Palos Heights, IL Cross Country Skiing Trails and Maps

1356 Reviews

Looking for the best Cross Country Skiing trails around Palos Heights?

Find the top rated cross country skiing trails in Palos Heights, whether you're looking for an easy short cross country skiing trail or a long cross country skiing trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a cross country skiing trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.

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Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type
52 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

Busse Woods Trail

11.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete

Cal-Sag Trail

13.7 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

ComEd Greenway

2 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Danada and Herrick Lake Regional Trail

5.8 mi
State: IL
Crushed Stone

Deer Grove Trail

3.9 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Des Plaines River Trail

56.1 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel

DuPage River Trail

33.1 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Fox River Trail (IL)

45.7 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Great American Rail-Trail

3743.9 mi
State: DC, IA, ID, IL, IN, MD, MT, NE, OH, PA, WA, WV, WY
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Great Western Trail (DeKalb, Kane)

18 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Great Western Trail (DuPage)

13.1 mi
State: IL
Crushed Stone

Illinois Prairie Path

58.52 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Iron Horse Heritage Trail

2.4 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

John Husar I&M Canal Trail

8.9 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Kankakee River Trail

10.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Major Taylor Trail

7.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Marquette Trail

2.1 mi
State: IN
Crushed Stone

Millennium Trail (IL)

30.7 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Moraine Hills State Park Trail

11.4 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

North Branch Trail

21.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt
Accordion

Old Plank Road Trail (IL)

21.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Palatine Trail

9.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete

Prairie Duneland Trail

11.2 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

Prairie Trail (IL)

26.4 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel

Route 30 Bikeway

7.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Spring Creek Greenway Trail

8.45 mi
State: IL
Boardwalk, Crushed Stone

Thorn Creek Trail

17.2 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Timber Ridge Trail

1 mi
State: IL
Gravel

Tinley Creek Trail (South)

3.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Valley Line Trail

1.1 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Veterans Memorial Trail (IL)

2.7 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Virgil L. Gilman Trail

11.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Waterfall Glen

9.5 mi
State: IL
Crushed Stone, Grass

Buffalo Creek Trail

3.2 mi
State: IL
Crushed Stone

Green Bay Trail

8.9 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Illinois & Michigan Canal State Trail

79.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Grass, Gravel

Joliet Junction Trail

4.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Monon Trail (Lake County)

4.4 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

North Shore Bike Path

7.7 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Robert McClory Bike Path

25.4 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Rock Run Greenway Trail

12.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Techny Trail

3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete

Wauponsee Glacial Trail

22.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Calumet Trail

9.1 mi
State: IN
Crushed Stone

East Northbrook Trail

1.1 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Lake Renwick Bikeway

3.35 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Prospect Heights Bike Path

4.2 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Oswego Prairie Trail

0.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Commonwealth Edison Bikeway

