Sam Vadalabene Great River Road Bike Trail:
Illinois
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Description:
Big bluffs, mighty rivers, the largest state park, and one giant bird-you'll find them all along the Sam Vadalabene Great River Road Bike Trail. This unique rail-trail starts in the 8,050-acre Pere Marquette State Park (named for the first European to step on Illinois soil) and follows the Illinois River to its confluence with the Mississippi River. The enormous state park (the largest in Illinois) has a rich history and limitless sights, from Native American burial mounds to educational displays to lookouts with sweeping river views. It is best known, however, for its vivid fall foliage and a winter population of the majestic bald eagle.
Shortly after the park, the trail travels over a series of short but fairly steep hills and gullies. Around mile 5, you enter the town of Grafton, where the trail crosses the road and starts its run right along the riverbank of the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. Across the river, sits the state of Missouri. This is a beautiful, half-mile stretch with turtles, herons, and a plethora of waterfowl. Soon, the trail veers off the rail corridor and passes through the quiet streets of Grafton.
The trail merges with the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway, otherwise known as Highway 100, outside of Grafton, traveling along a 3- to 4-foot painted bike lane that parallels the river, offering excellent water views. Traffic moves fast on this stretch, but the bike lane is wide enough for comfortable travel. Just south of Grafton is a visitors center with knowledgeable staff and a wide array of informative publications.
Four miles from Grafton, a pleseant detour can be found in the town of Elsah. Turn off the Scenic Byway at Mill Street to take a spin through the hamlet. Stone and brick houses line the narrow streets, lending Elsah a step-back-in-time quality that earned it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
Continuing on the Scenic Byway, in stark contrast to the wide river on your right, sheer limestone cliffs tower over the far side of the road for most of the 8 miles traveled along the roadway from Grafton to Piasa Harbour.
After passing the commercial harbor developments at Piasa Harbor, the bike lane crosses the road and resumes as trail. The final 6 miles roll along between the highway and the dramatic bluffs looming above. As you approach the southern trailhead at Piasa Park, look up at the huge limestone bluff to see a 48-by-22-foot Native American petroglyph painting of the fierce, warrior-killing Piasa Bird.
From Piasa Park, you can follow green bike-route signs to continue your journey on the 4-mile Alton Trail (mostly along city streets), which connects to the Madison County Transit Confluence Trail (see page XX).

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Parking & Trail Access:
To access the northern trailhead in Pere Marquette State Park, take Interstate 270 to Highway 3, and follow Highway 3 north for 6.6 miles. Turn left on Great River Road/Berm Highway, and continue for 5 miles. Merge onto Great River Road/McAdams Parkway, and head north for 20 miles. Turn right into the driveway to the Pere Marquette Lodge; the trailhead is on the right, and parking is on the left.
To access the southern trailhead in Piasa Park, take Interstate 270 to Highway 3, and go north on Highway 3 for 6.6 miles. Turn left on Great River Road/Berm Highway, and go 5 miles. Merge onto Great River Road/McAdams Parkway, and head north for 0.8 mile. Piasa Park is on the right, just past Alton.

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One of the best in midwest!
By Scott Dixon in April, 2004
"The Great River Road trail is one of the most beautiful trails in the midwest! As you ride your bike, on one side are spectacular limestone bluffs rising high above you, and to the other side is the Mississippi River, where sailboats, yachts and barges are constantly in view. The trail runs alongside the Meeting of the Rivers National Scenic Byway.

The trail is physically separated from the roadway for most of its length, but for part of the trail, it is alongside the shoulder. The trail is asphalt paved. It connects with the Chain of Rocks Bridge and the St. Louis bike trail. Because of this, you can ride from the St Louis Gateway Arch north through the city, then across the Mississippi River into Illinois on what I believe is the longest exclusively pedestrian/bicycle bridge in the world, then continue north along the river to where the Missouri River meets the Mississippi. At that point, you can visit the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Museum, which commemmorates the place where Lewis & Clark began their expedition in 1804. The 200th anniversary celebration event will be in May 2004. Continue north to Lock and Dam 26 at Alton, where you can take tours of the dam and also visit the new National Great Rivers Museum, continue through riverfront park in Alton, past the Alton Belle casino. In historic downtown Alton there are plenty of things to do. Then continue up the River Road Bike trail past several parks and historic villages along the way. The trail ends at Pere Marquette State Park, which is the largest state park in Illinois!

Enjoy!"
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Trail Facts
Trail End Points: Alton (Piasa Park on Hwy 100) to Pere Marquette State Park (at Lodge Turnout on Hwy 100)
Counties: Jersey, Madison
Trail Length: 20.4 miles
Trail Category: Rail-Trail
Trail Surfaces: Asphalt
Trail Activities: Bike, Inline Skating, Fishing, Wheelchair Accessible, Walking
TrailLink ID: 6015798

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