Rock River Recreation Path:
Illinois
Trail Map
  • Get Personalized Driving Directions!
  • Find Trail Side Shops with Google Search!
  • See Users’ Geocoded Photos!
  • Get a Print-Friendly Map and Get Outdoors!
Description:
The paved Rock River Recreation Trail winds throughout downtown Rockford and environs, following the east bank of the Rock River through Shorewood Park and Martin Memorial Park. Officially, the trail begins at Davis Park on the west bank of the river; you can cross the river just about anywhere but the trail segments on this side are short and disconnected. There are about 6 miles of paved trail, while another 10 miles (depending on where you begin) follow along roads. The best place to begin is at Whitman Street bridge. Head north along the east bank until the trail is interrupted at the neighborhood Illinois Street. To pick up the next trail segment, take Illinois then go left at Ransom Place, north (right) on Arlington, east (left) on Snow, and take an immediate right on Forest Grove, which dead-ends where the trail picks up.

After passing through Shorewood Park, in a short distance you'll reach Evelyn Avenue; go east (left) then north (right) on East Drive to River Lane; turn east (left) and pick up the trail again.

At E. Riverside Boulevard, the trail crosses the river on the south side of the bridge. Just over the bridge, you'll cross to the other side of Riverside Boulevard at the intersection (use caution) and continue north on the trail along the west bank.

For part of its route the trail parallels active railroad tracks, and some segments of the trail are linked via road. At the bend in the river, the trail crosses the tracks and enters Sportscore One, where it does a 0.75-mile loop around the playing fields. Continue north on the trail from Elmwood Road to Harlem Road (about 0.5 mile), crossing under Harlem to loop around the Winnebago County Forest Preserve.

Cross over the Harlem bridge via a pedestrian/bike path to pick up the Bauer Memorial Path.

... Click to read more
Parking & Trail Access:
Parking for the trail is available at any of the parks, at Machesney Park Mall or the lot adjacent to the YMCA. Ample parking is available at Sportscore One and in downtown Rockford near State and Madison. Power chair users will find several electrical outlets along the path.

... Click to read more
... Click to read more
Reviews: [3 trail ratings]
[View all reviews for this trail]
[register/login to Submit a Review of this Trail]
Sections of trail stitched together by streets
By ILBOB in December, 2011
It is not really a single path so much as a series of discontinuous path sections, joined by streets. It starts at Davis Park downtown on the west side of the river and heads north for a few blocks thru the park, and maybe a block farther outside the park and just stops. The next segment starts at the Whitman Street bridge about 3/4 of a mile to the north. There is a bike way across the river and on the east side of the river the bike path heads north thru Sinnissippi Gardens, past Spring Creek Road and into Riverfront Park. It stops at the north edge of this park. It picks up again at Shorewood Park and stops at the north edge of the park, if you count the park road as part of the path. There is a break until you get to Martin Park in Loves Park. It winds thru Martin Park and back across the river at Riverside Blvd. There is a bike/pedestrian bridge there but you have to go a block or two to the west to a stop light to get across Riverside, cross the street, and then come back for the next chunk. The last chunk is continuous from Riverside Blvd all the way to Harlem Road (Frank Bauer Pkwy)on the west side of the river. It connects to the Bauer Path and into the forest preserve district HQ trails at the bridge. The nicest sections are the Sinnissippi Garden section and the part north of Riverside Blvd up to Sportscore.

Back years ago when I had a bike I biked this path a number of times. My brother used to jog it. My niece used to roller blade on it. It gets a lot of use. I have heard a fair number of complaints about the obnoxious roller bladers that use the path. Mostly I think they use the part north of Whitman Street, which is the most heavily used section. There have been large numbers of geese on this section of the path in the past. The geese tend to mess up the path. I have not been on this section of the path in a long time now so I can't comment as to whether the geese are currently an issue or not.

I have noticed that the part of the path that goes under Spring Creek Road seems to flood now and then.

Wilma and I hiked one of the nicer segments north of Riverside Blvd not long ago. I posted some video and pictures on my blog.

http://ilbob.blogspot.com/2011/09/2011-9-17-rock-river-recreation-path.html

I would just skip the part downtown, unless you like biking or walking along busy city streets. There is nothing downtown to see except government buildings for the most part, and Davis Park where the trail starts is not one of the nicest areas of town. The parts north of Whitman Street are nice, even where you have to go out on city streets. They are not especially busy streets.

There is plenty of parking along the way as others have mentioned. I think all the parks are Rockford Park District so bathroom facilities are probably plentiful in warmer times, but non-existent when it is cold, as the district relies mostly on port-a-potties that are removed when it gets cold.

I don't recall if they plow it during the winter or not. I know some parts are plowed, but I don't know if the whole thing is.
pretty nice
By asinca in June, 2010
A real good short ride, surface in good shape. The previous tp about the YMCA is right on. Lots of places to stop, johns ,pay phones (yes they still exist), concession stands, picknick shelters I give it a solid A.
Rock River Recreation Path
By jackiemcbee in May, 2010
great path - Sinnissippi gardens undergoing construction now - will be Nicholas Conservatory...path is very nice even with constructon. Lots of parking at Sportscore I (beginning/end of the path), Martin Park, or Shorewood Park, Cliffbreakers (hotel), Rockford YMCA...or downtown Rockford...near State & Madison...more on Madison near Waterside Park (end/beginning of path)
great ride along the river - very pretty -- enjoy it!!
Jackie M May 2010
Browse Trails by Activity: