State: IL Length: 7.80 miles Surface: Asphalt
This trail runs along Alongquin Road and through the Paul Douglas Forest Preserve between Hoffman Estates and Barrington Township. The trail provides access to many of the preserve's facilities as well as the communities northwest of the park.
Rail-Trail
State: IL Length: 2.70 miles Surface:
The Bloomingdale Trail is a proposed 2.7-mile, elevated rail-trail on Chicago's northwest side. As a sister project of New York's High Line and Paris's Promenade Plantee, the Bloomingdale is part of a worldwide effort to promote physical activity and enhance the quality of city life. This project is also a jewel in the city's vision for an interconnected network of trails, paths and bike lanes in Chicago that is spelled out in the Chicago Trails Plan.
State: IL Length: 3.20 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Buffalo Creek Trail is a paved trail system in the Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve, outside of Buffalo Grove. The trail provides access to facilities throughout the park.
State: IL Length: 5.30 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Burnham Greenway is composed of two trails—Burnham Greenway North and Burnham Greenway South—that run along a former railroad corridor between Chicago and Lansing, Illinois. There are plans to extend and connect these short sections, which will create 11 miles of trail through some of this urban environment's best natural areas. Until that point, however, it is best to treat these as two separate trips. Burnham Greenway North stretches 3.15 miles from Wolf Lake to 100th St. The lake, which straddles the state line between Illinois and Indiana, has a parking area and playgrounds, as well as access to swimming, fishing and biking. Wolf Lake, and other neighboring lakes, is believed to be among the most biologically diverse places in the Midwest. Wolf Lake is home to the endangered lake sturgeon and the threatened banded killifish; and its wetlands are inhabited by three species of endangered heron, plus the rare yellow-headed blackbird. So impressive is this area, more than 150 experts in botany, zoology and related ecological fields gathered here to identify and record organisms living in the lake and surrounding forest, prairie and marshland. The undertaking revealed the extraordinary biodiversity of green pockets that have survived within the urban and industrial landscape south of Chicago. Heading north from Wolf Lake, you will travel through a populated urban area, where locals frequently use the path to walk or bike to and from grocery stores. It's a wonderful example of a path that doubles as a neighborhood transportation corridor, with housing, restaurants and small grocery stores nearby. There are a few road crossings that require careful crossing, but all crossings are well marked. Burnham Greenway South covers 2.1 miles between Green Lake Woods (159th St.) and State Street. If you are arriving by car, start at Green Lake Woods, which has the only parking. The trail here is pleasant and well traveled, passing baseball fields and many
State: IL Length: 11.20 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Busse Woods Trail system is located within Ned Brown Forest Preserve, a 3,700-acre property in the western suburbs of Chicago. There are 11.2 miles of paved trails for cyclists, equestrians and pedestrians. The main loop is nearly 8 miles, circling some lakes and meadows, while a couple of much shorter side loops will take you to the north and south end of the forest preserve. The Busse Woods Trail connects with the Schaumburg Bikeway on the west, and on the north, Busse Woods links to the Rolling Meadows Bikeway system. Some key features of the forest preserve include fishing, boat rentals and a small herd of captive resident elk. The trails are open from sunrise to sunset.
State: IN Length: 9.10 miles Surface: Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel
The Calumet Bike Trail traverses the south side of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, a unique ecosystem of forest, marsh, dunes and beach along Lake Michigan. This dirt and crushed limestone path stretches between two interesting natural features: the Cowles Bog, an 8,000 year-old marsh, and Mount Baldy, a 123-foot-tall sand dune. The route parallels the South Shore Rail Line, which carries passengers from Chicago to South Bend, and passes through residential and commercial areas, including a unique and unexpected sight: the Bailly Nuclear Power Plant.
State: IL Length: 26 miles Surface:
From the Friends of the Calumet-Sag Trail Web site:
The Calumet-Sag Trail will be a multi-use path built almost entirely along the banks of the Calumet-Sag Channel and Calumet River, open by 2012. Along 26 miles of waterway from Lemont in the west to Burnham in the east, the Calumet-Sag Trail will stitch together more than 185,000 people in fourteen communities. It will connect them to regional trails, transit systems, retail areas, parks, forest preserves, marinas, nature centers, and the legacies of Big Steel, immigrant communities and the Underground Railroad. Trail users will see barges. They will see bridges. They will see factories, and dams, and purple cone flowers and deer. They will see each other.
State: IL Length: 13 miles Surface: Asphalt
Centennial Trail runs from Willow Springs Road to Romeo Road (135th street) between the Des Plaines River and the Chicago Sanitary and Ship - Calumet Sag Canal. It connects to the paved I&MC Trail via a concrete path along Route 83 and at Romeo road. From Romeo Road the I&MC connects to Joliet as a Limestone Trail
The Chain O' Lakes Bike Path is a paved trail that runs between E. Grand Avenue in Fox Lake and Grant Woods Forest Preserve to the east. The trail parallels the railroad track and Rollins Road/CR 31, passing by the Ingleside Metra station before heading notheast toward Grant Woods. Here it meets with the Grant Woods South and North trail, which are not paved but suitable for bikes. Grant Woods has 6 miles of trails.
State: IL Length: 18.50 miles Surface: Asphalt, Concrete
Located east of Lakeshore Drive, the Chicago Lakefront Bike Path is an 18.5 mile linear park along Lake Michigan that includes beaches, volleyball courts, playgrounds, baseball diamonds, tennis courts and soccer fields. The path system unites a variety of neighborhoods, including Southshore, Hyde Park, Lincoln Park and Lakeview, and serves as both a recreational and transportation resource. For more information contact the Chicago Park District (312-292-2273), Friends of the Parks (312-922-3307) or the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation (312-427-3325).
State: IL Length: 3.50 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Deer Grove Trail runs through the Forest Preserve of the same name and includes a paved trail, nearly 4 miles long, that links to the Palatine Trail system. In the forest preserve there are also several trails for mountain bikers.
