Friendship Park
Managed by Mount Prospect Park District
28 acres0.9 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Photo: Randy Escalada · CC BY-SA 2.0B+Outdoors
Outdoors in Des Plaines
99% of residents live within a half mile of a park in Des Plaines
The biggest trail networks: Friendship Park (0.9 mi), Big Bend Lake Preserve (0.8 mi), Prairie Lakes Park (0.8 mi). 7.4 miles of mapped trail cross Des Plaines, 0.5 per square mile of land. 439 acres are parks and preserves, 7.4 per 1,000 residents.
Ahead of 69% of U.S. towns · #319 of 768 in Illinois. What drives it
Conserved land
4%
405 acres · of 14.2 sq mi of land
Trails
7.4 mi
0.5 per sq mi of land
Park land
439 ac
7.4 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
99%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
21 mi
3.3 mi lanes · 12 mi paths
Lakes & rivers
6
4 boat launches
What kind of outdoors town is Des Plaines?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Des Plaines have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Des Plaines is ahead of 69% of U.S. towns, #319 of 768 in Illinois. The share of residents near a park holds the grade up; park acres per resident pull it down.
B+
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Des Plaines’ overall grade.
Conserved land4% of the land · typical IL town 4% · U.S. 4%BTrails0.5 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (7 mi) · IL 0.3 · U.S. 0.4BPark land7.4 acres of park per 1,000 residents (439 acres) · IL 15 · U.S. 13C+Parks close to home99% of residents within a half mile of a park · IL 88% · U.S. 72%A
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 69%
LessMore
Illinois towns of 2,500+ (768)Ahead of 59%
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would range from B to A−. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Friendship Park, with 0.9 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Big Bend Lake Preserve
Managed by Forest Preserve District of Cook County
161 acres0.8 mi of trail
Big Bend Lake Hiking Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trailheadWebsite ↗
Prairie Lakes Park
Managed by Des Plaines Park District
42 acres0.8 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Campground Road Woods Preserve
Managed by Forest Preserve District of Cook County
42 acres0.5 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trailhead
Einstein Park
Managed by Mount Prospect Park District
6 acres0.5 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Arndt Park
Managed by Des Plaines Park District
14 acres0.4 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
All 49 parks & preserves
Friendship Park28 acres · 0.9 mi of trail · Mount Prospect Park District
DirectionsBig Bend Lake Preserve161 acres · 0.8 mi of trail · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsPrairie Lakes Park42 acres · 0.8 mi of trail · Des Plaines Park District
DirectionsCampground Road Woods Preserve42 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsEinstein Park6 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Mount Prospect Park District
DirectionsArndt Park14 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · Des Plaines Park District
DirectionsLake Park74 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Des Plaines Park District
DirectionsHarry Semrow Preserve58 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsApache Park2 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Des Plaines Park District
DirectionsAlgonquin Woods Preserve44 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsLions Woods Preserve37 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsNorthwestern Woods Preserve24 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsBelleau Lake Preserve18 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
West Park11 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Des Plaines Park District
Des Plaines Manor Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Des Plaines Park District
DirectionsCumberland Terrace2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Des Plaines Park District
DirectionsNorthshire Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Des Plaines Park District
DirectionsCentral Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Des Plaines Park District
DirectionsHawaii Park1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Des Plaines Park District
High Ridge Knolls Park37 acres · Mount Prospect Park District
DirectionsBelleau Wood Preserve35 acres · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsForest Preserve District of Cook County21 acres · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsRand Park15 acres · Des Plaines Park District
DirectionsKloempken Prairie Preserve7 acres · Forest Preserve District of Cook County
DirectionsChippewa Park6 acres · Des Plaines Park District
DirectionsSeminole Park6 acres · Des Plaines Park District
DirectionsBlackhawk Park5 acres · Des Plaines Park District
DirectionsLeisure Center Park5 acres · Des Plaines Park District
DirectionsEaton Field Park4 acres · Des Plaines Park District
Cheyenne Park4 acres · Des Plaines Park District
DirectionsSesquicentennial Park4 acres · Des Plaines Park District
DirectionsTomahawk Park3 acres · Des Plaines Park District
DirectionsDevonshire Park3 acres · Mount Prospect Park District
DirectionsKylemore Greens Park3 acres · Des Plaines Park District
Cornell Park2 acres · Des Plaines Park District
Willow Park2 acres · Des Plaines Park District
DirectionsCraig Manor Park2 acres · Des Plaines Park District
