Find the top rated running trails in Crystal Lake, whether you're looking for an easy short running trail or a long running trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a running trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
_183583_st.jpg)
_150131_st.jpg)
_252594_st.jpg)
_211455_st.jpg)
| Trail Image | Trail Name | States | Length | Surface | Rating |
|
|
The 312 RiverRun is a 1.1-mile biking and walking trail located on Chicago's northside along the North Branch of the Chicago River, nestled between Gordon Tech High School and Lane Tech High School....
  |
IL | 1.1 mi | Asphalt |
|
|
|
This bike path sits on the east side of Almond Road between Washington Street and Fairfield Lane in Gurnee. The 8-foot wide asphalt path is used by residents as a spot for exercise and recreation, but...
  |
IL | 1.5 mi | Asphalt |
|
|
|
The Bartlett Trail is a recreational trail in the Village of Bartlett, Du Page county. Though short, the trail is conveniently located as a space for exercise, while providing a safe route to school...
|
IL | 1.23 mi | Asphalt |
|
|
|
Baumann Park is adjacent to the Kishwaukee River in Cherry Valley, a community on the outskirts of Rockford in northern Illinois. A paved pathway runs through the park and loops around Baumann Park...
 |
IL | 1.25 mi | Asphalt |
|
|
|
Overview
The Bloomingdale Trail, part of “The 606” park system, is a 3-mile, elevated rail trail on Chicago’s northwest side. Built on a former rail line, the trail sits 17 feet above four of the...
|
IL | 2.7 mi | Asphalt, Concrete |
|
|
|
Overview
The Busse Woods Trail spans the Ned Brown Forest Preserve, a 3,700-acre natural space in the northwestern suburbs of Chicago. The preserve—popularly just called Busse Woods—has a large...
  |
IL | 11.6 mi | Asphalt, Concrete |
|
|
|
Overview
The Cal-Sag Trail (also known as the Calumet-Sag Trail) runs for 16.2 miles and connects several communities and additional trails, as well as providing access to scenic forest preserves...
|
IL | 16.2 mi | Asphalt |
|
|
|
Overview
Illinois’ Centennial Trail runs 13-miles through parts of three suburban counties from Willow Springs Road to Romeo Road/135th Street southwest of Chicago.
About the Route
The trail...
|
IL | 13 mi | Asphalt |
|
|
|
Overview
The Chicago Lakefront Trail is aptly named; it spans 19 miles along the shore of Lake Michigan, going right through downtown Chicago to pass many cultural and tourist attractions...
|
IL | 19 mi | Asphalt, Concrete |
|
|
|
The City of Franklin Hike and Bike Trail follows a corridor originally used by the Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light, an interurban railroad in southeastern Wisconsin. The corridor was later acquired...
|
WI | 1.5 mi | Asphalt |
|
|
|
The ComEd Greenway is an asphalt multiuse pathway running north-south through the village of Bollingbrook. The trail's name is an abbreviation of Commonwealth Edison, the name of the electric utility...
|
IL | 2 mi | Asphalt |
|
|
|
This regional trail connects two of DuPage County's forest preserves—Herrick Lake and Danada—on a crushed stone pathway nearly 6 miles long. Together, the preserves cover more than 1,600 acres of...
 |
IL | 5.8 mi | Crushed Stone |
|
|
|
The DeKalb-Sycamore Trail—also known as the Peace Road Trail—parallels the eastern side of Peace Road from DeKalb to Sycamore in northern Illinois. Along the way, you'll pass a mixture of residential...
|
IL | 6.6 mi | Asphalt |
|
|
|
The Deer Grove Trail is one of several great Chicagoland trails located in properties of the Forest Preserve of Cook County. Deer Grove is the oldest of all the Cook County preserves. It's comprised...
|
IL | 3.9 mi | Asphalt |
|
|
|
Overview
The Des Plaines River Trail runs alongside the Des Plaines River for just over 56 miles, protecting watershed habitat and forestland through much of Lake and Cook Counties. The trail is a...
 |
IL | 56.1 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel |
|
|
|
Overview
The DuPage River Trail spans over 30 miles across two counties: DuPage and Will. It's currently open in several disconnected segments mainly in parks and forest preserves beginning in...
|
IL | 33.1 mi | Asphalt |
|
|
|
The Duck Lake Nature Area Trail follows the southern side of Lake Como between Lake Geneva and Como, Wisconsin, not far from the Illinois state line. The trail is more rustic than most rail-trails and...
|
WI | 2 mi | Dirt |
|
|
|
Overview
The Fox River Trail (FRT) was built on stretches of three former railroads: Chicago, Aurora & Elgin; Aurora, Elgin, & Fox River Electric; and Chicago & North Western. Today, it hosts a...
|
IL | 45.7 mi | Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone |
|
|
|
Overview
The Glacial River Trail provides bikers, pedestrians, and in-line skaters with a 55.8-mile off-road/on-road rural route winding through farmland, prairie, wetlands, and woodlands as it...
|
WI | 55.8 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone |
|
|
|
About an hour northwest of Chicago, the beautiful Grant Woods Forest Preserve spans more than 1,000 acres, offering an outdoor respite of prairie, woodlands and marshes. The crushed limestone pathway...
|
IL | 5.9 mi | Crushed Stone |
|
_135428_st.jpg) |
Overview
The western segment of the Great Western Trail in Illinois follows 18 miles of a former railway corridor through DeKalb and Kane counties, between Sycamore Forest Preserve in the City of...
|
IL | 18 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone |
|
_49791_st.jpg) |
Overview
The eastern segment of the Great Western Trail in Illinois follows almost 13 miles of an abandoned railway corridor through DuPage County, between Villa Park and West Chicago.
About the...
|
IL | 12.7 mi | Crushed Stone |
|
 |
The H.U.M. Trail (a.k.a. the Huntley-Union-Marengo Trail) was planned to link all three of its namesake northern Illinois towns, but so far only connects Marengo and Union.
Interestingly, the...
|
IL | 3.5 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Hebron Trail rolls across the northern Illinois prairie through the former corridor of the Kenosha and Rockford Railroad, known as the Kenosha Division Line at the time of its demise in 1939....
|
IL | 6.7 mi | Crushed Stone, Gravel |
|
 |
Overview
The Illinois Prairie Path (IPP) was one of the nation’s first rail-trail conversions. The 58-mile trail consists of five connected trail segments with three main branches that converge...
|
IL | 58.52 mi | Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone |
|
 |
The John Husar I&M Canal Trail is the northernmost trail developed on the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor. The Illinois & Michigan Canal provided the final link in the water route...
|
IL | 8.9 mi | Asphalt |
|
_0_st.jpg) |
The KR Trail is a new addition to Kenosha County’s growing bike-ped network. The trail picks up where the Kenosha Pike Bike Trail leaves off, in Petrifying Springs Park. From the northwest corner of...
|
WI | 1.5 mi | Asphalt, Boardwalk |
|
_177836_st.jpg) |
Overview
The Kenosha County Bike Trail runs for nearly 8 miles in two sections separated by couple miles with the city of Kenosha.
About the Route
The northern segment runs between 1st St....
|
WI | 7.9 mi | Asphalt |
|
_166211_st.jpg) |
Helping to forge a connection between the northern and southern segments of the Kenosha County Bike Trail, the Kenosha Pike Bike Trail also has plenty to offer in its own right, giving trail users a...
|
WI | 6.95 mi | Concrete |
|
 |
The Kishwaukee River Recreation Path runs for 2.5 miles in Cherry Valley on the outskirts of Rockford in northern Illinois. The well-maintained, asphalt trail connects the Kishwaukee River Forest...
|
IL | 2.5 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Kishwaukee Riverfront Path winds nearly 7 miles through downtown Belvidere, east of Rockford in northern Illinois. As its name implies, the paved scenic trail follows the waterway for most of its...
|
IL | 6.9 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Kiwanis Bike Trail, named for the Kiwanis Club that spearheaded the effort to build the trail, parallels the western bank of the Rock River through the southern Wisconsin community of Janesville....