State: IL Length: 56.30 miles Surface: Crushed Stone
The Des Plaines River Trail and Greenway traverses north–south along the route of its namesake river along its course through both Lake and Cook counties. The corridor protects 85% of the riverine habitat in the county. The 56+-mile trail connects numerous forest preserves, parks and communities between the Illinois–Wisconsin border and south, well into the western Chicago suburbs. In Lake County, snowmobiles are permitted along the trail between Wadsworth Road (and in the wetlands research project area) and the northern terminus at Russell Road. For more detailed maps of this extensive trail, consult the links to Lake and Cook counties.
State: IN Length: 15.70 miles Surface: Asphalt
Running from Crown Point to Highland, then picking up again to the west at Wicker Park and running north through Hammond, the Erie Lackawanna Trail passes through wetlands and open space on an unusually wide, paved corridor. The northern section is a popular thoroughfare that lends green space to an urban landscape on this neighborhood rail-trail. From Crown Point, head north from Summit Street, and very shortly you will come upon the first of many street crossings and convenient trailheads. You also will see one of the many makeshift community access points. The first is for the Pine Island neighborhood and provides residents convenient backyard access to the trail. Near mile 4, a tunnel takes you under US Route 30, where the trail traffic increases. Here, you will notice one of the most unique characteristics of the trail—spectacular inlaid tile markers and overhead signs bearing the Erie Lackawanna name. In a lovely combination of function and form, these elements double as fun and functional trail art. At South Broad Street, the route briefly departs from the old railroad corridor. For about 0.8 mile, you follow a well-marked independent bike lane on city streets across seven active rail lines. Just before this detour, take a break at the convenient trailside shelter, which features picnic tables, restrooms and a tremendous Erie Lackawanna sign. The trail sign alone makes the visit worthwhile. Like an old railroad sign, this trail marker is elevated above the rail-trail. The Hammond segment of the trail begins in Wicker Park. You can access it by heading from the northern terminus in Highland by heading west on Grand Boulevard (just south of the Highland terminus). This path leads under US 41 (S. Indianapolis Blvd); as of June 2011, this part is not paved but plans are underway to do so. After passing under US 41, you arrive on a loop trail on the east side of Wicker Park. Turn right on this trail and follow it until you see the bridge go
State: IL Length: 5.80 miles Surface: Asphalt, Concrete
The Fermilab Trail garners its name by running though campus of the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab), home to the Tevatron particle accelerator. The 3.9 mile particle accelerator is the second largest in the world and is used to accelerate particles to near the speed of light. The trail extends east of the Fermilab campus to Warrenville, near the Warrenville Grove Forest Preserve.
State: IL Length: 43.40 miles Surface: Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
The Fox River Trail features 32 miles of spectacular biking, hiking and cross-country skiing along the scenic Fox River. The paved path can be challenging at times, but the extra pedal pushing is rewarded with some impressive scenery along the trail and in the small towns. In addition, you can link with other trails in the region directly from the Fox River Trail for a multi-day journey (the Prairie Trail in Algonquin and the Virgil Gilman Trail and Illinois Prairie Path in Aurora). As the trail meanders south from Algonquin, it closely follows the Fox River. It is possible to switch back and forth over the river since the trail does extend on both sides of the river at times. While this is a nice amenity, it also increases the potential to be confusing. The signage along the trail is good in most parts, but be sure to consult a map before heading out for a longer trip. The upside to bouncing back and forth across the river—aside from the scenery—is the bridges you cross on. The Fox River Trail offers no less than six of them, some specifically for bicycles and pedestrians, across the river. The bridges are perfect spots for some of the best photo opportunities to be had along the trail. The bridges vary in form and function, from trestle to pedestrian, and allow you to experience the Fox River from many different viewpoints. The trail was built on the former Chicago, Aurora and Elgin Railroad line and hosts a multitude of different birds, trees and wildlife, including bald eagles, herons and woodpeckers. The Fox River Trail draws a lot of visitors, and many of the towns (and business owners) along the trail have embraced the tourism. You will find restaurants, cafes, bike shops and souvenir shops. Small parks that dot the land
State: IL Length: 12 miles Surface: Crushed Stone
The eastern segment of the Great Western Trail in Illinois follows 12 miles of an abandoned railway corridor through DuPage County, between Villa Park and West Chicago. There are plans to extend the eastern segment of the Great Western Trail west of Route 59. The Chicago Great Western Railway (later Chicago and North Western) was called the Corn Belt Route because it linked Chicago, Minneapolis, Omaha and Kansas City. Today, the crushed limestone trail provides access for cyclists, walkers, joggers, equestrians and cross-country skiers. You can link the east and west segments of this trail—in a long, roundabout way—by continuing on the Illinois Prairie Path where it meets the western terminus of the Great Western Trail (just west of Prince Crossing Road). Take the Illinois Prairie Path north and west to Elgin, where it meets the Fox River Trail. Cross the river and take the Fox River Trail south and west to the River Bend Trail (a.k.a. Silver Glen Trail), which meets up with the Randall Road Bike Path. Head south to Leroy Oaks County Forest Preserve, where you can join the western segment of the Great Western Trail.