1.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Orland Grassland Trail

8 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Prairie Point Trail

2 mi
State: IL
Asphalt
Trail Image Trail Name States Length Surface Rating
Overview    The Busse Woods Trail spans the Ned Brown Forest Preserve, a 3,700-acre natural space in the northwestern suburbs of Chicago. The preserve—popularly just called Busse Woods—has a large...
IL 11.6 mi Asphalt, Concrete
Closure Notice: The trail is closed at the 127th Street bridge until the end of 2024. Overview The Cal-Sag Trail (also known as the Calumet-Sag Trail) runs for 13.7 miles and connects several...
IL 13.7 mi Asphalt
The ComEd Greenway is an asphalt multiuse pathway running north-south through the village of Bollingbrook. The trail's name is an abbreviation of Commonwealth Edison, the name of the electric utility...
IL 2 mi Asphalt
This regional trail connects two of DuPage County's forest preserves—Herrick Lake and Danada—on a crushed stone pathway nearly 6 miles long. Together, the preserves cover more than 1,600 acres of...
IL 5.8 mi Crushed Stone
The Deer Grove Trail is one of several great Chicagoland trails located in properties of the Forest Preserve of Cook County. Deer Grove is the oldest of all the Cook County preserves. It's comprised...
IL 3.9 mi Asphalt
Closure notice: Between 02/01/2024 and 06/30/2024, between W Higgins Rd and W Bryn Mawr Ave will have periodic closures and/or full closure restrictions due to construction activities. Check the...
IL 56.1 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel
The DuPage River Trail spans over 30 miles across two counties: DuPage and Will. It's currently open in several disconnected segments mainly in parks and forest preserves beginning in Warrenville and...
IL 33.1 mi Asphalt
Overview The Fox River Trail (FRT) was built on stretches of three former railroads: Chicago, Aurora & Elgin; Aurora, Elgin, & Fox River Electric; and Chicago & North Western. Today, it hosts a...
IL 45.7 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
Note: This developing route is not yet fully contiguous – it is just over 50% complete. Please refer to the Trail Map for more information on the existing sections of trail, as well as the online...
DC, IA, ID, IL, IN, MD, MT, NE, OH, PA, WA, WV, WY 3743.9 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
The western segment of the Great Western Trail in Illinois follows 18 miles of a former railway corridor through DeKalb and Kane counties, between Sycamore Forest Preserve in the City of Sycamore and...
IL 18 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The eastern segment of the Great Western Trail in Illinois follows 13 miles of an abandoned railway corridor through DuPage County, between Villa Park and West Chicago. There are plans to extend the...
IL 13.1 mi Crushed Stone
Overview The Illinois Prairie Path (IPP) was one of the nation’s first rail-trail conversions. The 58-mile trail consists of five connected trail segments with three main branches that converge...
IL 58.52 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
The Iron Horse Heritage Trail in Portage, Indiana, runs for over 2 miles between Max Mochal Road (SR 149) at the east end and Hamstrom Rd. at the west end. The trail passes through a greenway corridor...
IN 2.4 mi Asphalt
The John Husar I&M Canal Trail is the northernmost trail developed on the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor. The Illinois & Michigan Canal provided the final link in the water route...
IL 8.9 mi Asphalt
The Kankakee River Trail is fairly wooded and runs primarily through Kankakee River State Park. Walkers, bicyclists, and cross-country skiers can enjoy more than ten miles of trail along the north...
IL 10.6 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The Major Taylor Trail is named after legendary African American cyclist Marshall “Major” Taylor, who was one of the most celebrated bicycle racers of the late nineteenth century, setting several...
IL 7.6 mi Asphalt
The Marquette Trail is part of the Marquette Greenway, which will one day span more than 50 miles through Northwest Indiana, connecting communities along the southern shore of Lake Michigan. The...
IN 2.1 mi Crushed Stone
The Millennium Trail currently spans just over 30 miles in two disconnected segments, but there are plans to extend it to 35 miles and connect it to the Des Plaines River Trail. The trail goes through...
IL 30.7 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
Moraine Hills State Park Trail offers a wonderful experience for any geology or nature aficionado. A moraine is an accumulation of earth and stones carried and finally deposited by a glacier....
IL 11.4 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The North Branch Trail follows the North Branch of the Chicago River over 20 miles through Cook County. The trail was originally a dirt path often used for horseback riding; though it’s now paved, an...
IL 21.3 mi Asphalt
Accordion
Overview Running between the suburbs of Chicago Heights and Joliet, the Old Plank Road Trail runs for 21.6 miles and offers views of oak trees and sugar maples, prairie grasses, and wildflowers...
IL 21.6 mi Asphalt
The village of Palatine has connected many of its community assets with two long sections of off-road, multi-use trail. The more popular northern section is the one most references call simply and...
IL 9.6 mi Asphalt, Concrete
Prairies and dunes are just two of the natural features you’ll experience on the Prairie Duneland Trail, located just a few miles south of the Lake Michigan shoreline and the Indiana Dunes National...
IN 11.2 mi Asphalt
Overview The Prairie Trail runs the length of McHenry County and is managed by the McHenry County Conservation District. The rail trail spans just over 26 miles from the Wisconsin border and the...
IL 26.4 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel
Leave the cars at home: the Route 30 Bike Path gives users an alternative way to travel from the Village of Frankfort in the east, through Mokena to New Lenox in the west, a distance of over 7.5...
IL 7.6 mi Asphalt
The Spring Creek Greenway Trail, separated into distinct eastern and western portions of the trail, spans 8.45 miles throughout two distinct sections of preserved and protected lands. At its...
IL 8.45 mi Boardwalk, Crushed Stone
The Thorn Creek Trail offers a paved route traversing woodlands abundant with wildlife through several communities on the southern outskirts of Chicago.  The trail travels from Brownwell Woods in...
IL 17.2 mi Asphalt
The Timber Ridge trail is located on the eastern side of the Timber Ridge Forest Preserve in west Chicago. The preserve offers several trails, fishing, picnicking, and is home to Kline Creek Farms,...
IL 1 mi Gravel
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...
IL 3.6 mi Asphalt
Just 1 mile long, the Valley Line Trail—also known as the Sauganash Trail—extends between Bryn Mawr Avenue and Devon Avenue in the Chicago neighborhood of Sauganash. Two bridges allow for safe...
IL 1.1 mi Asphalt
Although just shy of three miles, the Veterans Memorial Trail provides a wooded, paved trail experience for residents in the Chicago suburbs of Romeoville, Lemont, and Woodridge. Those seeking a...
IL 2.7 mi Asphalt
Overview The Virgil L. Gilman Trail travels from quiet forest and prairie lands to bustling neighborhoods in just 11.3 miles, linking a woodsy community college campus with the eastern Chicago...
IL 11.3 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
Overview The trail system in Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve makes a loop around the entire park and totals 9.5 miles. About the Route The Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve is geologically...
IL 9.5 mi Crushed Stone, Grass
The Buffalo Creek Trail makes a loop around the scenic Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve in Long Grove. The crushed-gravel trail provides access to facilities throughout the park. Along the way, you’ll...
IL 3.2 mi 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...
IL 8.9 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
The Illinois and Michigan Canal State Trail follows the eponymous waterway alongside the Illinois River. It traverses the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor, designated in 1984 and the first...
IL 79.5 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Grass, Gravel
The Joliet Junction Trail is a paved path that travels north–south through the west side of Joliet. It occupies an abandoned Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway corridor that in its last years was known...
IL 4.3 mi Asphalt
The Monon Trail in Lake County, Indiana—not to be confused with the trail of the same name in Indianapolis—links the two Chicago suburbs of Hammond and Munster. The paved trail occupies an abandoned...
IN 4.4 mi Asphalt
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...
IL 7.7 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The Paul Douglas and Crabtree Preserve Trail System connects two large nature preserves in northwestern Cook County. The trail begins at the Old Stover Trailhead in the Crabtree Preserve, near the...
IL 9.2 mi Asphalt
Overview The Robert McClory Bike Path runs the length of Lake County, knitting together a string of communities on the north shore of Chicago all the way to the Wisconsin border. In 1997, the trail...
IL 25.4 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
The popular Rock Run Greenway Trail is a balanced mix of natural areas and cityscapes that alternate over the length of the trail. The natural areas are frequented by recreational users. The...
IL 12.3 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
The Techny Trail links downtown Glenview, a charming village northwest of Chicago, with the Techny Basin, a scenic wetlands area adjacent to the West Fork of the Chicago River's North Branch....
IL 3 mi Asphalt, Concrete
In just a few short miles, the Wauponsee Glacial Trail leaves the urban confines of Joliet to bask in open farmland and reclaimed tallgrass prairie where the bison roam again. Named for a glacial lake...
IL 22.3 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The Calumet 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...
IN 9.1 mi Crushed Stone
The East Northbrook Trail is a 1-mile route through a wooded corridor adjacent to an out-of-service rail corridor in the Village of Northbrook. The trail provides access to residential neighborhoods,...
IL 1.1 mi Asphalt
Lake Renwick Preserve is home to an artificial lake of the same name that was created from former quarries where aggregates for concrete were once mined. Today, the lake is a recreational amenity in...
IL 3.35 mi Asphalt
Prospect Heights has very few sidewalks, so biking, inline skating or walking are moved to the streets or in the parks. Don't underestimate the Prospect Heights Bike Path which is over four miles of...
IL 4.2 mi Asphalt
The Oswego Prairie Trail is a short paved route that occupies an overhead electric utility corridor owned by Commonwealth Edison. The path forms a direct link between two parks in Oswego—Farmington...
IL 0.5 mi Asphalt
The Commonwealth Edison Bikeway is a short paved trail that occupies an overhead electric utility corridor owned by Commonwealth Edison, the local utility company—hence the trail's name. While lacking...
IL 1.5 mi Asphalt
The Orland Grassland trail is a perfect escape from the Chicago suburbs. The grassland itself is an Illinois Nature Preserve, and has been restored from farmland and now boasts 750 acres of...
IL 8 mi Asphalt
The Prairie Point Trail is a scenic neighborhood route that connects twice to the longer Grove Road Trail. While never far from houses, the trail offers surprising scenery, including a stretch along a...
IL 2 mi Asphalt