|
WI | 4 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Kuhn Road Trail starts on Lies Road, at Glenbard North High School and continues south along Kuhn Road, past single-family homes and Friendship Park. The trail officially ends at Barbara O'Rahilly...
|
IL | 1.4 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The 2.3-mile multiuse trail wraps around Lake Andrea in Pleasant Springs Park. The trail is an easy walk, run or ride around the lake, and is accessible for a wide range of users. It also helps users...
|
WI | 2.3 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
Lake Arlington is an artificial lake and popular recreation area in Arlington Heights in Cook County. The park features amenities to interest visitors of all ages and it is a local favorite for family...
|
IL | 2 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Lincolnwood Valley Line Trail connects the existing Valley Line Trail (Sauganash Trail) to the Skokie Valley Trail in Cook County. Like the previous segments, this trail occupies a former Union...
|
IL | 1.3 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Major Taylor Trail is named after legendary African American cyclist Marshall “Major” Taylor, who was one of the most celebrated bicycle racers of the late nineteenth century, setting several...
|
IL | 7.6 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Mel Anderson Memorial Path, named for a long-serving alderman of the Seventh Ward, stretches nearly 3 miles, connecting Lockwood Park, Searls Park, Bressler Park and Talcott-Page Park. Mid-way,...
|
IL | 2.7 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Middlefork Savanna Forest Preserve is a natural gem hidden in an high-income neighborhood of Lake Forest, Illinois. Those 600 acres are home to perhaps the best-preserved example of the rare...
|
IL | 4.3 mi | Crushed Stone, Gravel |
|
_132690_st.jpg) |
The Millennium Trail currently spans just over 30 miles in two disconnected segments, but there are plans to extend it to 35 miles and connect it to the Des Plaines River Trail. The trail goes through...
|
IL | 30.7 mi | Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone |
|
 |
Moraine Hills State Park Trail offers a wonderful experience for any geology or nature aficionado. A moraine is an accumulation of earth and stones carried and finally deposited by a glacier....
|
IL | 11.4 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone |
|
 |
Overview
The North Branch Trail follows the North Branch of the Chicago River for 25.5 miles through Cook County. The trail was originally a dirt path often used for horseback riding; though it’s...
|
IL | 25.5 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The North Central DuPage Regional Trail stretches 11.6 miles in four segments between the communities of Wayne in the west and Roselle in the east. This paved, multiuse trail provides residents and...
|
IL | 11.6 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone |
|
 |
Overview
The North Shore Channel Trail extends 8.3 miles from the junction of Green Bay Road and McCormick Boulevard in northern Evanston to the junction of Lawrence Avenue and Francisco Avenue in...
|
IL | 8.3 mi | Asphalt, Concrete, Dirt |
|
 |
Note: Erosion caused by surging waves off Lake Michigan has caused the trail to collapse in sections. The eastern half of the trail along Lake Michigan is closed indefinitely. See the Chicago Park...
|
IL | 1 mi | Asphalt, Concrete |
|
_133173_st.jpg) |
Overview
The Oak Leaf Trail is the jewel in the crown of Milwaukee County’s extensive trail system. The trail meanders for 123 miles in and around the city of Milwaukee on a changing terrain of...
|
WI | 123.6 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The village of Palatine has connected many of its community assets with two long sections of off-road, multi-use trail. The more popular northern section is the one most references call simply and...
|
IL | 9.6 mi | Asphalt, Concrete |
|
 |
Stretching from Janesville to Beloit, the Peace Trail offers a paved, tree-shaded route paralleling the Rock River and an active rail line. From its northern end in Janesville, the trail leaves off...
|
WI | 12.3 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Pike River Pathway is a paved, multiuse trail that parallels the river after which its named through meadows, fields, woods, and residential areas in the Village of Mount Pleasant, WI.