State: IL Length: 17 miles Surface: Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The western segment of the Great Western Trail in Illinois follows 17 miles of an abandoned railway corridor through DeKalb and Kane counties, between Leroy Oaks County Forest Preserve and the town of Sycamore. The Chicago Great Western Railway (later Chicago and North Western) was called the Corn Belt Route because it linked Chicago, Minneapolis, Omaha and Kansas City. Today, the crushed limestone trail provides access for cyclists, walkers and joggers, and in winter allows cross-country skiing and snowmobiling (the latter west of Wasco and when snows reach 4 inches). Horseback riding is allowed on another trail adjacent to the Great Western Trail only. The trail also includes shelters and rest areas. The open space created from the trail corridor offers thousands of acres of landscapes that are pleasing to the eye: wetlands, natural areas, farmland and rural communities. The trail passes through Virgil and Lily Lake, paralleling State Route 64. A newer section of the Great Western Trail is found in DuPage County to the east. You can link the east and west segments of this trail—in a long, roundabout way—by continuing on the Randall Road Bike Path at this trail's eastern end in Leroy Oaks County Forest Preserve. Take the Randall Road trail north to the River Bend Trail (a.k.a. Silver Glen Trail), which meets up with the Fox River Trail. Where the Fox River Trail meets the Illinois Prairie Trail (east of the river in Elgin), take the Illinois Prairie Trail east to the eastern segment of the Great Western Trail, where they intersect near Prince Cro
State: IL Length: 8.90 miles Surface: Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
The 9-mile Green Bay Trail runs parallel to Chicago's Metra commuter rail line north of the Chicago city limits. Stretching through North Shore towns such as Kenilworth, Winnetka, Highland Park and Lake Bluff, the corridor is flanked by restaurants, shops, community parks and beautiful homes. Because the trail stays generally within a mile of Lake Michigan, you can take any number of on-road side trips for beachfront views of the lake. The Green Bay Trail runs along the east side of Chicago's Metra Union Pacific North line (UP-N commuter rail) almost entirely along the route of the former Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee (CNS&M) interurban electric railroad, from Greenleaf Avenue in downtown Wilmette to the junction of Saint Johns Avenue & Sheridan Road at the southern edge of downtown Highland Park. Here it turns into the Robert McClory Bike Path. The trail is suitable for even the youngest of riders, although the route does use some sidewalks and even a very small portion of residential road in Kenilworth. In addition, the surface alternates between asphalt and crushed limestone. Inexperienced cyclists and those with young children should use particular caution at road crossings and with any road riding. This is a true multi-purpose trail. Commuters take the trail to train stations along the way, bikes are allowed on the Metra in limited numbers; children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult when bringing a bicycle, and residents and tourists alike use the trail for exercise and car-free travel between communities. From the southern trailhead in Wilmette you will immediately experience the fresh air and beach-front atmosphere that is comfortably juxtaposed with the business and commuter traffic. The trail itself it paved and well maintained accentuating the upscale neighborhoods through which it travels. Nearing Highland Park you
State: IL Length: 2 miles Surface: Asphalt
About the southern-most section of the Chicagoland metropolitan area. The trail begins on the east side of Grove Road, then at the parking lot entrance to the high school it changes over to the west side and continues all the way to the south end. The trail is smoothly paved, very smooth and accessible to bicyclists as well as pedestrians and wheelchairs.
State: IL Length: 2.90 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Humphrey Trail is a paved trail through Centennial Park north to the Orland Park Civic Center near Orland Park and Orland Township. The trail provides access to parks, residences, commercial and public buildings.
State: IL Length: 8.90 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Illinois & Michigan Canal provided the first complete water route from the East Coast to the Gulf of Mexico by connecting Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River via the Illinois River. Today, the I&M Canal trail has preserved 80 of the original 96 miles as a multi-use trail that begins in Summit, Illinois, and follows the canal towpath southwest to Peru, forming the lower portion of the trail. This northern segment runs from US 45/12 southwest to SR 83/Kingery Highway. The trail largely borders sections of Cook County Forest Preserve, paralleling Archer Drive/SR 171. For more information on the southern segment visit www.TrailLink.com's Illinois & Michigan Canal NHC page.
State: IL Length: 68.50 miles Surface: Crushed Stone, Gravel
The Illinois & Michigan Canal provided the first complete water route from the East Coast to the Gulf of Mexico by connecting Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River via the Illinois River. Today, the I&M Canal trail has preserved 80 of the original 96 miles as a multi-use trail; this segment begins in Romeoville and follows the canal towpath southwest to Peru. The 61 mile I&M Canal State Trail, from LaSalle to Rockdale, forms the lower portion of the trail. Trail users will find many state parks along the canal, including: Channahon State Park, site of two of the I&M Canal locks and the restored locktender's house. Picnicking, tent camping, fishing and canoeing are available. Aux Sable access area, with an aqueduct, lock and locktender's house. William G. Stratton State Park in Morris, with boat access to the Illinois River, fishing and picnicking. Gebhard Wood State Park in Morris and bordered on the south by the canal. Offers birding and wildlife-watching opportunities and the restored nettle Creek aqueduct with visitor center. Buffalo Rock State Park, 5 miles from the Fox River Aqueduct on the north bank of the Illinois River. Offers scenic views, picnicking, and two live American bison. Don't forget to check out the I&M Canal's Northern Section.
State: IL Length: 57.40 miles Surface: Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The Illinois Prairie Path (IPP) is one of the country's first rail-trail conversions. It consists of five connected trail segments with three main branches that converge at Volunteer Park in Wheaton. The 61-mile trail follows the historic path of the Chicago, Aurora, and Elgin electric railroad. Beginning in 1902 the railroad provided passenger service from western suburbs into downtown Chicago. With the railroad in decline, many routes were transferred to bus service. The completion of the Eisenhower Expressway in 1955 spelled the end for this once mighty railroad: by 1959 passenger and freight service on the line were finished. A letter to the editor by noted naturalist May Theilgaard Watts in the Chicago Tribune in September 1963 argued for the novel idea of converting the abandoned corridor into a "footpath." That letter sparked the efforts a determined group of Chicagoans and gave rise to the unprecedented conversion of railroad to public trail. Main Branch The Illinois Prairie Path's 17-mile main branch is the most urban of its corridors. In Wheaton the main stem of the trail begins along city streets on bicycle-friendly extra-wide sidewalks. Distinct green trail markers shepherd you east through the lively shopping district of this college town. As you leave downtown Wheaton, Metra commuter rail tracks share the corridor, allowing you about 4 miles of rail-with-trail experience. The trail maintains a distinct urban ambiance, passing through the heart of the western suburbs. About midway to Maywood, in Villa Park, a lovely restored train depot houses great historical displays as well as a chance for water and restrooms. The trail ends where it hits 1st Avenue in Maywood. Parking is spotty at this end of the trail, so plan on a return trip where the Chicago, Aurora, and Elgin once roared. Aurora Branch The 13-mile-long Aurora Branch begins on the Fox River in Aurora, traveling north along the river and through a mix of commercial
State: IN Length: 5 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Iron Horse Heritage Trail in Portage, Indiana, runs for 5 miles between Max Mochal Road (SR 149) at the east end and County Line Road near US 20 at the west end. The trail passes through a greenway corridor among suburban back yards, though with a decidedly rural feel. Much of the route is wooded, and the trail provides access to Imagination Glen Park and Woodland Park. Just west of the eastern end point at SR 149, you can take a spur trail south to link with the Prairie Duneland Trail.
