By Chris Bracknell in October, 2011
In my quest to ride all of the "Hall of Fame"trails, I rode the trail on Saturday and Sunday, Sept 10 & 11. I was surprised on how much I enjoyed the ride even with the numerous street crossings. It was a beautiful weather and there were nice neighbors in which the trails went through. The trail had great signage and the surface was excellent for dirt. I was surprised on the rural feel of some areas on the branches. The trail is a real treasure for those communities.
The only real negative was the lack of clarity and difficulty in staying on the trail and crossing at Winfield Road. On Saturday, my wife found an excellent Texas style barbeque place in Wheaton just two blocks from the trail near the commuter terminal (we are constantly on the watch for barbeque as we travel around the country). As I was riding the Geneva branch through West Chicago on Sunday morning(9-11), I came upon a fire station where a fireman was practicing Amazing Grace on the bagpipes. There were other firemen in dress uniforms nearby. It appeared they were preparing for a ceremony or parade for the 911 anniversary.
Chris Bracknell
By mhayes847 in April, 2011
Just recently they have made a new path connecting Fox River Trail to the IL Prairie Path it follows the new stern road bridge/route 25 that they have built. They are also saying their going to build a park buy where the bridge starts on the east side. It's also about a mile and half and all asphalt. Buy the connection with the IPP there are two tunnels so you do not have to cross streets expect for one which is more of a side street but i does have i light. By making this path it makes a bout a 8mile ring around the east side of South Elgin. It connects two great paths and makes a great quick ride.
By infovoyeur in March, 2011
No accounting for taste, but my current favorite (among the cluster of off-road trails in N.W. Illinois, for which I come down from S.E. Wis.!), is the EASTERNMOST section of the I.P.P., from the start, west to WHEATON and return. Why? An engaging blend of urban and rural: coursing thru the back yards of small towns, then out to greenery, then thru some "industrial-pastoral" of old faded brick factories etc. Not too much countryside (can get boring?), nor too much intrusive cityscape (can get noisy etc.). Over to You...
Chester, flaneur [I have ridden in France the tow-paths of the Canals du Midi S.W., Burgundy, Ourcq coming into Paris from the N.E., the Lacanau-to-Cap-Ferrat pine sand country in the S.W. Atlantic section...and when I can't get there, our cluster right here is quite sufficient!...]
Chester Kartoffelkopfe, "flaneur"...