New Peak is the less popular peak that sits just west of the famous Kraft Mountain. Although having a higher summit, New Peak is a pile of limestone choss that pales in comparison to its savvy solid sandstone scrambling paradise of a neighbor in Kraft. New Peak is rarely summited but there is a register on top, and an easy social trail to follow to the peak. It goes at a chossy 2nd class with a bit of exposure along the summit ridge.

This route goes up the obvious seam on the SW face of Kraft Mountain. When standing in the parking lot and looking north at Kraft Mountain, there is a wide crack/gully that goes straight up to the summit. It is the most direct line and thus fastest line to the summit from the parking lot. The descent is off the NW ridge following a standard hiking route, then hitting Hell Hill which brings you back to the parking lot for a perfect 2 mile loop, tagging the summit of Kraft. This route makes a CCW loop.

The Des Plaines River Trail is just over 56 miles of rail-trail going through Lake and Cook Counties running alongside the Des Plaines River. This is one of the longer trails within the Greater Chicago Area with the south end in the near west suburbs and the north end being just shy of the Wisconsin border.

https://www.traillink.com/trail/des-plaines-river-trail/

Submitted by Jason Hardrath,