State: IL Length: 5.80 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Joliet Junction Trail is a 4.4 mile paved path which goes south from Crest Hill to the I&M Canal Trail, just South of the city of Joliet.
State: WI Length: 18.60 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Kenosha County Bike Trail runs north from the Illinois state line (at 128th Street/SR131) north to 89th Street at the south end of Kenosha. It's a straight short north through mixed urban and wooded greenways. In north Kenosha, the trail picks up again at 35th Street on what is called locally the County Bike Trail. You can follow this trail north through more urban and wooded areas to the Racine County line. Here it becomes the North Shore Trail. For more information, contact the City of Kenosha, Dept. of Public Works: 262.857.1869.
State: IN Length: 3.10 miles Surface: Asphalt
As the name suggests, the Lake George trail travels along the north shore of Lake George, turning north at Calumet Ave/US 41 to skirt the east shore of Wolf Lake. From Lake George the trail also heads east and north toward Whiting Park on Lake Michigan, stopping just south of the park at 119th Street. The urban trail provides access to businesses and parks. There are plans to build a pedestrian bridge that will continue the trail to Whiting Park.
State: IL Length: 7.20 miles Surface: Concrete
Named after legendary African American cyclist Marshall "Major" Taylor, who in 1899 set the world record for the one-mile and spent his last years in nearby Bronzeville, the Major Taylor Trail stretches approximately seven miles across Chicago's Southwest Side. From north to south, the trail connects the Dan Ryan Woods near 80th Place with Whistler Woods on the south bank of the Little Calumet River. At the Calumet River, it will eventually connect with the Calumet-Sag Trail, which is in development.
State: IN Length: 2.10 miles Surface: Crushed Stone
The Marquette Trail offers picturesque views of Lake Michigan as it travels through the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. This scenic route follows an abandoned rail line through a variety of diverse habitats, including hardwood forests, wetlands and rolling dunes. Along the way, trail-goers can enjoy catching a glimpse of the water birds, deer, lizards and other wildlife that call this area home.
State: IL Length: 14.20 miles Surface: Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
The planned 35 miles of the Millennium Trail will eventually connect communities and forest preserves in Lake County's central, western and northern sections. The first segment of the trail opened in 2002 at Lakewood Forest Preserve in Wauconda. As of early 2012, about 20 miles of trail are open hikers, cyclists and cross-country skiers. A 9.25-mile section from Lakewood north to Singing Hills Forest Preserve is open to equestrians. Other open trail sections are: *from Hawley St. and Route 176 in Mundelein west and north through Lakewood and Singing Hills to Marl Flat Forest Preserve in Volo *along the Round Lake Bike Path *from Hook Drive east through Rollins Savanna Forest Preserve in Grayslake *from Bonner Heritage Farm to McDonald Woods Forest Preserve in Lindenhurst *portions from Litchfield Drive to Fairfield Road in Round Lake, including a bridge over Squaw Creek and a boardwalk. (Park off Fairfield Road at the Round Lake Area Park District's Fairfield Park) Segments of the Millennium Trail that are under construction include 2 miles between Rollins Road and Country Place in Lindenhurst, connecting Fourth Lake Forest Preserve with Bonner Heritage Farm and McDonald Woods Forest Preserve. An underpass at Grand Avenue is being built beginning July 2012, and the Fourth Lake section will be closed until it's completed (anticipated in summer 2013). Visit the Lake County Forest Preserve online for more trail details.
State: IL Length: 10 miles Surface: Asphalt, Gravel
Safe biking trail along River Road in McHenry, along with state park biking trails
State: IL Length: 20 miles Surface: Asphalt
The beautiful North Branch Trail is named for the North Branch of the Chicago River, along which it winds. At its northern end, the trail begins at the south end of the Chicago Botanic Garden and continues south to circle the Skokie Lagoons and Erikson Woods. It meanders south through wooded suburbs, beside golf courses, and among open space to the forest preserve at Edgebrook. The trail offers plenty of resting areas and public restrooms. In places, there are alternate dirt paths through the woods. You also see plenty of wildlife. At the Botanic Garden, you can connect to the Green Bay Trail. Continue north on the trail through the garden to Lake Cook Road and turn right (east). In less than 1 mile you'll see the Green Bay Trail where it intersects with Lake Cook Road.
State: IL Length: 7.70 miles Surface: Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The North Shore Bike Path runs for nearly 8 miles between Lake Bluff and Mundelein, paralleling State Route 176 for the path's entire length. The trail is one of dozens in the Chicagoland area, all of which link to one another for cross-city access to suburbs, parks, business districts and scenic Lake Michigan. At its eastern end, the North Shore Bike Path connects to the Robert McClory Bike Path at Sheridan Road and Scranton Avenue. Just east of Libertville, the North Shore Bike Path links to the north–south running Des Plaines River Trail (east of the river).
