Glen Carbon Heritage Bike Trail (MCT Heritage Bike Trail):
Illinois
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Description:
The 11-mile Heritage Trail (a.k.a. the MCT Heritage Bike Trail) is part of more than 85 miles of rail-trails managed by Madison County Transit (MCT), which also runs busses equipped with bike racks for passenger convenience. The feel of the trail is a mix of suburban and rural, and the many people on the trail demonstrate that diversity. Spandex-clad athletes whiz past people from the neighborhood out for a leisurely stroll. Children often use the trail to get to Citizen's Park or Miner Park. It serves as the heart of an integrated transportation system that can be a model for communities in Illinois and beyond.
The flat, chip-and-seal surface is good for jogging, so many runners signed up for the Chicago Marathon use the trail as a training ground. And if people-watching gets tiresome, there's always bird-watching; the best times to spot the more reclusive creatures are in the earliest hours of sunrise and at dusk.
Start the trail in Citizen's Park in Old Town Glen Carbon, where you can also pick up the Nickel Plate Trail (PAGE XX). Several blocks east is Miner Park, which has restrooms, and there are always trail maps and displays at the trailheads. Be sure to bring your camera for a photo of the 340-foot Silver Creek Railroad Trestle in town. The majority of the trail stretches out through farmland on either side, farmhouses dotting the landscape, especially as it approaches the Kuhn Station Road trailhead to the northeast

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Parking & Trail Access:
To the Glen Carbon trailhead at Meridian Road and W. Main St., take Interstate 255 to Glen Carbon then follow Interstate 270 east for 2 miles. Next, take to State Route 157 south for 1 mile and turn left on W. Main Street. Look for the trailhead on the right in 1 mile.
To access the Kuhn Station Road trailhead, take Interstate 55 to State Route 143, and follow that east for 0.3 mile. Take Staunton Road south just over 0.75 mile, and then follow Goshen Road another 0.75 mile east. Finally, turn south on Kuhn Station Rd. and look for the trailhead just ahead.

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Seasonal Restrictions:
Trail open dawn to dusk
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Reviews: [0 trail ratings]
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Great trail
By ranae on May 06, 2009
I rode from Marine all the way to the Lewis N Clark park near Alton and back a couple of weekends ago. 86 miles round trip and the whole ride was wonderful. The Madison County Transit Authority gets big kudos from me for supporting such a wonderful network of trails. I had to do a bit of street riding (across town in Grant City - 20th street) and then again to connect coming back from Lewis N Clark on bike trail that is side of rode but very clearly marked and plenty wide. I stopped in a little restaurant in Grant City for lunch (Piasi Pantry - right on 20th street) wonderful place - locally owned and run - very welcoming to a biker. The scenery changed from rural to small town to lakes and back - wonderful wonderful. The trails can be a bit of a maze though so I highly recommend you grab one of the many maps they provide and keep it handy.
I Love The Glen Carbon Heritage Trail!!!
By Pin Oak on March 01, 2008
I just rode on it today for the first time because it was 60 degrees outside. I rode from Glen Crossing Road to where the trail is currently closed (on Main Street by Citizens Park) because of the construction on IL 157. This trail was different from the other trails in Glen Carbon because of the pavement. I enjoyed the scenery a lot. I am about to ride on it again in about 5 minutes! I loved that trail!
4 miles more
By John Kellenberger on October 28, 2006
The trail now goes to Marine another 4-miles. About 1 mile from Marine where it went under highway 4 it's closed because they are replacing the railroad bridge with a trail one. I went around it anyway.
John
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Typical winter view of the trail.
Trail Facts
Trail End Points: Glen Carbon (Meridian & W Main St) to Glen Carbon (Kuhn Station Road)
Counties: Madison
Trail Length: 11 miles
Trail Category: Rail-Trail
Trail Surfaces: Asphalt, Gravel
Trail Activities: Bike, Wheelchair Accessible, Walking, Cross Country Skiing
TrailLink ID: 6015797

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Guidebook: Learn more about other Midwestern rail-trails in RTC's Midwestern Guidebook.
Trail of the Month: August 2001
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