Explore the best rated trails in Gurnee, IL. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Skokie Valley Trail (Lake County) and Illinois & Michigan Canal State Trail. With more than 109 trails covering 1186 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.
Today, we rode from Dean Nature Sanctuary to the 7-11 just south of Busse Woods and back. About 34 miles, from the parking lot of the Sanctuary. Good option during the 294 construction that has the path closed at that location. Some parts of the Salt Creek path are very bumpy.
Rode from hammel woods (on black road) north to trailhead at sunset park in plainfield then south back through woods to trailhead at jefferson street in shorewood, about 10 miles roundtrip.
North of black road the asphalt pavement is flat and in excellent shape. Trail goes from the woods parking lot then north under black road and through a wide prairie along the river with no shade. South of black road the trail winds through the woods with very little slope and asphalt pavement is in good shape. Easy riding all the way.
This is City of Waukesha walking/biking trail. Beware it has many intersections so use caution when crossing each road. Great connector trail to New Berlin and Glacial Drumlin.
Nice relaxing ride but there were a lot of areas that were washed out. The trail isn’t super exciting kind of flat but the bridges were nice.
There's nothing really to add that hasn't been said. But there are a few updates in 2023.
On the east end the NBT has been repaved to smooth out the trail connection between NBT, Oak Leaf and the crosstown connector. So you won't get the fillings rattled out of your skull anymore.
Trailside Bike shop now has a roadside workstation, with a lot of the parts you need to repair a bike. there's also a stand and air compressor. Something to keep in mind.
On the WEST end in Waukesha there's a new side trail. If you're connecting to the Glacial Drumlin Trail the trail forks to the left. Instead of going through the industrial complex you ride behind it to the newer "Waukesha Bike Trail". That will take you to the college, and with some street riding you can connect to the GDT without issue.
But beyond that, the trail hasn't changed much in the last several years. Well, the geese right by the Les Paul Parkway are meaner, but we all expect that by now. the NBT is a good trail, very well used and loved by the community.
The MRT is gravel lite. You COULD ride it on a road bike, but you really won't enjoy yourself. Mountain bikes or gravel / all road bikes recommended with at least a 38mm wide tire. The surface transitions from semi-compacted stone to broken asphalt several times, so the comfort level of low pressure high volume tires or suspension helps a lot.
A few things you might want to know from a local. The map on TrailLink doesn't tell the whole story. On the West end you can park in "Big Bend Village Park". There's an unnamed crushed limestone trail that starts at the far west end of the parking lot that connects to MRT. It adds a mile or two, but it's worth it. You can also park in "Cherry Street Park", which is right along the unnamed trail.
On the East end, the MRT links up to the "City of Franklin Bike Path", and there's a parking lot at "Ken Windl Park" with water and washroom facilities. It's a paved trail that makes a nice warm up. (Note : 2023 there is construction on W. Forest Home Ave. that blocks this trail for the whole year)
It's a trail worth take a day trip to ride, or incorporate it into a longer ride. Just know what you're rolling into, narrow tires will not enjoy this ride.
I lived in the area for 34 years and rode this trail on a regular basis. It was always the most ignored and neglected of the FPDCC trails. Today I stopped by for Trail Opening/Earth Day for a short hike and found that this trail had finally been repaved! Can’t wait to enjoy the smooth surface with my bike.
Rode trail on a sunny saturday afternoon in early april with not many other users on it. Only used paved road in section west of quentin road that was moderately hilly and scenic with deer sighted. East of quentin is camp reinberg that is worth a stop for restroom and concessions. Trail on this east section is fairly flat and loops around a very large prairie. Trail condition was excellent.
The trail closed signage is still up as of 4/15/2023 around the 8 mile area. You can get through, but considering the date, it's possible construction will resume as the weather warms in the next few weeks.
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