State: IL Length: 6.70 miles Surface: Asphalt, Concrete, Dirt
The North Shore Channel Trail extends from the junction of Green Bay Road and McCormick Boulevard in northern Evanston to the junction of Lawrence Avenue and Francisco Avenue in Chicago. All but the last 0.25 mile runs alongside the North Shore Channel, a drainage and aeration canal built in 1909; the last 0.25 mile follows the North Branch of the Chicago River. For most of the way, a trail occupies both sides of the North Shore Channel. The trail on the west side is crushed limestone from Green Bay Road to Golf Road/Emerson Street and asphalt to Lincoln Avenue then again to halfway between Bryn Mawr and Foster avenues. Users will find a narrow dirt path to Foster Avenue before having to use Albany Avenue to Carmen Avenue. The trail becomes asphalt again to Lawrence. All street crossings are at grade and all crossings north of Lincoln Av have traffic lights. The east side trail is asphalt from Green Bay Road to Lyons Street (halfway between Emerson St and Church St). Then use McDaniels Avenue to Dempster Street, cutting through the playground on the west side of the grade school at McDaniels or using the alley on the east side. Dempster to Main is asphalt, Main to halfway between Main and Oakton is gravel (not crushed limestone), then asphalt the rest of the way to Oakton. One block north of Oakton you'll find a dog park; also nearby is a dock from which you can launch canoes. The segment from Oakton to Howard is industrial and a fence prevents you from crossing under the Skokie Swift El tracks. From Howard to Lincoln you can ride down Kedzie Avenue, and from Touhy to Thillens Little League stadium one block north of Devon you'll find some fun dirt paths through the trees, if you're into mountain biking. From Lincoln to Lawrence the North Shore Channel Trail is asphalt, with the last one block on Francisco Avenue. All street crossings north of Howard are at grade level without traffic lights. From Howard to Devon there are traffic lights at the ma
State: IL Length: 1.10 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Northbrook Village Bike Path is a one-mile route through a mix of retail and residential areas along S. Waukegan Road. At its south end, the trail offers access to Northbrook Junior High School and Meadowhill Park, which offers ballfields, a basketball court, an ice skating rink, pools and a playground.
State: IN Length: 8.30 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Oak Savannah Trail takes its name from the unique ecosystem that it runs through. Once pervasive throughout northern Indiana, the oak savannah is a transitional zone between forest and prairie, with grassland marked by a smattering of oak trees. Unfortunately, development, drought and the suppression of natural fire cycles (which allow other species to dominate) have all contributed to the massive decline of the oak savannah ecosystem. The fact that this prairie environment is now endangered makes this an important trail to visit. Built in 1893 this corridor served the Elgin, Joliet, and Eastern Railroad, whose track made a semicircle around Chicago to avoid the congestion of the city's rail yards. Because of this shape, it became known as the "J" line. In its prime, the trains carried grain, meat, fruit, vegetables and coal. Beginning in Hobart, the well-maintained, asphalt trail very quickly takes you to the edge of Lake George—an excellent spot for fishing bass, crappie and other species. The lake is also home to a permanent population of geese, ducks and ring-billed gulls. From the trail bridge, you can walk onto platforms overlooking the lily-pad-covered neck of the lake between the lake's larger main bodies. The next few miles of trail beyond the lake travel west through excellent representations of an oak savannah ecosystem. Shortly, you emerge along another lake at John Robinson Park (parking), where you may want to take a rest in the small field of grass along the lakefront. At the tunnel beneath Interstate 65, the trail enters a more urban setting with a variety of road crossings; a new tunnel under busy Broadway in Gary makes this crossing much easier. After Broadway, you soon return to the quiet forest and prairie that dominates the trail. After passing a large private fishing club, you will see the end of the county airport runway, just west of the corridor. Here, just past mile 5.5, a very dense forest marks the entrance of
State: IL Length: 22 miles Surface: Asphalt
The 22-mile Old Plank Road Trail travels over the original Michigan Central Rail Road (MCRR) line, a railroad started about 1850 that ran from Lake Station in East Gary to Joliet. The rail was nicknamed the "Joliet Cut-Off" because it enabled trains to skip Chicago. The trail starts in Park Forest and travels west, alternating between secluded, quiet sections and suburbs. The trail continues through Richton Park, Frankfort, New Lenox and finally ends on the eastern edge of Joliet. At mile 9.75, the trail reaches the award-winning Arrowhead suspension bridge, which takes you over US 45. Originally a Native American transportation corridor, the route was used occasionally by traders, trappers and missionaries. Later, European settlers used the pathway to find their own homesteads. Today, the oncoming traffic is more likely to be a pack of retired cyclists zipping by, or parents with strollers.
State: IL Length: 15 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Palatine Trail is sinuous system of trails that run between Deer Grove Forest Preserve and Paul Douglas Forest Preserve in the city of Palatine. The trail links neighborhoods, parks and golf courses, as well as the campus of Harper College in the south. The trail is a mix of designated side streets and off-road paved trails.
State: IL Length: 4 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Pennsy Greenway begins at the south end of the south segment of the Burnham Greenway in Calumet City on the eastern edge of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County Green Lake Woods. It proceeds south to Bernice Road, crosses under I-80/94 and continues southeast to the Illinois-Indiana state line. Soon Munster, Indiana, will build a connection from the state line to its bike trail at Fisher Street. This network will also connect to the proposed 10-mile Indiana portion of the Pennsy Greenway.
State: IL Length: 9.50 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Poplar Creek Trail is a 9.5-mile paved loop around Poplar Creek Forest Preserve near Hoffman Estates. The trail has a couple of hills but is otherwise level and makes for a pleasant journey through the wooded preserve.
