Near O’Hare: Des Plaines River Trail, Schiller Woods, Busse Woods

Des Plaines River Trail/Schiller Woods, in Rosemont. Access off East River Rd. or Cumberland. There are 50+ miles of trails along the Des Plaines River, passing numerous additional forests and preserves, with offshoot trails. The section near O’Hare is part of the Cook County Section, which runs for 22 miles between Lake Cook Rd. in the north to North Ave. in the south. Schiller Woods is a 2-3 mile section between Lawrence Ave. & Belmont Ave., with additional trails. From the cluster of hotels near O’Hare off Des Plaines River Rd., access the trail from behind the Hyatt Hotel.  STAY: For Des Plaines River Trail & Busse Woods, on the hotel strip in Rosemont.

North of Lake Cook Rd., the Des Plaines River Trail goes for another 30 miles in Lake County to the Illinois-Wisconsin border. TRAIL MAP – Cook County Section

Busse Woods. In the Schaumberg/Arlington Heights area, just northwest of O’Hare. 3,700 acres, featuring forest, lakes, and meadows. 11 miles of trails, including a 7.2 mile loop trail. Paved. Access at numerous forest preserve entrances and locations, many off of Route 72, Higgins Road, or at the Elk Herd off of Arlington Heights road. TRAIL MAP

Paul Douglas Forest Preserve. In Hoffman Estates. 1800 acre preserve, with 7.5 mile paved loop trail.

Poplar Creek. In Hoffman Estates, 2 miles west of Paul Douglas Preserve. Various running options, including paved 8.9 mile loop (red trail). Or, combine unpaved brown and yellow trail for 6.3 miles. Some modest hills.

VIDEO of Des Plaines River Trail: Lovely running video of Des Plaines River Trail, courtesy of Rick Watson, from the Robinson Woods – South area (just north of Schiller Woods), and then to the Dam No. 4 Woods – East area. Then the section called Camp Pine Woods to Half Day Forest Preserve.