From...
|
WI | 6.9 mi | Asphalt |
|
_207962_st.jpg) |
Overview
The Prairie Trail runs the length of McHenry County and is managed by the McHenry County Conservation District. The rail trail spans just over 26 miles from the Wisconsin border and the...
|
IL | 26.4 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel |
|
 |
The Puri Path is a paved route in Rock Cut State Park, a beautiful outdoor destination of more than 3,000 acres for the city of Rockford. The path runs through the heavily wooded northeast corner of...
|
IL | 4 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Rock River Parkway Trail in Janesville runs between Rockport Park and S. Jackson Street bridge on the north side of the river. Here, at the trail's eastern terminus, you can easily link to Spring...
|
WI | 2.4 mi | Asphalt, Concrete |
|
 |
The paved Rock River Recreation Trail winds throughout downtown Rockford and environs, following the east bank of the Rock River through Shorewood Park and Martin Memorial Park. Officially, the trail...
|
IL | 10 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Rock Valley College Path is a paved route looping around and through its namesake campus in Rockford. At its southern end, it connects to the Spring Brook Road bike lanes that continue east to the...
|
IL | 2.2 mi | Asphalt |
|
_101688_st.jpg) |
Closure Notice: Starting 05/01/2023 through 12/31/2026, there will be intermittent trail closures under the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) bridge, spanning from Ogden Ave to 31st St due to ongoing...
|
IL | 28.6 mi | Asphalt, Cinder, Woodchips |
|
_144630_st.jpg) |
The Skokie Valley Trail in Cook County parallels active train tracks in the Village of Skokie, providing easy access to both the Oakton–Skokie and Dempster–Skokie stations on the CTA’s Yellow Line....
|
IL | 2 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Southern Dupage County Regional Trail connects multiple of the larger forest preserves in Dupage county together. Starting near the intersection of 75th st and Ogden Ave in Aurora, the trail runs...
|
IL | 46 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone |
|
 |
Janesville's Spring Brook Trail provides an important non-motorized route to many of the city's popular recreational amenities. The pathway begins just off the eastern terminus of the Rock River...
|
WI | 5.1 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
Built on a former rail bed dating back to the 1850s, the Stone Bridge Trail provides a crushed limestone pathway through rural countryside. A highlight of the trail is passage on Stone Bridge over the...
|
IL | 5.8 mi | Crushed Stone |
|
 |
The Tall Grass Greenway Trail is a trail that runs along the right of way for ComEd powerlines. The trail goes mainly through neighborhoods in south Naperville, and meets up with the south branch of...
|
IL | 3.83 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Timber Ridge trail is located on the eastern side of the Timber Ridge Forest Preserve in west Chicago. The preserve offers several trails, fishing, picnicking, and is home to Kline Creek Farms,...
|
IL | 1 mi | Gravel |
|
_179560_st.jpg) |
The northern section of the Tinley Creek Trail is a series of color-coded connected loops and spurs that weave through several forest preserves in Cook County. The 24-mile trail system is paved,...
|
IL | 24 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
Just 1 mile long, the Valley Line Trail—also known as the Sauganash Trail—extends between Bryn Mawr Avenue and Devon Avenue in the Chicago neighborhood of Sauganash. Two bridges allow for safe...
|
IL | 1.1 mi | Asphalt |
|
_161393_st.jpg) |
Although just shy of three miles, the Veterans Memorial Trail provides a wooded, paved trail experience for residents in the Chicago suburbs of Romeoville, Lemont, and Woodridge. Those seeking a...
|
IL | 2.7 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
Overview
The Virgil L. Gilman Trail travels from quiet forest and prairie lands to bustling neighborhoods in just 11.3 miles, linking a woodsy community college campus with the eastern Chicago...
|
IL | 11.3 mi | Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone |
|
 |
Overview
The trail system in Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve makes a loop around the entire park and totals 9.5 miles.
