Independence Grove Lake – Des Plaines River Trail loop from Lake Forest

Bike touring routes & trails

Independence Grove Lake – Des Plaines River Trail loop from Lake Forest

Moderate

2.8

(16)

riders

Independence Grove Lake – Des Plaines River Trail loop from Lake Forest

04:37

57.8km

150m

Cycling

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: November 3, 2026

Tips

Includes segments that go up or down a series of steps

You may need to carry your bike.

After 158 m for 7 m

After 57.7 km for 7 m

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

17.8 km

Independence Grove Lake

Highlight • Lake

A very nice pond where you can observe dragonflies and water birds.

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23.1 km

MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve

Highlight • Forest

MacArthur Woods is a preserved forest that showcases the original landscape of the eastern Des Plaines River Valley. The area features a diverse mix of plants, creating an important habitat for breeding forest birds, including the brown creeper, red-shouldered hawk, broad-winged hawk, veery, pileated woodpecker, and several rare warblers.

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30.7 km

Des Plaines River Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

Des Plaines River Trail is a popular 2 mile popular gravel trail located near Mettawa, Illinois, that runs largely along the water. It is popular with cyclists, walkers, runners, and the occasional horseback rider.

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32.6 km

Des Plaines River Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

You can follow the trail for 56 miles along the Des Plaines River with gorgeous views of local preserves, watersheds, forests, and marshes. The trail is wide packed gravel and shared with hikers and the occasional horseback rider. Here your pass through the County Forest Preserve which has its own scenic trail network.

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33.6 km

Des Plaines River bridge

Highlight • Bridge

The Des Plaines River flows southwards from Wisconsin and down through Illinois. It makes for an excellent cycling companion thanks to the trails that wind alongside it. This bridge spans the river in the Captain Daniel Wright Woods Preserve, east of Vernon Hills.

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33.6 km

Des Plaines River Trail – Half Day Forest Preserve

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

The Des Plaines River Trail stretches over 56 miles along the Des Plaines River, offering a scenic natural escape through Lake and Cook Counties, just outside Chicago. This multi-use trail features a mix of surfaces, including pavement, crushed stone, and single-track forest paths, making for an exciting and varied biking experience. The northern sections are well-maintained and popular, while the southern portions become narrower and more rugged. This particular portion of the Des Plaines River Trail passes through Half Day Forest Preserve with nice views of the river and several ponds.

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43.4 km

Cahokia Flatwoods

Highlight • Forest

This stretch of the Des Plaines River Trail at Cahokia Flatwoods Forest Preserve guides hikers through a serene woodland, with a dirt path winding under tall oaks and maples. Surrounded by green undergrowth and dappled sunlight, it’s a peaceful escape near the river

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