McDowell Grove Forest Preserve

West Branch DuPage River Trail

2.3 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 46 min

West Branch DuPage River Trail is a 2.3-mile out-and-back in McDowell Grove Forest Preserve near Naperville, IL. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi673 – 699 ft2.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.78496, -88.17898
Nearest town Naperville, IL

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

West Branch DuPage River Trail

2.3 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 46 min

Elevation 672–698 ft

Out & Back · McDowell Grove Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 41.78496, -88.17898

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:54 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 250 ftBear right onto West Branch DuPage River Trail, heading SW.
  3. 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
  4. 0.8 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  5. 0.8 miTurn left, heading NW.
  6. 0.3 miBear left, heading W.
  7. 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

77% paved23% gravel

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:54 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~27 min). Leave by 6:07 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:36 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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