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Des Plaines River Trail
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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. 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 flood plain along the Des Plaines River, sections of the trail are occasionally closed due to occasional flooding during periods of heavy rain. Though not all sections of the trail connect directly, there is currently a 28-mile continuous section running through Lake County starting at Russell Road along the Wisconsin/Illinois state line and running south to West Riverside Road about a mile south of Route 22. There are additional disconnected sections south of this point.
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 Lake County Forest Preserve District and the Cook County Forest Preserve District. The numerous forest preserves provide additional recreational opportunities along the trail. Underpasses and bridges are used to facilitate many (not all) of the major road crossings (The underpasses are highly prone to flooding during the Spring).
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Towns connected by or adjacent to the Des Plaines River Trail:
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
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, and catfish.
- Mammals, for example bobcats, chipmunks, coyotes, deer, foxes, possums, skunks, and squirrels.
- Invertebrates, such as the tiger beetle, metalmark butterfly, velvet ant, crayfish, water strider, and dragonfly.
- Reptiles & Amphibians, including the garter snake, box turtle, softshell turtle, and leopard frog.
The trail contains several different ecosystems: plains, woodlands, savannas, and wetlands. In these ecosystems are many varieties of trees, tall grasses and wildflowers, creating a rich abundance of plant life.
When traveling along the trail during warmer months, hikers should take proper preventative measures for mosquitoes and ticks. Mosquitoes can carry some forms of encephalitis as well as West Nile Virus. Ticks in the region have been known to carry Lyme Disease.
Although the river and associated ponds are considered fresh water, swimming or consumption is generally not recommended. Most of the river and its tributaries are subject to runoff/drainage as well as heavy usage by local wildfowl, which may cause chemical and/or bacterial contamination.