
5.2 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 1 hr 45 min
Des Plaines River Trail is a 5.2-mile out-and-back in MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve near Mettawa, IL. It is mostly level, with 27 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
5.2 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 1 hr 45 min
Elevation 654–705 ft
Out & Back · MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve
Trailhead: 42.24009, -87.91041
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:53 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 350 ftSharp right, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 150 ftBear left onto North Bennett Road, heading NW.
- 150 ftSharp left, heading N.
- 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.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.3 miSharp left, heading NW.
- 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 2.6 mi in (~64 min). Leave by 5:28 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:12 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
More from this trailhead
- Des Plaines River Trail 6.8 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Des Plaines River Trail 6.8 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Des Plaines River Trail 5.3 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Des Plaines River Trail 7.5 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Des Plaines River Trail 7.5 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Des Plaines River Trail 6.6 mi · ▲ 27 ft
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