Explore the best rated trails in La Salle, IL, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Illinois & Michigan Canal State Trail and Grove Road Trail . With more than 29 trails covering 4174 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.
The 10-mile stretch of the trail from st. charles to elgin is mostly asphalt with a few short lengths that are crushed stone. The trail is in good shape generally with hardly any heavings in the pavement. The scenery is mostly natural woods and very scenic. Between st. charles and the town of south elgin the river takes a big bend around a high bluff and the trail goes down a long hill as you travel north and over 2 bridges. Near the town of south elgin there is a trolley museum with tracks alongside the trail that working trolleys use on the weekends. Between south elgin and elgin there are many hilly sections. It can be a challenging but worthwhile ride.
Ok section, kind of dull. Agriculture & cows. Found a bit of shade by a grain elevator for lunch. Several washouts filled with tumbleweeds as you get closer to Lind.
This was a very nice trail thru mostly wooded area.
Rode from Colona to Bureau early October. The trail was dry and in good enough condition to average 9-10mph. There was lots of animal and bird life. I was surprised at how few people I saw. It was very peaceful. The only trail hazard of note were walnuts in the path. I did notice that there could be issues if it is wet. Drainage and mud could be a problem. I do ride a Surly Ogre with 29x2.35 tires and 45 lbs of gear on it. Navigation was not a problem.
Rode from Colona to Bureau early October. The trail was dry and in good enough condition to average 9-10mph. There was lots of animal and bird life. I was surprised at how few people I saw. It was very peaceful. The only trail hazard of note were walnuts in the path. I did notice that there could be issues if it is wet. Drainage and mud could be a problem. I do ride a Surly Ogre with 29x2.35 tires and 45 lbs of gear on it. Navigation was not a problem.
I rode the Rock Island trail in early October 2024 on a perfect day. I started in Toulon and rode into Peoria to East Glen Ave and rode back. This is a wonderful long trail. In the gravel section there are a few small rivulets where water has drained to watch out for, mostly by the bridges. Most of the asphalt was good. Some older places had some roots but most of it was great. My favorite was the gravel section for the solitude. I would rate this more than five stars if I could. I highly recommend checking this trail out! Traveling cyclist Facebook
My wife & I rode two days from LaSalle toward Ottawa and from Ottawa to Marseilles on our recumbent etrikes. Had to turn around the first day before getting to Ottawa, as the trail became two narrow paths through the grass that were impassable for the trikes. The second day we had to lift our trikes over a fallen tree. There were no trail workers to be seen anywhere. That part of the trail rarely followed the canal, but instead wound through the woods on a cow path like trail. The 20 miles or so between LaSalle and Marseilles are not suitable for road bikes or recumbent trikes, but instead are only desirable for cross bikes or fat tire bikes preferably with electric assist.
the south end of the trail along Houbolt Rd. from I-80 up to the junior college is under construction but still accessible as of September 2024.
otherwise as noted in earlier reviews, it is a nice trail.
Better than battling cars to me. We saw tons of wildlife and the living history of the I and M canal! Won’t lie, very tough ride but super cool. Pair it with a visit to Starved Rock State Park and some hiking!!!
I’d read many negative reviews but wanted to do it anyway. I’m so glad I did. For me it’s a one and done trail. It’s a long trail and most of it over grassy and gravelly areas which makes it seem even longer since you can’t really ride that fast. But the grass had been cut and it was better than battling cars to me.
As a young child I visited Starved Rock State Park which at the time seemed like 1000 miles from home. When the Cal-Sag trail was built and I heard it connected to the Centennial trail which connected to the I and M state trail making it possible to ride from my home all the way to Starved Rock Dtate Park on a bike trail I knew I wanted to do it some day. on e
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