Des Plaines River Trail
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Des Plaines River Trail | |
---|---|
Length | 56 mi (90 km) |
Completed | 2015[1] |
Trailheads | Des Plaines |
Use | bicycling, inline skating, walking, cross country skiing |
Difficulty | easy, level |
Surface | asphalt, crushed stone, concrete |
Trail map | |
The Des Plaines River Trail is a recreational multiuse trail that follows the course of the Des Plaines River through most of Lake and part of Cook County in northeast Illinois in the United States. This trail connects with the North Branch Trail and Green Bay Trail.
Trail uses include hiking/walking, bicycling, equestrian, and even winter cross country skiing and snowmobiling (conditions permitting). Since much of the trail lies in the
Much of the Des Plaines River Trail runs through a protected corridor made up of a series of public lands that are part of the
Cook County Forest Preserve rangers give lectures at various time during the year.[4] There is a nature house where forest animals reside for the public to view. The trails are very calm and beautiful and especially in the fall when the leaves change colors. A peak time to walk the trails is the second or third week in October. You can picnic right next to the Des Plaines River.
Towns (north to south)
Towns connected by or adjacent to the Des Plaines River Trail:
- Wadsworth
- Gurnee
- Libertyville
- Mettawa
- Lincolnshire
- Riverwoods
- Wheeling
- Des Plaines
- Park Ridge
- Schiller Park
- Chicago
- River Grove
Recreational facilities
The Des Plaines River Trail contains many recreational facilities, including:
- Parks and Preserves, such as the Van Patten Woods, and the Gurnee Woods.
- Boating, including rafts, flat bottom boats, and canoes
- Fishing
- Equestrian facilities
- Dog park
Animal life
The trail is home to numerous forms of wildlife, among them:
- Birds, such as blue herons, cranes, woodpeckers, red-tailed hawks, and peregrine falcons.
- Fish, including bass, bluegill, carp, catfish, crappie, northern pike, and sunfish.[5]
- .
- water strider, and dragonfly.
- softshell turtle, and leopard frog.
Plant life
The trail contains several different ecosystems:
Safety
When traveling along the trail during warmer months,
Although the river and associated ponds are considered fresh water,
References
- ^ "Des Plaines River Trail Designated National Recreation Trail".
- ^ "Des Plaines River Trail and Greenway". Lake County, Illinois Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
- ^ "Des Plaines River Trail and Greenway - Your Preserves | Lake County Forest Preserves". www.lcfpd.org. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
- ^ "Des Plaines Trail System". Forest Preserves of Cook County. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
- ^ "Des Plaines River". Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Archived from the original on 2014-05-24.