Big Bend Lake Horse Trails

64 Bender Rd.
Des Plaines, IL 60016
United States

Big Bend contains a 27 acre lake with boat, and subsequently horse, trailer parking. It looks like a win because of its proximity to the Des Plaines River Trail but is blocked in by a railroad that cannot be crossed 0.4 miles to the north and a paved, privately owned, horse-prohibited section of the trail only 0.6 miles to the south.

One mile of horse trails are permitted at this location but an adventurous 4 lane road crossing of Golf Road yields only 0.4 miles of forest trails before reaching the impassable railroad tracks. An easily accessible portion of the Des Plaines River Trail continues from the parking lot 0.6 miles to the south before horses are prohibited. It contains views of forest. Big Bend Lake and Des Plaines River are not visible from the trail.

We included this trail because Cook County Forest Preserve identifies it as having trailer parking on their equestrian recreation guide.

For an enjoyable, scenic, long distance ride on the Cook County Forest Preserve managed section of the Des Plaines River Trail, we recommend Dam Woods #1 East.

Open Dates

Year-round, conditions permitting.

Trail closures

All horses must wear a horse tag affixed to the left-hand side of the bridle or the saddle and be clearly visible when on Forest Preserves trails. Day pass $5.

Distance and Terrain

1.0 miles

Part of Des Plaines River Trail System but trail ends at railroad tracks just north of Golf Rd. on northern edge of Big Bend Lake and horse accessible unpaved portion of Des Plaines River Trail ends just south of Big Bend Lake when a paved, privately owned section of the trail is reached. Unpaved southern portion of Des Plaines River Trail begins again at Algonquin Rd. in Camp Ground Road Woods Forest Preserve but there is no horse trailer parking available in the Cook County Forest Preserves for the remaining 11 miles of the southern portion of the Des Plaines River Trail. The Des Plaines River Trail from Sunset Bridge Meadow to Camp Ground Road Woods Forest Preserve is local ride in-access only.

DO NOT CROSS RAILROAD TRACKS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF BIG BEND LAKE. DO NOT TRAVEL ON PAVED SECTION OF TRAIL SOUTH OF BIG BEND LAKE.

Camping

No.

Parking

Designated horse trailer parking

Additional Info

Annual pass $35 for Cook County residents and $50 for non-residents.

31.4 miles pf the Des Plaines River Trail are managed by Lake County Forest Preserves and 22 miles by Cook County Forest Preserves.

Trail Map

Des Plaines Trail Map

HORSES CANNOT CROSS RAILROAD TRACKS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF BIG BEND LAKE. HORSES CANNOT TRAVEL ON PAVED SECTION OF TRAIL SOUTH OF BIG BEND LAKE.

Contact Info