About the Route
The Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve is geologically...
|
IL | 9.5 mi | Crushed Stone, Grass |
|
_134241_st.jpg) |
Overview
The White River State Trail is a 19.7-mile trail composed of two separate segments: a 12-mile stretch that runs between Elkhorn and just west of Burlington in Walworth County, and a 7-mile...
|
WI | 19.7 mi | Concrete, Crushed Stone, Gravel |
|
 |
The Willow Creek Path is a pleasant, tree-lined trail that follows its namesake creek for most of its journey through the communities of Machesney Park and Loves Park in the Rockford metropolitan...
|
IL | 2.6 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Bauer Memorial Path provides a short route through residential and commercial areas of Machesney Park, a northern suburb of Rockford. The trail begins at the Harlem Community Center and travels in...
|
IL | 1.3 mi | Asphalt |
|
_182744_st.jpg) |
Overview
The Buffalo Creek Trail makes a 5.5-mile loop around the scenic Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve in Long Grove. The crushed-gravel trail provides access to facilities throughout the...
|
IL | 5.5 mi | Crushed Stone, Gravel |
|
 |
The Chain O' Lakes Bike Path is a paved trail that runs between E. Grand Avenue in Fox Lake and Grant Woods Forest Preserve to the east. The trail parallels the railroad track and Rollins Road/CR 31,...
|
IL | 3.2 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Charles Street Community Path offers a neighborhood route through southeastern Rockford, connecting residents to CherryVale Mall on its eastern end. On its western end, Alpine Park is just north...
|
IL | 2.6 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The DeKalb Nature Trail provides a pleasant, tree-lined route in northern DeKalb. Near its western trailhead, it crosses the Kishwaukee River and passes through the Nehring Forest Preserve. Further...
|
IL | 1.6 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Fermilab Trail garners its name by running though the campus of the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab), the former home of the Tevatron particle accelerator. The 3.9-mile particle...
|
IL | 5.7 mi | Asphalt, Concrete |
|
 |
The Four Sisters Bike Path forms a horseshoe around the northern end of Rochelle, a small city south of Rockford in northern Illinois. The path connects several schools and parks, and the city has...
|
IL | 4.3 mi | Asphalt |
|
_177758_st.jpg) |
The Fox River Trail runs diagonally along its namesake waterway through Waukesha in southeastern Wisconsin (just outside of Milwaukee). A trailhead at the E.B. Shurts Environmental Education Center in...
|
WI | 6 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The 6.5-mile Green Bay Trail runs parallel to Chicago's Metra commuter rail line north of the Chicago city limits. Stretching through North Shore towns such as Kenilworth, Winnetka, Highland Park, and...
|
IL | 6.5 mi | Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone |
|
 |
The Harlem Township Bike Path lies not far from the Rock River in western Machesney Park in the Rockford metropolitan area. The trail consists of a lower (southwest) and an upper (northeast) loop in...
|
IL | 1.6 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Hononegah Recreation Path begins near the State Route 2 bridge over the Rock River in Rockton, a small town about 4 miles south of the Illinois–Wisconsin border. The paved trail follows Hononegah...
|
IL | 3.2 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
Overview
The Illinois and Michigan Canal State Trail follows the eponymous waterway alongside the Illinois River. It traverses the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor, designated in 1984, and the...
|
IL | 79.5 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Grass, Gravel |
|
 |
The Joliet Junction Trail is a paved path that travels north–south through the west side of Joliet. It occupies an abandoned Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway corridor that in its last years was known...
|
IL | 4.3 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
From Main Street and Elevator Road in Roscoe, the scenic Kinstone Recreational Path winds its way northeast through woodlands along the north branch of Kinnikinnick Creek to the Stone Bridge Trail....
|
IL | 0.6 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Gravel |
|
 |
The Kishwaukee-Kiwanis Trail winds through the northern Illinois town of DeKalb, coursing along a river, through woodlands, among open spaces through parks and through suburban back yards. The trail...
|
IL | 4.5 mi | Asphalt |
|
_198425_st.jpg) |
The 13.5-mile Lake Michigan Pathway keeps you in close touch with the sixth-largest freshwater lake in the world as it links rail-trails north and south of the port city of Racine. Along the way, the...
|
WI | 14 mi | Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone |
|
 |
The Long Prairie Trail journeys across the width of agricultural Boone County for nearly 14 miles on the railroad corridor previously used by the Kenosha and Rockford Railroad, later known as the...
|
IL | 13.9 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone |
|
-_198435_st.jpg) |
Racine County's eastern edge is home to the MRK Trail, a rail-with-trail that extends north from the City of Racine to the Village of Caledonia. Because Racine County standardized its signs several...
|
WI | 4.6 mi | Crushed Stone |
|
 |
The North Shore Bike Path runs for nearly 8 miles between Lake Bluff and Mundelein, paralleling State Route 176 for the path's entire length. The trail is one of dozens in the Chicagoland area, all of...
|
IL | 7.7 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone |
|
 |
The Orland Park Bikeway provides a great connector across the Chicago suburb of Orland Park. On its southern end, the trail begins at W 159th Street and winds its way through Centennial Park, which...
|
IL | 6.7 mi | Asphalt, Boardwalk, Concrete, Gravel |
|
 |
The Paul Douglas and Crabtree Preserve Trail System connects two large nature preserves in northwestern Cook County.
The trail begins at the Old Stover Trailhead in the Crabtree Preserve, near the...
|
IL | 9.2 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Pelishek-Tiffany Nature Trail runs for 6 miles along an abandoned railroad corridor, between the towns of Allens Grove and Clinton. The trail is open to snowmobiles, cyclists, horseback riders and...
|
WI | 6 mi | Dirt, Grass |
|
 |
The Perryville Path runs nearly 15 miles, connecting the communities of Loves Park and Rockford, not far from the northern border of Illinois. A pleasant place to begin your journey is Rock Cut State...
|
IL | 14.9 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Poplar Creek Trail is a 9.5-mile paved loop around Poplar Creek Forest Preserve near Hoffman Estates. The trail has a couple of hills but is otherwise level and makes for a pleasant journey...
|
IL | 9.5 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Randall Road Bike Trail offers a 4-mile paved north-south route along its namesake roadway in a suburb west of Chicago. A highlight of the journey is the trail's passage through the LeRoy Oakes...
|
IL | 3.9 mi | Asphalt |
|
_249370_st.jpg) |
The 4.4-mile River Bend Trail is so named for the loop of Fox River along which it follows on its eastern end. It's here that you can connect to the scenic Fox River Trail to travel 43 miles along the...
|
IL | 4.4 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Riverside Recreational Path begins as a gravel lane at the base of Riverside Park on the banks of the Rock River in Roscoe. From there, it continues along Rowena Street, paralleling State Route...
 |
IL | 0.63 mi | Dirt, Grass, Gravel |
|
 |
Overview
The Robert McClory Bike Path runs the length of Lake County, knitting together a string of communities on the north shore of Chicago all the way to the Wisconsin border. In 1997, the trail...
|
IL | 25.4 mi | Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone |
|
 |
The popular Rock Run Greenway Trail is a balanced mix of natural areas and cityscapes that alternate over the length of the trail. The natural areas are frequented by recreational users. The...
|
IL | 12.3 mi | Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone |
|
_198433_st.jpg) |
The Root River Pathway uses a combination of off-road trail and on-road route to form a crescent around the City of Racine. The trail closely follows the bends of the Root River, making it a great...
|
WI | 6.6 mi | Asphalt |
|
_206593_st.jpg) |
Overview
The Seven Waters Bike Trail is a scenic corridor stretching more than 18 miles north–south between Burlington and Muskego Lake into Waukesha County. The trail was originally three trails,...
|
WI | 18.6 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Gravel |
|
_194062_st.jpg) |
Overview
The Skokie Valley Trail connects Highland Park in the south to the northern trailhead in Lake Bluff. The entire trail corridor is a rail-with-trail, paralleled by double tracks that sit...
|
IL | 9.8 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
This is a newly constructed path that runs between S. Main Street and the Rock River in Rockford. It was built as part of the re-building of S. Main Street and runs from South Park south to the...
|
IL | 2.25 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Spring Creek Greenway Trail, separated into distinct eastern and western portions of the trail, spans 8.45 miles throughout two distinct sections of preserved and protected lands.
