Explore the best rated trails in Machesney Park, IL, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Ice House Trail and Fox River Trail (IL) . With more than 81 trails covering 774 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 12-foot-wide asphalt surface had some tree root-raised areas, but manageable. The middle section of the route was a nicely paved road dedicated to wastewater treatment plant traffic. The southwestern section of the trail was nestled nicely behind backyards. The sides of the trail were mowed and the trail corridor itself was not only spacious, but nicely captured beneath a canopy of trees. The trail was a little out of the way, but I highly recommend it if you happen to be in the area.
Completed my final leg of this trail by riding from London to Cottage Grove today. Trail conditions were very good, however the bridges can use some maintenance. All have matting across them to assist in preventing flats, however watch your approach, there can be some serious bumps getting onto & off the bridges. Having ridden the entire trail now, eastern portion several times; it’s just my opinion that the western portion would be my recommendation. East of Douseman the trail is paved, however much of it is in need of maintenance to remedy cracks.
Scenic, very pleasant ride today. Farmland, lots of bridges, packed gravel so no surprises. Parked at the Elkhorn trailhead and biked to Burlington and back. Note: the DNR site says there's a bridge out, as of 9/27/26 - there are no bridges out. Really nice ride and great way to spend a 70 degree and sunny day in late September.
We rode the Fox River Trail over two days in September 2026. We did a short ride from St Charles to South Elgin and back one the first day, followed by a ride to Aurora and then on to part of the Illinois Prairie Path before returning to St Charles. The trail was in excellent shape and, for the most part, was well marked. We thought the scenery was better going south, with lots of water fowl, flowers and points of interest to enjoy. This trail lived up to its expectations.
I started the Jane Addams Trail at the RT 26 Junction and finished at the Wisconsin State border for a total of 32 miles round trip. Most of the trail felt like double track that was in very good condition due to the median of the trail being somewhat high grass, This did not make the ride difficult as both tracks are plenty wide for a gravel or hybrid bike to navigate with no issues.
I found the Orangeville trailhead to offer the most services along the trail. I'm sure the terminus in Freeport offers options as well but I did not explore that part of the trail. I also rode the Sugar River trail in Wisconsin and it is a great plus that one can ride the Jane Addams trail to the Beaver State Trail to the Sugar River Trail and beyond.
I rode the entire Sugar River Trail starting in New Glarus and ending in Brodhead totaling around 44 miles round trip. I found the trail to be in very good condition, mostly flat and finely crushed gravel with no major imperfections. The trail is mostly shaded and provided a wide variety of scenery from farmlands to quiet streams. There are a few road crossings but I encountered very few cars my entire trip.
The highlight of the Sugar River Trail are it's endpoints, both Brodhead and especially New Glarus are wonderful towns filled with charm and many options to dine at. I especially recommend staying in New Glarus at it makes accessing the Sugar River Trail as easy as a short ride if you stay in town.
I almost forgot to include this in my previous review:
If you do not like hills, DO NOT do either section of this trail.
Both the North and South sections used asphalt and crushed stone surfaces. Care must be taken when riding on the crushed stone. The trail is nearly 12 foot wide and it is neatly groomed, however, the stone is just loose enough to keep bicycle speeds down. The rider who tests their speed traveling downhill and around the blind curves will surely tumble. The age of the asphalt in both sections varies from "newer" to "desperately in need of repair." The southern section actually has a warning sign just south of Fairfield Park.
The last two miles of the northern section in Round Lake Beach is loaded with perpendicular cracks in the asphalt causing a jarring ride even at slow speeds.
One must be cautious at the street crossings although some of the busier roads have traffic lights with designated pedestrian cross walks. The signage was ok, but could have been better.
The trail is almost entirely crushed stone, except for the 1/2 mile of asphalt in New Glarus and the 1 mile of road in Brodhead. In fact, the term "crushed stone" is quite generous, since the trail is mostly two tire tracks with a grass median. Bottom line, the trail surface was solid even after a light rainfall and the grass on both sides of the trail as well as the median were neatly mowed. There was a nice mix of marsh, forest and open prairie. There was a mile marker on the west or south side of the trail every mile. The ride was very peaceful and quiet, except for an auction I heard while taking a break at the Albany trailhead. It was a nice change of pace to the ambient serenity. There were a few road crossings, but the country roads were rarely traveled. Both Broadhead and New Glarus were excellent anchors for this trail. There was lots to explore in both cities!
(08/19/26) - Another beautiful day and a beautiful trail. Rode from Tutty's Crossing (Freeport) to state line (WI). Trail in great shape with no major defects to get in your way for a relaxing ride. The small town and countryside/farmland vibe is just outstanding. Especially if you're a small town kid like me. It's a true getaway from life kind of ride for a couple hours. Very little trail traffic and the scenery is gorgeous. As always, don't forget to treat yourself at Union Dairy after the 34 mile round trip. A great reward for a long ride.
The 8-foot wide asphalt trail is not in bad shape, but it does have manageable grass-filled cracks running perpendicular to the direction of travel in a few areas. Although there is a protective barrier, the entire length of the trail runs alongside a busy highway. There are a few street crossings with minimal traffic at best, but there are also two busy roads to cross. Fortunately, the intersections for these two crossings are controlled by traffic lights with pedestrian crossing signals. This ain't no rail trail, so the route has a few hills to master. On the plus side, the trail connects to the Peace Trail at the west end and the sides of the trail are nicely mowed.
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