AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Half Day Forest Preserve

Half Day Pond via Des Plaines River Trail

4.1 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 1 hr 23 min

Half Day Pond via Des Plaines River Trail is a 4.1-mile out-and-back in Half Day Forest Preserve near Mettawa, IL. The route reaches Half Day Pond at the turnaround, 2 miles in. It is mostly level, with 26 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi640 – 676 ft5.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.24031, -87.94735
Nearest town Mettawa, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Half Day Pond via Des Plaines River Trail

4.1 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 1 hr 23 min

Elevation 639–676 ft

Out & Back · Half Day Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 42.24031, -87.94735

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

Transit-accessible: Milwaukee & Townline stop 212 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
  3. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  4. 350 ftTurn left, heading S.
  5. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  6. 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
  7. 0.2 miSharp right, heading S.
  8. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  9. 500 ftTurn right, heading E.
  10. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  11. 250 ftBear left, heading E.
  12. 350 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  13. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  14. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  15. 0.1 miTurn right onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading S.
  16. 1.1 miSharp right, heading SW.
  17. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  18. 50 ftContinue straight onto Red Trail, heading SW.
  19. 0.1 miTurn left onto Green Trail, heading W.
  20. 50 ftReach Half Day Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  21. 50 ftTurn right onto Red Trail, heading W.
  22. 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
  23. 50 ftSharp left onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading E.
  24. 1.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  25. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  26. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  27. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  28. 350 ftBear right, heading N.
  29. 250 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  30. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  31. 500 ftTurn right, heading W.
  32. 0.2 miSharp left, heading W.
  33. 0.2 miSharp left, heading NE.
  34. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  35. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  36. 350 ftBear left, heading N.
  37. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  38. 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/half-day-pond-half-day-pond-out-back-7-km-cca1

Trail surface

51% gravel3% boardwalk46% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Milwaukee & Townline stop 212 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Mettawa, Illinois