Drive / Drive / MD-N or UP-N staging to Lake County DPRT
Des Plaines River Trail - Lake County
Crushed-limestone river corridor that gets better the farther north you stage it.
Quick Win Needs recheck 58 min to good stuff 31 mi 3/5 intervals
Decision
Quick Win dry week, low river levels, weekday morning
Avoid after rain, known underpass flooding, busy weekend mid-day
Workout gravel endurance / nearby escape
Surface Mixed: Mostly crushed-limestone forest-preserve corridor with flood-prone underpasses.
Access
Chicago to Lake County DPRT 50 min typical drive time
8 min roll to the useful riding
Drive to a northern trailhead for the cleanest version; Metra staging is possible with routing work.
Confidence
Geometry Generated
Surface Known
Access Link only
Last checked 2026-05-28
Scouting card: verify trail status, access, and route shape before treating the GPX as ride-ready.
Hazards
- Underpass flooding · high Check Lake County status after rain.
- Mixed-use corridor · medium Expect runners, walkers, dogs, and horses in places.
Effort Windows
- Lake County corridor · 15-60 min Good for steady riding when underpasses are dry.
This is probably the most useful local off-road expansion beyond the existing six. It is close, long, and condition-sensitive.
Planning note: this entry was added as an off-road possibility. Treat the GPX and map line as scouting geometry until replaced with a ridden or sourced route file.
Ride Sheet
Drive Chicago to Lake County DPRT
Access 58 min to good stuff
Workout gravel endurance, nearby escape, woods corridor, steady tempo
Bailouts Many trailheads along the corridor
Water Forest preserve trailheads when open, Libertyville / Gurnee
Bathrooms Forest preserve facilities when open
Best When dry week, low river levels, weekday morning
Avoid after rain, known underpass flooding, busy weekend mid-day