Explore the best rated trails in Mattoon, IL, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Wabashiki Trail and Kickapoo Rail Trail . With more than 19 trails covering 81 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.
This is one of my favorite trails and I’ve probably biked over a hundred. It’s a good workout and also relaxing because it’s straight, mostly flat, and bordered by wildflowers and butterflies. I’d avoid the town portions in both Mattoon and Charleston, going park to park from the east of Mattoon to the west of Charleston. This is still about a ten mile stretch each way. There is only one crossing that’s at all iffy - the top of a hill both ways just east of the golf course. Otherwise just a super calm ride.
We camped at Taylorville Lake which has direct access to the trail. Rode SE to Pana one day and into Taylorville the next day.
There are no amenities on the trail other than a bathhouse at the marina at Taylorville Lake. Easy to ride into both towns though to find a restaurant, gas station, or something.
When the trail ends at Pana, cross route 29 and take the street on the north side of the Dollar General and you can ride into town on side streets.
Trail is dead straight and flat the entire length (only 4 bridges) and is all paved other than a couple hundred yard stretch around a grain elevator. Trail condition is ok. Quite a few transverse shrinkage cracks in different sections, but we've been on much worse. A road biker would probably not be pleased, but the traffic on route 29 would be a lot worse.
The segment east of Charleston is not paved. It's only a mile but if you are a trail completionist, be prepared for a rough ride for that mile or and back. Closer to a field road than a trail.Rest of the trail was perfect.
The Lincoln Prairie Grass Trail pavement has been extended 6 blocks further west to the YMCA parking lot and a beautiful new park on 16th Street.
Noisy traffic but nice views from the boardwalk. Extend your walking buy going south through Fairbanks park on the east side of the Wabash bridge.
My first trail ride from near the Vermilion County Fairground to the west edge of Oakwood. Very nice ride. Nice scenery along the route. I only wish it was completed so I could go all the way to Urbana.
With construction of the new trail bridge over the Flat Branch starting in September (2024), the trail will soon be restored to its full 14.6-mile length, with access points at the Taylorville Trailhead, Lake Taylorville (Lake Point Veterans Memorial) parking lot, Owaneco, and the Pana Trailhead.
After riding other trails I was truly disappointed with this one; wouldn’t you know it’s the closest to us and probably the worst! No upkeep whatsoever; it has potential for a nice ride, but there has been no maintenance for quite a while. It says on website that the village of Pana owns it…
This is a beautiful trail! It meanders nearly 6 miles with many gentle curves and hills and very few straightaways. It is almost entirely wooded and runs along the lovely creek most of the way. There are a number of bridges to go over and under. The track itself is clean and in great condition. There are 3-4 manhole covers go watch out for. Thoroughly enjoyed!
This trail is well maintained. Lots of birds and wildlife. I rode the trail on a Friday afternoon in late March (62 degrees) and there were 5 other folks riding and walking. It is a flat trail that runs through mostly farm land. ¿
The trail surface is smooth asphalt. Except for the first and last miles, it is also essentially seamless. Great.
The scenery is pretty much nothing, and there isn't really anything along the way. The eastern portion is more scenic than the western, passing over a couple ravines of tributaries to the Embarras river.
Great trail for a workout.
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