State: IL Length: 28 miles Surface: Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel
The Prairie Trail—not to be confused with the Illinois Prairie Path—is a 28-mile route starting just 0.8 mile from the Wisconsin–Illinois boarder in Genoa City, Wisconsin, and ending in Algonquin, Illinois. The trail is a beautiful piece of nature tucked away in rural Illinois but still in the backyard of the greater Chicagoland area. Before you head off, however, keep in mind that preparation is key for an excursion on this trail. Open spaces provide little shade, and there are long stretches between water sources. Be sure to fill your water bottles and pack sunscreen if you're traveling in the warmer months. Throw in your camera, too, and capture this picturesque trail while enjoying a real outdoor adventure. As the trail heads south from Genoa City, you'll enjoy serene travel on the crushed-stone path. Several bridges and interpretive signs mark your journey. Nearly 8 miles in, the surface switches to smooth asphalt, and the next 9 miles are enjoyably straightforward and relaxing. Near mile 17, the trail becomes hilly, very much so compared with the surrounding area. For the next 1.5 miles through Sterne's Woods, the trail leaves the rail corridor, undulating and twisting back and forth—a stretch that is likely to get your heart pumping if you're on a bike. The payoff is rich, however, because after the curvy, hilly challenge you'll come to shining Crystal Lake, where there's a beach and picnic areas to spend a fun family day. At this point, the trail becomes busier and you can count on seeing lots of users enjoying the trail. Brace yourself for a few navigational changes, too; the farther south you get, the easier it is to get turned around if you're not familiar with the area.
State: IN Length: 10.30 miles Surface: Asphalt
As its name implies, the beautiful Prairie–Duneland Trail offers snapshots of the flora and fauna—from hardwood forest to remnant prairie grasslands—that once dominated this region. In spite of the rapid development of the south Chicago suburbs spilling into northwest Indiana, this trail ensures the preservation of these invaluable pockets of land. The trail also offers a classic rail-trail experience, with a long, level grade and a 10-foot-wide asphalt surface suitable for bicycles and inline skates (and cross-country skis in winter). It's also ADA accessible. Starting in Chesterton, the trail makes its way toward Portage and on west to Hobart, passing well-manicured subdivisions. The sights and signs of town life begin to fade away just 1.5 miles into the ride, when you enter a lightly forested area with farm fields interspersed along the way. In between, and in some cases intermingled with, these areas you will encounter remnants of tall-grass prairie environments. In several sections, a veritable tunnel of vegetation envelops the trail, with the dense forest canopy creating a lush passageway. Coming out of one such section at just past 3 miles, you encounter a 130-plus-foot bridge that travels over State Route 149 and takes you into the section of trail through Portage. The next stretch—approximately 2 miles—takes you through an area crossing a small creek drainage as well as a couple streets. Near mile 5, backyards and residential subdivisions begin to dominate the landscape. After the trail passes beneath Interstate 80, it travels through another pocket of forest. The remaining 5-mile stretch to the trail's end at SR 51 in Hobart is bordered mostly by neatly kept backyards. In the future, the Prairie-Duneland Trail will link with other trails, including the Oak Savannah Trail, to form the Lake Michigan Heritage Greenway and connect communities all along the
State: IL Length: 4.20 miles Surface: Asphalt
Prospect Heights Bike Path runs between Woodland Trails Park and Country Garden Park, paralleling the commuter rail tracks on its north–south leg. The trail provides a nice off-road route through the Chicago suburb of the same name, linking neighborhoods with shopping, parks and Arlington Lake on the northwest end. The trail doesn't offer much shade but don't let that stop you from enjoying it on a summer day.
State: IL Length: 3.90 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Randall Road Bike Path offers a 4-mile paved north-south route along its namesake roadway in a suburb west of Chicago. A highlight of the journey is the trail's passage through the Leroy Oaks County Forest Preserve, offering beautiful prairie and woodland habitats. It's here (on the south side of Dean Street) that you can connect to the Great Western Trail, which stretches 17 miles northwest to Sycamore. From its northern end, you can also connect to the River Bend Trail (a.k.a. Silver Glen Trail) at Randall Road to go west to the Silver Glen Crossings shopping center, or east to reach the scenic 37-mile Fox River Trail.
State: IL Length: 1.90 miles Surface: Asphalt
Ridgefield Trace runs from the McHenry County College in Crystal Lake to Veteran Acres Park on Walkup Road. Along the way it offers wide open views of rural northern Illinois countryside.
The 4-mile River Bend Trail is so named for the loop of Fox River along which it follows on its eastern end. It's here that you can connect to the scenic Fox River Trail to travel 37 miles along the waterway. The River Bend Trail is also known as the Silver Glen Trail, as it runs parallel to a road of that name on its way west into the city. Along the way, you'll pass through Vasa Park, a 25-acre open space dotted with oak trees; this is a nice place to stop for a picnic as it offers pavilions, grills and restrooms. Further west, the Jon J. Duerr Forest Preserve offers fishing, bird watching and a beautiful natural waterfall. To continue your journey, at Randall Road, you can head south on the Randall Road Bike Path, which will take you down to the 17-mile Great Western Trail.
