Description
The Lincoln Prairie Trail runs between County Road 12 at State Route 29 west of Pana and Paw Paw Street in Taylorville. The trail parallels SR 29 for nearly the entire route. Built upon an abandoned rail bed, the trail includes four original railroad bridges.
Most of the southern section of the trail traverses the flat farmland of central Illinois, passing through the smaller communities of Millersville and Owaneco. As the trail approaches Taylorville, the corridor becomes more wooded around Bertinettis Lake and Taylorville Lake. You can access Kiwanis Park at Taylorville Lake.
Parking and Trail Access
From north to south: There is a small parking lot next to the Taylorville trailend on Paw Paw Street, and a much larger lot at Taylorville Lake, 3 miles south of Taylorville. Mid-trail, you can park on the street in Owaneco. At the southern end of the trail, park just outside of Pana where CR 12 and SR 29 meet.
Enjoyable, flat ride
By
robindkrause
in
May, 2013
My wife and I rode the length of this trail from Pana to Taylorville and back. There are a couple of places the trail diverts on roads through towns along the way (Millersville for one) so you have to pay attention to the signs.
The trail is in relatively ...
read more
Response to Criticism
By
ducnut
in
December, 2012
I've seen some criticisms of the trail. Like all rail-trails, this one relies on users and volunteers to help maintain it; there's no full-time maintenance crew.
Therefore, one may encounter sticks, nuts, berries, etc. on the trail. Remember, you're ...
read more
Nice Long Central Illinois Trail
By
wilhelmggw
in
August, 2012
Yesterday the wife and I rode the entire trail on our tandem trike. The asphalt trail surface itself is in good condition, but there are spots that could really use some clean up: thick cover of leaves and twigs, clumps of grass growing up in cracks, ...
read more