Des Plaines River Trail – Half Day Forest Preserve Ponds loop from Wheeling

Des Plaines River Trail – Half Day Forest Preserve Ponds loop from Wheeling

Moderate

3.3

(13)

riders

Des Plaines River Trail – Half Day Forest Preserve Ponds loop from Wheeling

02:50

54.8km

110m

Gravel riding

Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: September 10, 2026

Tips

Includes segments that go up or down a series of steps

You may need to carry your bike.

After 180 m for 8 m

After 54.7 km for 8 m

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

4.28 km

Cahokia Flatwoods Forest Preserve

Nature Reserve

11.0 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 …

Tip by

14.0 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 …

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14.7 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 …

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16.4 km

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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18.1 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 …

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28.8 km

Middlefork Greenway

Highlight • Trail

This winding dirt trail takes you through the heart of the Middlefork Savanna. You parallel the North Branch Chicago River as the trail meanders through verdant riverlands. This is a …

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31.3 km

Middlefork Greenway

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

The Middlefork Greenway, in Illinois, is a 4-mile trail open for biking, hiking, and cross-country skiing in the winter. The trail meanders through a rare tallgrass savanna, a mix of …

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37.4 km

Grainger Woods Conservation Preserve

Forest

42.5 km

Half Day Forest Preserve Ponds

Highlight • Lake

Here you will find a gorgeous network of flat, crushed gravel trails that connect with the Des Plaines River Trail and other nearby preserves. The trails take you around scenic …

Tip by

54.8 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types