McDowell Grove Forest Preserve

West Branch DuPage River Trail

4.4 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 28 min

West Branch DuPage River Trail is a 4.4-mile out-and-back in McDowell Grove Forest Preserve near Warrenville, IL. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi673 – 699 ft4.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: West Branch DuPage River Trail 41.79584, -88.18534
Nearest town Warrenville, IL

Directions

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West Branch DuPage River Trail

4.4 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 28 min

Elevation 672–698 ft

Out & Back · McDowell Grove Forest Preserve

Trailhead: West Branch DuPage River Trail · 41.79584, -88.18534

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

Transit-accessible: 1415 W Diehl Rd stop 730 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 50 ftContinue straight onto West Branch DuPage River Trail, heading W.
  3. 400 ftSharp left, heading W.
  4. 1.4 miTurn left, heading SE.
  5. 0.8 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  6. 0.8 miTurn left, heading NW.
  7. 0.3 miBear left, heading NW.
  8. 1.1 miSharp right, heading NW.
  9. 150 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

42% paved12% gravel46% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:54 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.2 mi in (~53 min). Leave by 5:41 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:02 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: 1415 W Diehl Rd stop 730 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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