Westfield Gardens2 acres · Des Plaines Park District
DirectionsDimucci-Lowenberg Park1 acres · Des Plaines Park District
Kutchen Park1 acres · Des Plaines Park District
Potawatomie Park1 acres · Des Plaines Park District
Woodlawn Park1 acres · Des Plaines Park District
South Golf Cul de Sac Park1 acres · Des Plaines Park District
DirectionsCentennial Park1 acres · Des Plaines Park District
McKay-Nealis Park1 acres · Des Plaines Park District
Menominee Park1 acres · Des Plaines Park District
Kiwanis Park1 acres · Des Plaines Park District
Jaycee Park1 acres · Des Plaines Park District
Sioux Park1 acres · Des Plaines Park District
Who protects it
405 conserved acres
4% of Des Plaines’ land. Who manages Des Plaines’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Regional agency282 ac
Town or city120 ac
Local Park · 301 acLocal Recreation Area · 64 acUnknown · 37 ac
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Park Local Park | Regional agency | 78 | Open |
| Majowski Metropark Local Park | Town or city | 43 | Open |
| Prairie Lakes Community Center Local Recreation Area | Town or city | 40 | Open |
| Golf Center Des Plaines Unknown | Town or city | 35 | Open |
| High Ridge Knolls Park Local Park | Regional agency | 30 | Open |
| Rosemary S. Argus Friendship Park Local Park | Regional agency | 30 | Open |
| Majewski Metro Athletic Complex Local Recreation Area | Regional agency | 23 | Open |
| Rand Park Local Park | Regional agency | 14 | Open |
| West Park Local Park | Regional agency | 10 | Open |
| Seminole Park Local Park | Regional agency | 10 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
56 places to go in Des Plaines
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Playgrounds in Des Plaines
42 playgrounds are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Boat launches in Des Plaines
Big Bend Lake Boat LaunchIn Big Bend Lake Preserve
DirectionsNorthwestern Woods Canoe LandingIn Northwestern Woods Preserve
DirectionsPlus 2 boat launches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Fishing spots in Des Plaines
1 fishing spot without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Picnic areas in Des Plaines
Big Bend Lake Grove #1In Big Bend Lake Preserve
DirectionsCamp Ground Road Woods Grove #1In Campground Road Woods Preserve
DirectionsLions Woods Grove #1In Lions Woods Preserve
DirectionsNorthwestern Woods Grove #1In Northwestern Woods Preserve
DirectionsPlus 4 picnic areas without a name on the map.
Campgrounds in Des Plaines
Des Plaines Methodist Camp Ground
DirectionsTrails & water
1 named trail and 6 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 3.0 miUnpaved · 0.6 mi
Big Bend Lake Hiking Trail0.8 mi
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
Biking & sports
21 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
3.3 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
12 mi
off-road bike paths
5.5 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Courts & fields
36Baseball
22Tennis
20Basketball
16Soccer
14Pickleball
3Softball
2Skate park
1Football
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →2 places on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 4 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
When to get out
September is the best month for walking in Des Plaines
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.4 | 10.5 | 11.8 | 13.3 | 14.5 | 15.2 | 14.9 | 13.9 | 12.4 | 11.0 | 9.7 | 9.1 |
| High (°F) | 31 | 36 | 47 | 59 | 70 | 80 | 84 | 82 | 75 | 63 | 48 | 36 |
| Rain (in) | 1.9 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 2.4 | 2.1 |
February is the driest month (1.8 in) and July the warmest (highs of 84 °F). 4.6 inches fall in May, the wettest month. The climate in Des Plaines →
Next door
Des Plaines and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Chicago242 miGlenview27 miMaine Township22 miElk Grove Township19 miPark Ridge7.8 miDes Plaines7.4 miMount Prospect3.0 miRosemont0.9 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Plaines | 4% | 0.5 | 7 | 99% | B+ |
| Mount Prospect | 8% | 0.3 | 9 | 97% | B+ |
| Maine Township | 3% | 0.8 | 4 | 98% | B |
| Chicago | 8% | 1.1 | 4 | 99% | A− |
| Rosemont | 2% | 0.5 | 9 | 99%+ | B |
| Elk Grove Township | 6% | 0.7 | 6 | 96% | B+ |
| Park Ridge | 3% | 1.1 | 4 | 97% | B+ |
| Glenview | 10% | 1.9 | 16 | 96% | A |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Des Plaines
Where can I hike in Des Plaines?
The longest trail networks: Friendship Park, 0.9 miles; Big Bend Lake Preserve, 0.8 miles; Prairie Lakes Park, 0.8 miles; Campground Road Woods Preserve, 0.5 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Des Plaines is conserved land?
4% of its land, against a typical 4% for an Illinois town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Des Plaines’ trails?
Friendship Park and Big Bend Lake Preserve don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Des Plaines?
21 miles of bike routes are on the map: 3.3 of painted or protected lanes, 12 of off-road paths and 5.5 of shoulders and shared lanes.
Is there public land near Des Plaines?
16,243 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Des Plaines or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 440 of them inside the city line.
How much outdoors does Des Plaines have?
Ahead of 69% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #319 of 768 in Illinois. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Des Plaines neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →