Explore the best rated trails in Jacksonville, IL. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Benld-Gillespie Bike Trail and Lost Bridge Trail. With more than 7 trails covering 34 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.
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The first 5.5-mile segment of the 38-mile Sangamon Valley Trail opened in summer 2011 and runs between Centennial Park and Stuart Park in Springfield. In 2017, a 6-mile extension was opened between...
Dedicated on August 5, 2000, the Green Diamond Rail-Trail was the first bicycling/pedestrian trail in Montgomery County. Partially funded by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the trail is...
This trail is an extension of the Lost Bridge Trail that goes from Springfield to Rochester. From its western terminus, the first half mile is a heavily wooded section of urban rail-trail. It has a...
The Benld-Gillespie Bike Trail is part of two developing Illinois initiatives: the Route 66 Trail from Chicago to St. Louis, loosely following the historic highway; and the Illinois Traction System...
The Wabash Trail is the epitome of an urban rail-trail link. It's straight and flat. It has bridges over its only intersecting roadways. Just keep moving and enjoy. The trail connects city...
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The paved Interurban Trail provides 8.4 miles of suburban and rural scenery for users between Chatham and Springfield. It follows the former route of the electrified Illinois Terminal Railroad...
The Lost Bridge Trail, jointly managed by the Springfield Park District and the village of Rochester, is one of the area's earliest and most popular multiuse trails-even for locals taking a weekday...
The Wabash Trail is the epitome of an urban rail-trail link. It's straight and flat. It has bridges over its only intersecting roadways. Just keep moving and enjoy. The trail connects city...
Dedicated on August 5, 2000, the Green Diamond Rail-Trail was the first bicycling/pedestrian trail in Montgomery County. Partially funded by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the trail is...
This trail is an extension of the Lost Bridge Trail that goes from Springfield to Rochester. From its western terminus, the first half mile is a heavily wooded section of urban rail-trail. It has a...
The Benld-Gillespie Bike Trail is part of two developing Illinois initiatives: the Route 66 Trail from Chicago to St. Louis, loosely following the historic highway; and the Illinois Traction System...
The Lost Bridge Trail, jointly managed by the Springfield Park District and the village of Rochester, is one of the area's earliest and most popular multiuse trails-even for locals taking a weekday...
The paved Interurban Trail provides 8.4 miles of suburban and rural scenery for users between Chatham and Springfield. It follows the former route of the electrified Illinois Terminal Railroad...
The first 5.5-mile segment of the 38-mile Sangamon Valley Trail opened in summer 2011 and runs between Centennial Park and Stuart Park in Springfield. In 2017, a 6-mile extension was opened between...
The Wabash Trail is the epitome of an urban rail-trail link. It's straight and flat. It has bridges over its only intersecting roadways. Just keep moving and enjoy. The trail connects city...
The paved Interurban Trail provides 8.4 miles of suburban and rural scenery for users between Chatham and Springfield. It follows the former route of the electrified Illinois Terminal Railroad...
Dedicated on August 5, 2000, the Green Diamond Rail-Trail was the first bicycling/pedestrian trail in Montgomery County. Partially funded by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the trail is...
The Lost Bridge Trail, jointly managed by the Springfield Park District and the village of Rochester, is one of the area's earliest and most popular multiuse trails-even for locals taking a weekday...
The Benld-Gillespie Bike Trail is part of two developing Illinois initiatives: the Route 66 Trail from Chicago to St. Louis, loosely following the historic highway; and the Illinois Traction System...
This trail is an extension of the Lost Bridge Trail that goes from Springfield to Rochester. From its western terminus, the first half mile is a heavily wooded section of urban rail-trail. It has a...
The first 5.5-mile segment of the 38-mile Sangamon Valley Trail opened in summer 2011 and runs between Centennial Park and Stuart Park in Springfield. In 2017, a 6-mile extension was opened between...
I LOVE THE TRAIL -- but have some SAFETY CONCERNS.
I jog every other day on the trail and there are LOTS of bikes
and some of them are going 15 - 25 mph! Some speed this
fast even when there is much traffic going BOTH directions,
which is dangerous! Some of these bikes are going as fast
as a slow moving car! Fast enough to really HURT someone
BADLY if a collision occurs due to negligence.
There are baby buggies and slow solo walkers and couples
walking hand-in-hand and runners and about everything you'd
imagine or expect . . . in other words, a VERY MIXED POPULATION
with people moving at a VARIETY of speeds.
Some of the bikers seem to be trying to explore how FAST they
can go (disregarding safety concerns) not to mention an utter lack
of courtesy and regard for others, etc.
There ought to be a SPEED LIMIT posted or SOMETHING!
Someone may get badly injured!
This is a nice straight path. Mostly covered by trees so it’s nice and shady! Very beautiful! Wish it were longer!
Great warm weather ride. Most of the trail passes through a heavy tree canopy on a flat and level path.We started from the IDOT trail head off Dirksen Parkway and road east to Rochester. Just off this end of the trail is a great little place called Walnut St. Winery. Stopped in for a bit of wine and cheese before returning back down the trail.
Loved it!! Flat, tree lined, quiet, came into Farmersville from Waggoner, road around that town, their is a subway sandwich shop and a few bars that serve food...will definetely be back !! Riding to truck stop made this ride 4.99 miles each way...enjoy!
6/22/17
Very rough trail. Needs attention. Could be a great one, but lots of holes.
It was pretty clear that they will be expanding this trail beyond it's current run from Stuart Park to Centennial Park. Due to time constraints I rode from Stuart to Iles Ave. and back. There's a very slight uphill run over that length, but it's not at all noticeable because the trail is very smooth. There were a constant flow of trail users, but it didn't feel crowded at all. There seemed to be an above average number of dog walkers on the trail, but I chalked that up to the dog run located in Stuart Park.
I had spent the day in workshops and at the State Capitol, so this was a perfect way to burn off some energy before a long drive home. I was very glad I made the stop and will likely do this again when I'm in Springfield.
My husband and I came over from Decatur to try some new bike trails. We were very pleasantly surprised at how much we enjoyed it. The tree cover is wonderful. We will drive over and ride it again. And we will recommend to others.
Another great ride and a job well done by the cities of Springfield and Chatham. Add the Wabash trail for a 22.5 mile out and back. A decent hill where the I 72 and train tracks bisect the ride. Pass through a short tunnel and about a .3 mile climb with a good gradient of 6 %. Flat out to Chat am with one road to cross that has signals and a bile repair stand just before the crossing. my favorite in the area of Central Illinois.
This trail is fairly flat but very well maintained. The City of Springfield really does a superb job with all of its bike paths and should be a model project for all Illinois communities.
A mix of open and tree covered canopy type cover, it has 4 or 5 road crossings which are low traffic excluding one that you have to pay close attention too.
Over all distance park to park is 12.25 miles, parking lot to parking lot. Mid way bench rest areas for those that desire a break.
I give it a A+ for its category of being flat.
This trail is the first trail my family ever rode on. We usually connect it with the Interurban Trail. It's a great trail to ride, walk, jog or other.
Flat, an all around great trail. Very well maintained and easy access too.
This is one of our favorite trails to ride. High recommended.
We decided to take a quick trip to Waggoner just to ride this trail.
It's not a bad trail, but be careful if you're on a road bike. Mountain bikes will do fine. Lots of gravel (and holes), brush along the way and it's not very well maintained but still very useable. There was lots of weeds/grass on the path.
Could use some TLC, but it's a nice flat path. Most of the trail was shaded. Short but nice. Easy ride for someone who don't have much time and wants to put in under 10 miles. (From one end to the other and back.)
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