Explore the best rated trails in Beach Park, IL, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the New Berlin Recreation Trail and Seven Waters Bike Trail (Route of the Badger) . With more than 99 trails covering 1048 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
Busse Forest Nature Preserve is a slice of tranquility completely surrounded by the chaos of highways and the hectic, hurry up conditions of suburbia. It's like a mini Central Park, but in the burbs of Chicago. If I was fortunate to have something like this near my home in my metropolis of southern California I'd be hiking, biking, or fishing it every day!
Since I as staying at the Hampton Inn in Schaumberg, I simply rode my bike down the Schaumberg Bikeway alongside Woodfield Road for about a half mile to access the park.
It was shortly after sunrise on a chilly weekday morning in early October as I entered the serenity of the preserve and its forests, lakes, and large grassy areas. I was joined by dog walkers, joggers, fishermen, bicyclists, a rollerblader, and hundreds of geese.
The treelined paths were carpeted with golden leaves, and many large flocks of geese called many of the grassy areas home. I was fortunate enough to see and hear a massive bull elk making its wailing, bugle-like call in an attempt to entice two cows he was near to get cozy with him.
All in all, Busse Woods Trail is a delightful system of curvy trails, dense woods, large swaths of lawn, and beautiful lakes. What a precious gem for the communities of the burbs and this lucky visitor from SoCal!
On a perfect weekday morning in early October I experienced by bicycle the South Shore portion of the Oak Leaf Trail.
I parked in the Grant Park Beach parking lot in South Milwaukee and headed north to Cupertino Park and then back, a distance of about twelve miles. Even though it was such a short ride it took me over two hours since I had to frequently stop for the awesome photo ops. The views of the lake and the Milwaukee skyline are sensational!
The trail is obviously beloved by the community. Not only were there plenty of other bicyclists, but there were a tremendous amount of friendly pedestrians walking their dogs or getting their steps in, especially in Bay View Park.
The South Shore portion of the trail has so much to offer: woods, tree lined streets with charming homes, wildflowers, squirrels, geese, shoreline, lots of curves, five parks, yachts, and plenty of benches to take in the marvelous views of Lake Michigan and the downtown skyline. Besides the lake views, I especially enjoyed the curvy trail covered in golden leaves through the woods of Grant Park.
TWO WORDS OF WARNING:
1) There are hills.
2) There are cracked and uplifted portions of trail through the woods of Grant Park due to tree roots. They will effectively work like speed bumps and slow you down a bit.
However, all in all, this is an enjoyable ride and certainly worthy of your time and five stars!
Once a great hiking preserve no not so much. It is evident that funding just isn’t there for a quality site like other county trails. They still have a chain link fence blocking off an area damaged years ago which looks like an excuse to no maintain and save money. As it’s been under repair for a good 10 years. Deer grove was my backyard growing up and it was an amazing preserve it’s sad to say that it is no more
One of the best trails in Milwaukee area. Very scenic , beautifully paved . Stop in Dousman at Bicycle Doctor store. Great staff and a lot to look at !!
Great trail for walk surface and natural sites.
Misleading description- was anticipating an entire asphalt ride - instead found sections to be gravel. ¿
Enjoyed the newly paved loop on this trail. Lots of shade along the path. Bonus, when you are done riding a great micro brew location quenches your thirst.
After reading other recent reviews, we first rode the Stone Bridge Trail from Roland Olson Forest Preserve to Rockton and then headed back east to the Long Prairie Trail. Once we were on the Long Prairie, the surface changed to asphalt and was reasonably ok - some big bumps and cracks were marked - until we got to Caledonia. After that the surface got worse, and we turned around when we'd gone a mile or so farther. It was a nice ride with plenty of shade, and we managed to get in about 25 miles total. Still, it's a real shame that we can't ride from the east end of the trail anymore.
My wife and I biked the trail this (Monday) morning, starting at the swing bridge just north of Romeo Road, going all the way 12 miles north, then back. The trail is nicely paved and most of the way goes through beautiful, shaded woods. Two or three miles go along an industrial, barge docking area along the river. One mile of this stretch, there is no dedicated bike path, instead you bike along Canal Bank Road. The trail connects to several other nice trails. I’d probably give Centennial Trail 4.5 stars if possible. A very nice trail for the most part. We enjoyed it.
15 mph bike speed limit is like "No dunking" signs at a basketball court.
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