MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve
Miceli Pond via Des Plaines River Trail
7.9 mi · ▲ 82 ft · 2 hr 40 min
Miceli Pond via Des Plaines River Trail is a 7.9-mile out-and-back in MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve near Mettawa, IL. The route reaches Miceli Pond at the turnaround, 3.9 miles in. It is mostly level, with 82 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Miceli Pond via Des Plaines River Trail
7.9 mi · ▲ 82 ft · 2 hr 40 min
Elevation 641–708 ft
Out & Back · MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve
Trailhead: 42.23915, -87.91131
Weather Sep 22: Overcast, high 61°F / low 57° · precip 6% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:51 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
- 100 ftBear left onto North Bennett Road, heading N.
- 150 ftSharp left, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left, heading W.
- 450 ftTurn left onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading NW.
- 0.8 miTurn right, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
- 500 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 250 ftBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading S.
- 400 ftBear right, heading S.
- 250 ftSharp right, heading S.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Vernon Hills High School Drop-off Loop, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.5 miSharp left, heading NW.
- 150 ftPass Miceli Pond.
- 0.2 miSharp right, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 100 ftReach Miceli Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 150 ftBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading S.
- 0.2 miSharp right, heading S.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.7 miSharp left, heading N.
- 250 ftBear left, heading N.
- 400 ftSharp right, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left, heading E.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 500 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 200 ftTurn left onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading E.
- 0.8 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 450 ftBear right, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.5 miSharp right onto North Bennett Road, heading E.
- 150 ftBear right, heading E.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 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 3.4 mi in (~84 min). Leave by 5:07 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:30 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Minear Lake–North Bay, 6 lakes 16 mi · ▲ 55 ft
- The Lake at Independence Grove–Minear Lake, 5 lakes 15.7 mi · ▲ 55 ft
- Old School Pink Loop & Old School Yellow Trail via Des Plaines River Trail 9.4 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Des Plaines River Trail 6.9 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Des Plaines River Trail 6.8 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Des Plaines River Trail 6.8 mi · ▲ 27 ft
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