Des Plaines River Trail, recreational trail area through northeastern Illinois
The Des Plaines River Trail follows the Des Plaines River through Illinois for more than 28 miles, passing through forest preserves, woods, and parks. The mostly unpaved path is flat and accessible for walkers and bikers, leading through floodplain forests, oak woodlands, and open fields.
The Des Plaines River has shaped regional communities for hundreds of years, serving people for fishing, transportation, and recreation. Old mills and small bridges along the trail mark past uses of the land and waterway by earlier generations.
The trail serves as a daily connection for residents who walk or bike directly from their neighborhoods into green spaces. This everyday use by local people shapes the path as an open, inviting place where the community spends time outdoors.
The trail is open year-round from sunrise to sunset and can be accessed from multiple entry points including Sunset Bridge Meadow, Evans Field, and Schiller Woods, which offer parking. Stay on the designated path, keep dogs leashed, and clean up after them to ensure a safe and pleasant experience for all visitors.
The trail shows signs of beavers living along the water, with felled trees marking their activity as they search for food. In spring you will find wildflowers and migrating birds filling the forest with song, while in fall squirrels and other animals busily gather nuts for winter.
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