Chicago, IL: Des Plaines River Trail
Explore a handful of landscapes—prairie, wetlands, lakes—along a winding river on this 9.8-mile out-and- back leg of the Des Plaines River Trail.
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Mapped By: Ted Villaire
Trail Facts
- Distance: 7.5
Waypoints
DPR001
Location: 42.2690163, -87.9239502
Bear R (N) on Des Plaines River Trail into Old School Forest Preserve
DPR002
Location: 42.2709732, -87.9249191
Continue under St. Mary’s Rd. into a mixed grassland (goldenrod, asters, big bluestem prairie grass)
DPR003
Location: 42.2765007, -87.937233
Cross Rockland Rd.
DPR004
Location: 42.2814331, -87.9342804
Continue straight through tunnel under IL 76 @ 4-way
DPR005
Location: 42.2860336, -87.9367142
Minor obstacle course ahead: cross footbridge over Des Plaines River, then duck under train tracks
DPR006
Location: 42.2869148, -87.9368668
Continue L @ 3-way
DPR007
Location: 42.2890816, -87.9405365
Cross Oak Spring Rd. Look L toward Minear Lake, a popular swimming hole with the locals
DPR008
Location: 42.303318, -87.95327
Trail traces Des Plaines River on R. Look L up bluff towards Adler Park
DPR009
Location: 42.3059158, -87.9549026
Carefully cross IL 137 (busy street)
DPR010
Location: 42.3088493, -87.9564133
Cut through rolling prairie and pass ponds formed by abandoned gravel pits
DPR011
Location: 42.3139153, -87.9575348
Straight @ 3-way
DPR012
Location: 42.3151169, -87.9573364
Cross footbridge, then enter Independence Grove Forest Preserve, a 1,114-acre park
DPR013
Location: 42.3169785, -87.9536057
Climb 75 ft. to enjoy views of the preserve’s rolling landscape, then backtrack to car
