Des Plaines River Trail: Full Mileage
05-17-13, 12:00 PM
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Arschgaudi
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Des Plaines River Trail: Full Mileage
Looking to ride the entire Des Plaines River Trail from it's beginning near O'Hare all the way up to Wisconsin.
Does anyone know the total mileage of this ride?
Does anyone know the total mileage of this ride?
05-17-13, 03:26 PM
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It is 31 miles through Lake County: https://www.lcfpd.org/preserves/index...&object_id=160
It is 17 miles from Campground Woods to Lake Cook Road: https://fpdcc.com/wp-content/uploads/...rail-North.pdf
It looks like it might be 10 miles from Higgins Road to Campground Woods: https://fpdcc.com/wp-content/uploads/...rail-South.pdf
So looks like maybe 60 milesish? I'll bet there's somewhere on the Cook County FP site to get better numbers.
-adam
It is 17 miles from Campground Woods to Lake Cook Road: https://fpdcc.com/wp-content/uploads/...rail-North.pdf
It looks like it might be 10 miles from Higgins Road to Campground Woods: https://fpdcc.com/wp-content/uploads/...rail-South.pdf
So looks like maybe 60 milesish? I'll bet there's somewhere on the Cook County FP site to get better numbers.
-adam
05-20-13, 08:42 AM
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The trail actually starts arround Rt-64 in Melrose Park.
05-20-13, 03:57 PM
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I'd recommend checking here https://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydro...lot&gage=dspi2 before you leave if it's been raining for a while before you go. That gauge is by the riverwalk in Des Plaines, and the riverwalk floods easily when the river gets deeper. It's pretty hard to get around/through Des Plaines without the riverwalk too. Have you discovered the portion just north of Central Road that involves an unmarked "portage" of the railroad tracks?
05-25-13, 05:32 PM
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I'd recommend a mountain bike if you want to do this - this trail has portions that are just hardpack (or crushed limestone that easily gets washed away). Skinny 23mm road tires will not cut it. Hell, my 35mm hybrid tires had a difficult time.
And yeah, have fun with that crossing. There's no gates or signs or anything, just trail, railroad embankment, trail.
And yeah, have fun with that crossing. There's no gates or signs or anything, just trail, railroad embankment, trail.