Recent Trail Reviews

River Bend Trail (Silver Glen Trail)

Peaceful Walk with a beautiful waterfall

May, 2024 by giocalabrese3

Nice peaceful trail! Majority shaded with some great views. We had higher expectations, but overall not a bad walk.

Poplar Creek Trail

Great short ride

May, 2024 by n978cs8tzs

Especially early in the season, great trail to ease into things. Got off onto spur near Route 59 accidentally; better signage needed.

North Branch Trail

Really lovely Chicago riding experience

May, 2024 by creischl

We rode from the parking lot near the corner of West Devon and N. Milwaukee in Norwood Park East up to the Chicago Botanic Garden and back, a total of just under 32 miles. The trail was in excellent condition--almost perfect asphalt surface, curvy, gentle hills and very shady. Most of the road crossings were quite easy--well regulated with lights or signage. We rode mid-day on a Friday in mid-May and there were only a few people on the trail (and one horse in the equestrian trail next to the bike/walk trail). We were on Class 1 e-bikes, following the 15mph speed limit, but did find that lots of people were speeding past us. The trail goes by many parks that include bathrooms and drinkable water.

We had planned to have lunch at the CBG, but found we'd have to buy tickets to enter ($23 pp). Apparently 3 years or so ago, you could get in for free and only had to pay for parking, as I had read in these reviews. We didn't have time to explore the garden so we ended up buying one ticket so one person could go in and purchase lunch for both us--we were hungry and did not want to ride busy roads to get to fast food places. There was a good picnic area by the parking lot where we could have our lunch.

CBG was a beautiful destination--you can ride through the perimeter of the garden with out buying a ticket. The Skokie Lagoon was also a wonderful natural area--full of deer and birds. I'd highly recommend this ride on the North Branch Trail if you're on Chicago's North Side.

Accordion

Cal-Sag Trail

Great trail, but needs some TLC.

May, 2024 by skellyflash

I ran into minor construction on the 127th st. bridge, but the workers let me through no problem. The street crossings were annoying, but relatively safe. My only complaint is that the trail is somewhat dirty (especially at road crossings) and could use a good brush off and resurfacing.
I look forward to the day when this trail is completed to its proposed western terminus and connection with the Burnham Greenway!

Illinois & Michigan Canal State Trail

Awesome!

May, 2024 by skellyflash

I rode from the northernmost point (connection w/ the Centennial Trail) to Joliet. The gravel on this section was in great shape, although the pavement in some parts could use some love. There was minor flooding south of Lockport, but it wasn't an issue.
Seeing the various rail lines, historic canal, and nature was awesome. I look forward to riding more out here!

Centennial Trail (IL)

Fun Ride!

May, 2024 by skellyflash

Trail is in great shape and was a blast to ride on through the canal-area. Sing was good and road crossings were not an issue.

Illinois & Michigan Canal State Trail

maintenance needed

April, 2024 by fahrns50

I have rode this trail over the last 30 plus years and many parts need grading and gravel. I wish part that runs through Joliet could be paved and become part of Joliet Junction Trail

Prospect Heights Bike Path

Nice ride, but many buckles in the pavement. Hang on tight!

April, 2024 by r186am

Nice ride, but many buckles in the pavement. Hang on tight!

Bloomingdale Trail (The 606)

There and back is 5.4 miles

April, 2024 by breadbrowder

Beautiful but beware of pollen.

Spring Creek Greenway Trail

great running trail

March, 2024 by ielpmike

This is a really great trail to run on. It is very soft, especially the stretch just east of Gougar. There is a lot of really beautiful scenery. I ran the entire trail today and it was exactly 7 miles. This is not a good place to ride a bike unless you enjoy riding a soft soggy trail. There are horses on this trail so be sure to keep dogs on a leash. Just as side note, there are two dogs that run around loose from a local house. But they are totally friendly. They have run up to me twice now. They’re just tail wagers. and sniffers.

Cal-Sag Trail

New CalSag Closure 127th St. Bridge

February, 2024 by tom h

Announced last week is the closure of the 127th St. bridge which is located just east of CalSag Road. This will take place from March to December, 2024. Or in other words, the whole biking season for 2024. The repair of the intersection at 127th and CalSag road was completed in late 2023.

Chesapeake and Ohio Greenway

great trail

February, 2024 by peggymj

I rode this on 2/26/24 a beautiful 70 degree day This trail runs from merrillville all the way to the Oak Savannah Prairie Park and connects to the Oak Savannah Trail - north to Griffith and south to Schererville and Crown Point

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Accordion

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