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Kloempken Prairie Horse Trails

1704 Golf Rd
Des Plaines, IL 60016
United States

The Des Plaines River Trail follows its historic namesake river through multiple forest preserves. This unpaved trail allows visitors to enjoy casual strolls, full-day adventures and anything in between. The Des Plaines River Trail continues north through Lake County.

From Kloempken Prairie the Des Plaines River Trail continues north passing through Dam No. 1 Woods - West, Allison Woods, the River Trail Nature Center, Lake Avenue Woods - East, Camp Pine Woods, Beck Lake, and Dam No, Woods - East.  

From Dam No. 1 Woods -East the trail passes North into Lake County travelling through Cahokia Flatwoods, Edward L. Ryerson Conservation Area, Half Day Forest Preserve, Captain Daniel Wright Woods ForestMacArthur Woods, Old School Forest Preserve, Independence Grove Forest Preserve, Lake Carina Forest Preserve, Sedge Meadow Forest Preserve, Wadsworth Savanna Forest Preserve, Van Patten Woods Forest Preserve, and ending at the northernmost point at Des Plaines River Trail and Greenway.

Open Dates

Year-round, conditions permitting.

Trail closures - Cook County

Trail closures - Lake County

All horses must wear a horse tag  affixed to the left-hand side of the bridle and be clearly visible when on Cook County Forest Preserves trails and Lake County Forest Preserve trails. Lake and Cook County horse permits are not interchangeable. 

Cook County Day Pass $5.

Lake County Day Pass $5 for Lake County resident and $10 for non-resident.

Distance and Terrain
35.7 miles

Trail continues north one-way for 28 miles to Des Plaines River Trail and Greenway.  Starting 1.2 miles to the north at East Lake Cook Road trail is managed by Lake County Forest Preserve

DO NOT CROSS RAILROAD TRACKS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF KLOEMPKEN PRAIRIE. 

The Des Plaines River Trail can be resumed for 1 mile by trailering to Big Bend Lake.  An unpaved, privately owned, horse-prohibited portion of the trail exists south of Big Bend Lake. The unpaved horse-friendly 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.

Additional Spur Trails 

Additional trails that spur off of the 35.7 mile Des Plaines River Trail can be found at Van Patten Woods Forest PreserveOld School Forest Preserve, and Captain Daniel Wright Woods Forest.

Camping
No.
Parking

None. Ride-in and hike-in access only.

Des Plaines River Trail designated horse trailer parking can be found at Half Day Forest PreserveOld School Forest PreserveSedge Meadow Forest Preserve, and Des Plaines River Trail and Greenway.

Additional Info

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

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

Annual pass $50 for Lake County residents and $100 for non-residents.  Reduced rate passes available Sept. 1 to Nov. 30.  

All horses must wear a horse tag  affixed to the left-hand side of the bridle and be clearly visible when on Cook County Forest Preserves trails and Lake County Forest Preserve trails. Lake and Cook County horse permits are not interchangeable. 

The first northern 8 miles of the Des Plaines River Trail in Lake County from Des Plaines River Trail and Greenway  to Sedge Meadows Forest Preserve run along the Canadian Pacific Railway.  Please be aware that trains do not have a set schedule.  Portions of the trail may run within sight or hearing distance of trains.  Use caution with horses that have limited exposure to railways.

Trail Map

Des Plaines Trail Map - Cook County

Des Plaines Trail Map - Lake County

HORSES CANNOT CROSS RAILROAD TRACKS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF KLOEMPKEN PRAIRIE. 

Contact Info