Des Plaines River Trail Flooding
May, 2010

Here's a view of the Des Plaines River Trail flooding just inside Wright Woods after the bridge. There are a series of trails that go around and through Wright Woods forest preserve that are accessible from the Des Plaines River Trail just after one of the bridges over the Des Plaines River north of route 22 and Half Day.

 

Here's some more flooding, of the left, in Wright Woods about 3/4ths of the way around the outer loop. I've been on the DPRT at different times when the river was high and there are different parts of the trail that have a tendency to flood.

In some cases it's just like a puddle to go around or through and other times it feels like you are riding in the river itself! I have ridden through some flooded areas that were probably 6 to 10 inches or more deep. Generally I am pretty reluctant to cross one of these flooded areas if I can't see the bottom or can't see the other side (where you come back out to the non-flooded part of the trail again).

Flooded Route 60 Underpass. The underpasses, where the trail goes under the highway bridges are some of the places that flood most often when the river is high. They have signs that tell you when the underpass is open or closed but some of us riders choose to try to make it through anyway. Sometimes it's a matter of choosing your preferred way to get by. The flooded underpass can be difficult (and wet) but the detours that cross the highway are a little out of the way and it can be very difficult to cross the highways on top also.

Here is a rider taking the flooded Route 60 underpass. I've done this kind of thing before and once you make it through you gotta plan on wet shoes for the rest of your ride.