State: IL Length: 26.50 miles Surface: Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The Robert McClory Bike Trail (formerly the North Shore Bike Path) is notorious for its conglomeration of names over the years. At any given time-and depending on whom you ask-it has been called the Green Bay Trail, the North Shore Trail, and the Robert McClory Trail. Its formal name, given in 1997, honors a bike-friendly government official. And the Green Bay Trail is separate, heading south from the southern terminus of the McClorey Trail. The trail strings together the communities of Highland Park, Highwood, Fort Sheridan, Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Great Lakes Naval Air Station, North Chicago, Waukegan, Beach Park, Zion and Winthrop Harbor before seamlessly melding into the 3.5-mile Kenosha County Bike Trail at the Wisconsin state line. Despite its modern-day identity crisis, the trail's past is clear. The majority of its route follows a historic Chicago, North Shore, and Milwaukee Railroad corridor. This railroad was an electric line, and many of the old towers supporting the electric cables are visible along the trail. The trail surface alternates between asphalt and a finely screened limestone that offers a good, hard base for most trail uses. Starting in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park, the smooth, paved trail travels through picturesque suburban communities (many of them among the most affluent in the Chicago area) that dominate most of the trail's first half. Leaving Highwood, you parallel active railroad tracks for most of the next 7 miles to just south of North Chicago. The trail and the tracks are separated by about 20 to 30 feet of thin forest most of this time. Entering Lake Forest, the trail detours onto streets, as well as through large parking lots that service the Metra station. This route is well marked and easy to follow. The section between Lake Bluff and North Chicago still parallels the Metra tracks, on the left, but this stretch also opens up and quiets down
State: IL Length: 10.40 miles Surface: Asphalt, Concrete
The Rock Run Greenway Trail courses for nearly 10.5 miles between Theodore Marsh in Crest Hill and the I&M Canal NHC Trail near the Des Plaines River. At various places along the trail you'll find picnicking and playgrounds, as well as other recreational diversions and rest areas. From Theodore Marsh the trail heads southwest to the 1,200-acre Rock Run Greenway, looping around Rock Run Preserve on the way. The trail continues through the greenway, past the little airport and junior college before reaching the I&M Canal Trail. The Rock Run Trail connects with the Joliet Junction Trail at Gaylord Road.
State: IL Length: 25.50 miles Surface: Asphalt, Cinder
The Salt Creek Bicycle Trail began as a 6-mile paved trail between Bemis Woods South near Oakbrook to the Brookfield Zoo. The trail now extends farther north, from Oakbrook all the way to Busse Woods Forest Preserve near Elk Grove Village, for a total of 25 miles. The new trail segments are a mix of paved surface and limestone screening, and the trail also uses sidewalks and roads in some places. It is well marked throughout, although take care at some junctions, which can confuse. The Salt Creek Trail intersects the Illinois Prairie Path in Villa Park, and follows it for a short stretch around State Route 83.
State: IL Length: 9.80 miles Surface: Asphalt
An excellent example of land use in greater Chicago, the entire Skokie Valley Trail corridor is a rail-with-trail, paralleled by double tracks that sit about 40 feet to the west of the trail surface. The well-maintained asphalt path offers a nice, smooth experience for a multitude of uses. In addition, the trail shares right-of-way with a major electricity service company, and you will see high-voltage electrical wires overhead. The trail connects Highland Park in the south to the northern trailhead in Lake Forest. Although there is no parking or proper trailhead in Highland Park, you can park less than 0.25 mile to the south at the Village Square at Northbrook, a large shopping mall off of Skokie Boulevard. It's amazing to see how nature can flourish in such an urban environment. Even as you pass suburban Chicago life along each side of the corridor, it's not uncommon to come across rabbits, deer, blackbirds, hawks and robins among numerous tree and low-brush species. The trail is sandwiched between US Highway 41 and the train tracks for most of its course, and there are several major road crossings. While these are well marked and include crosswalks, use caution when crossing. The 200-plus-foot trail bridge over State Route 22 signals the midpoint of the trip. The remainder of the trail passes through mainly commercial and light industrial developments, and, as you approach Lake Forest, some residential subdivisions. When you reach the golf course in Lake Forest, the Skokie Valley Trail turns east toward the lake and ends at the Laurel Avenue trailhead. You can also carry on north another 1.45 miles, still paralleling US 41, to State Route 176/Rockland Road. You'll pass through a tunnel under the train tracks just north of Laurel Avenue. At SR 176/Rockland Road the trail connects to the North Shore Bike Path, which runs east–west along Rockland Road. Turn left on the trail
State: IL Length: 6.80 miles Surface:
From Skokie Valley Trail Feasibility Study:
The proposed trail spans 6.8 miles through the Skokie Valley in Cook County, Illinois, extending south from Lake Cook Road in Northbrook to Old Orchard Road just south of Glenview. The corridor runs west of and parallel to Skokie Boulevard and the Edens Expressway (I-94). It passes through the Villages of Northbrook, Glencoe, Northfield, Glenview and Wilmette. The proposed multi-use trail will connect the local population with the existing system of off-road trails and on-street bikeways. It will link the Skokie Valley Bikeway in Lake County with the existing and planned trails in the Villages of Skokie and Lincolnwood, and with the City of Chicago to the south.
State: IL Length: 8.20 miles Surface: Asphalt
State: IL Length: 4.60 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Thorn Creek Trail is currently in two segments. This northern section is in the Glenwood area and traverses the south, west and portions of the east border of Wampum Lake Woods Forest Preserve. Along the heavily wooded trail you're bound to see much wildlife. Visit the southern segment in Chicago Heights. There are plans to link the two disjoined segments, via the proposed Thorn Creek CSX Bike Path, bringing the total trail mileage of both segments (with the connector) to 17.5.
State: IL Length: 4.70 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Thorn Creek Trail is currently in two segments. This southern section is in Chicago Heights in the Sauk Trail Woods Forest Preserve. The trail makes a wide loop between Forest Preserve Drive and the opposite side (west shore) of Sauk Lake. Along the heavily wooded trail you're bound to see much wildlife. Visit the northern segment in Glenwood. There are plans to link the two disjoined segments, via the proposed Thorn Creek CSX Bike Path, bringing the total trail mileage of both segments (with the connector) to 17.5.
State: IL Length: 18.80 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Tinley Creek Trail is currently in two segments. This northern segment stretches from Palos Heights to Oak Forest and largely falls with several Cook County Forest Preserve areas, including Rubio Woods, Burr Oak Woods, Turtlehead Lake, Bachelor Grove Woods, Nelson Woods and St. Mihiel Reservation. The trail traverses wooded area interspersed with open green space and passes by a few small lakes and wetlands. There are some street crossings, which are marked with crosswalks. Along the way you'll find picnic areas, restrooms and drinking water. Also, visit the southern segment in South Green Belt Forest Preserve.
