About-Bicycles > Bike Trails > Des Plaines River Trail Photos 1

Des Plaines River Trail
Van Patton Woods

Northern end of Des PLaines River Trail

It's hard to read the sign on this jpg, but it says "Van Patton Woods - Horse Trailer Parking". This is the Northern End of the DPRT off of Russell Road. I actually rode north to get here but started this particular bike trail photo tour here so it would start at Mile 0 and go south the entire way. There is a little parking area here, some picnic tables and a washroom. I have taken a break here whenever I have made it to the northern end of the trail.

Mile 0 marker on DPRT

This is the Mile "0" marker at the northern end of the trail. This end of the trail is a little more open at this point. Unfortunately, these photos were some of the first bike trail photos that I took and I had a really cheap digital camera at the time so the image quality is not that good. I hope to get out here again soon, with my much upgraded camera for some updates.

DPRT Near Van Patten Woods and Lakes

On the right is one of the scenic lakes in Van Patten Woods forest preserve. The VPW forest preserve area is very nice and there are some bike trails that branch off from the main DPRT here.

Van Patten Woods sign for side trip

We took a little side trip into Van Patten Woods out by and around the lakes. There are also some picnic tables in this area so it also makes for a nice place for a break and snack.

Bridge on DPRT

One of the many wooden bridges on the Des Plaines River Trail. I actually don't remember if this was was on one of the Van Patten Woods trails that branch off from the main trail or on the main DPRT itself.

DPRT going south

The trail is crushed stone here (almost all of the DPRT is crushed stone) and although you are not as close to the river here, they still have equestrian traffic here so the trail can get rough at times from the hoof prints.

 

Here's the Photo Tour of the Half Day to Old School Forest Preserve ride from August 16th, 2014. These pages include photos of the DPR Trail in this section along with some nice scenery photos (including a few HDR photos) taken from various locations on the trail.

Old School Trail and MacArthur Woods - Photos 20
Route 60, Wright Woods and Half Day FP - Photos 21

Here's the GPS Map of the ride above.


Here are some Fall Photos of the DPRT from Euclid (or Lake Street) a little east of Prospect Heights south to Golf Road then back north to Milwaukee Ave (from October 9, 2012):

DPRT Fall Photos 17 - Just South of Lake Street
DPRT Fall Photos 18 - Branch to Beck Lake
DPRT Fall Photos 19 - North of Lake Street

Here's the GPS Map of the ride above.

Here's the photo tour of the Des Plaines River Trail from Higgins Road in Park Ridge north to Dundee Road in Wheeling (July, 2012).

The Des Plaines River Trail Photos 12 - Park Ridge Leg
The Des Plaines River Trail Photos 13 - Des Plaines Riverwalk Area
The Des Plaines River Trail Photos 14 - Big Bend Lake to Euclid
The Des Plaines River Trail Photos 15 - To Allgauers Restaurant
The DPRT Photos 16 - To Dam No 1, Wheeling

Here's the GPS Map of the ride above.

Here's the photo tour of the Des Plaines River Trail from Lincolnshire (Routes 21 and 22 going south) to Dundee Road in Wheeling, Il. (June, 2012).

The DPRT Photos 8 - Lincolnshire Marriott Area
The DPRT Photos 9 - Path along Milwaukee Road
The DPRT Photos 10 - Deerfield Road to Lake Cook Road
The DPRT Photos 11 - County Line Road to Wheeling

Here's the GPS Map of the ride above.

Here's the photo tour of the Des Plaines River Trail, from Route 22 in Half Day (going north) to Libertyville (July, 2005).

Des Plaines River Trail Photos 4 - Lincolnshire to Wright Woods
Des Plaines River Trail Photos 5 - Bridge Underpasses and Equestrian
Des Plaines River Trail Photos 6 - North to North Shore Path
DPRT Photos 7 - North Shore Path to Independence Grove 

Here's the photo tour of the Des Plaines River Trail, from Wisconsin (going south) to Libertyville (September, 2004).

Des Plaines River Trail Photos 1 - Van Patton Woods < You are here
Des Plaines River Trail Photos 2 - Mile 5 South to Great America
Des Plaines River Trail Photos 3 - Mile 11 to Adler Park in Libertyville

Note: Des Plains is a common mi s-spelling for Des Plaines (with the e near the end) so will see some references to Des Plains River Trail on these pages to help with the searches for the trail pages.

Photos © Copyright Rob Chapman, about-bicycles.com. Photos with * Copyright Dale Kiffel.