State: IL Length: 3.60 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Tinley Creek Trail is currently in two segments. This southern segment is within the South Green Belt Forest Preserve between Flossmor and Matteson, just west of I-57. The trail traverses wooded areas and open green space interspersed with a few wetlands. Also, visit the northern segment, which stretches from Oak Forest to Palos Heights.
Just 1 mile long, the Valley Line Trail (a.k.a. the Skokie Line) extends between the 4400 block of Bryn Mawr Avenue and the 4400 block of Devon Avenue. The trail runs through the Sauganash community, skirting the eastern border of Sauganash Park, where you'll find parking and restrooms. The trail occupies a former railroad embankment through a wooded corridor among neighborhoods. Plans call for extending the trail north into Licolnwood and Skokie.
State: IN Length: 9 miles Surface: Asphalt
From Veterans Memorial Trail :
In 1999, the Indiana Department of Transportation awarded the Lake County Parks and Recreation Department a grant of $1.4 million towards the construction of the Veterans Memorial Trail, and multi-use, non-motorized facility which would start at the World Wars Memorial property, and run along U.S. 231 following the abandoned Pennsylvania Railroad corridor, to the Porter County line - a distance of nine (9) miles. At this time, many parcels of property have been acquired with the assistance of the FVMP towards the establishment of the FIRST trail in the United States named in honor of our veterans. In addition, at least five of the proposed nine miles will have an equestrian trail paralleling the bike/hike path. Lake County Parks Dept. plans to start construction on Phase I of the trail from 113th Avenue to Broadway in early-to-mid 2011. Completion is scheduled for later that year.
State: IL Length: 11.50 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Virgil Gilman Trail travels through forest and prairie, from a quiet, rural community college campus all the way into suburban Chicago. The trail's namesake, Virgil Gilman,was director of the Fox Valley Park District for 30 years and successfully championed public access to the river—indeed access grew from 66 feet in 1946 to more than 30 miles today! Beginning at Waubonsee Community College, the trail heads into open native prairie for the first mile. (Don't be alarmed if you hear gunshots for the first few miles, as the Aurora Sportsman's Club shooting range is nearby.) After traveling through the grasslands, you enter the Bliss Woods Forest Preserve, marked by beautiful, large, white and black oaks. The preserve is also composed of many other tree species, including sycamore, white poplar and cottonwood. Keep your eyes out for birds among the foliage, including downy woodpeckers, cardinals and blue jays, which you'll also find along the trail. From Bliss Woods, the trail travels alongside a rolling brook until it crosses State Route 56 on an overpass. Now the landscape becomes large farm fields as you slowly begin to enter a more developed area with subdivisions of single-family homes. After crossing another bridge over Orchard Road, the Virgil Gilman Trail becomes a 1.75-mile rail-with-trail stretch, and you may hear the active tracks through the thick vegetation that creates a natural buffer between the two corridors. Emerging onto Terry Avenue the trail briefly continues on quiet side streets that are very easy to navigate. Take a left on Terry Avenue followed quickly by a right on Rathbone Avenue. Follow Rathbone a short distance until you cross the active rail line. The trail begins immediately after this crossing, at Copley Park, a nice rest stop. Shortly after leaving the park, the trail crosses the Fox River via an original old trestle bridge. Off to one side of the bridge, you can see the old pedestrian walkway—a testament to
State: IL Length: 10 miles Surface: Crushed Stone, Grass
The Waterfall Glen Trail through the forest preserve of the same name makes a loop around the entire park. The preserve is geologically significant, featuring glacier-carved rock ridges, ravines and wetland potholes, which are not found anywhere else in the county. The 700-acre forest is a contiguous wooded acreage interspersed with dolomite beneath a prairie habitat, home to rare plants. As you explore the Waterfall Glen trail (limestone surface), you'll discover the woodlands with dominant oak and maple trees, as well as prairie and grassland habitats and planted pine groves. You're likely to see lots of wildlife here, too. The multi-use trail system accommodates cyclists, equestrians and hikers, and some trails are groomed in winter for skiing. Cyclists please stick to the designated bike trails. Horseback riding is not allowed in developed recreational areas, such as the youth group campground.
This is a short paved trail near the community of Boulder Hill. The trail extends from Douglas Road to Brock Way though a greenway corridor within a residential community.
State: IL Length: 22.30 miles Surface: Asphalt, Crushed Stone
Traveling along the Wauponsee Glacial Trail, you'll be surprised just how quickly you can move from an urban environment into the rolling fields of the Midwest. Starting in Joliet, within shouting distance of Interstate 80 overhead ramps, you might think you're in for a busy urban trail experience. But after just 1.5 miles, the trail takes you through a sparse forest with only an occasional train passing by on the active tracks a few hundred yards away. A few large warehouses signal the end of the forest, as you enter a subdivision and travel along the backyards of nearby homes. Over the next 1.5 miles, you make multiple small stream crossings, where you'll find excellent birding opportunities. The Sugar Creek Administrative Center of the Will County Forest Preserve serves as this trail's northern trailhead. If you are driving to the trail, this is where you will park and start your trip. (The Joliet access point does not have parking.) The preserve building offers information on its trails, permits for picnicking, camping, programs and dog parks, as well as workshops on gardening and green building techniques. As you head south from the Sugar Creek Administrative Center, the trail surface changes from asphalt to crushed stone. Horses are permitted on this section. You may begin to feel small along this stretch: vast farm fields stretch out farther than the eye can see. The farmland gives way for a short time when you enter the town of Manhattan, which has a trailhead with restrooms and drinking water. Leaving Manhattan, the trail parallels another short section of railroad tracks that dead-end at a maintenance facility. South of Manhattan you'll see some of the largest cornfields around. To the west you'll see 19,000-acre Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, which was federally designated as tallgrass prairie in 1996—the only such area to receive that status. (For information about visiting the prairie, which is only partially open to the public