At its...
|
IL | 8.45 mi | Boardwalk, Crushed Stone |
|
 |
The Stone Mill Trail runs between Lawrence Road in Harvard and Maxon Road in Chemung. The 1.5-mile, paved trail mostly parallels County Highway 17 (Ramer Road) and active railroad tracks, and will...
|
IL | 1.5 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Techny Trail links downtown Glenview, a charming village northwest of Chicago, with the Techny Basin, a scenic wetlands area adjacent to the West Fork of the Chicago River's North Branch....
|
IL | 3 mi | Asphalt, Concrete |
|
 |
The Union Pacific Recreation Path offers a short route through the Village of Lincolnwood's east side between Devon and Touhy avenues. Following the former Union Pacific Railroad, the rail-trail...
|
IL | 1.2 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Waubonsie Trail links Boulder Hill and the Village of Oswego via a greenway corridor within a residential community. The eastern trailhead is in Jaycee Park, which offers a playground, picnic...
|
IL | 3.2 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
Overview
Blackberry Trail follows a stretch of Blackberry Creek in Montgomery, Illinois for 1.7 miles. The trail is best accessible from the forest preserve entrance at Caliendo Circle.
About...
|
IL | 1.7 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Dorr Road Bike Path begins at South Beloit Municipal Park and parallels the roadway for its entire length. The views are primarily residential. After about three-quarters of a mile (from the...
|
IL | 2.7 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The East Northbrook Trail is a 1-mile route through a wooded corridor adjacent to an out-of-service rail corridor in the Village of Northbrook. The trail provides access to residential neighborhoods,...
|
IL | 1.1 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
El Paseo runs through the vibrant Chicago neighborhood of Pilsen, once home to a large Czech population but now the center of the Lower West Side’s Latino community. The neighborhood is filled with...
|
IL | 0.1 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Grove Road Trail parallels the local thoroughfare in the Village of Oswego, located near the southwestern edge of the Chicagoland metropolitan area.
In the north, the trail begins on the east...
|
IL | 3 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
In southeastern Rockford, a paved pathway begins at a connection with the Charles Street Community Path then heads south along Mulford Road through a residential area. At Harrison Avenue, the path...
|
IL | 3.5 mi | Asphalt, Concrete |
|
 |
Lake Renwick Preserve is home to an artificial lake of the same name that was created from former quarries where aggregates for concrete were once mined. Today, the lake is a recreational amenity in...
|
IL | 3.35 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
Although a relatively short trail, the Leland Path provides an important connection between the Hononegah Recreation Path and the Stone Bridge Trail. The pleasant, tree-dotted pathway travels through...
|
IL | 2 mi | Asphalt |
|
_166171_st.jpg) |
The Muskego Recreation Trail follows a corridor originally used by the Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light, an interurban railroad in southeastern Wisconsin. The corridor was later acquired by...
|
WI | 6.7 mi | Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel |
|
 |
The Pecatonica Prairie Trail, formerly known as the Pecatonica Prairie Path, is a 14.3-mile rail-trail extending from the western edge of Rockford to N. Farwell Bridge Road west of Pecatonica. The...
|
IL | 14.3 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone |
|
 |
Prospect Heights has very few sidewalks, so biking, inline skating or walking are moved to the streets or in the parks. Don't underestimate the Prospect Heights Bike Path which is over four miles of...
|
IL | 4.2 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
Swanson Park Recreation Path is sometimes known as the Cherry Valley Path as it's located in the Village of Cherry Valley on the outskirts of Rockford in northern Illinois. The paved path travels...
|
IL | 2.4 mi | Asphalt |
|
_193109_st.jpg) |
The WE Energies Trail, so named because it uses a Wisconsin Energy Corporation utility corridor for much of its route, links Racine and Oak Creek in Racine and Milwaukee counties. Despite the presence...
|
WI | 2 mi | Asphalt, Gravel |
|
_165855_st.jpg) |
Overview
The 8.9-mile Lake Geneva Bike Path runs through the scenic resort city, offering connections to many of the community’s amenities. The trail has five unique, color-coded segments.
About...
|
WI | 8.9 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
Although the Phyllis Harmon Path is short, it's an important connector in an east-west bike/ped route between Arlington Heights and Glencoe. Following Dundee Road, the paved trail goes from the Des...
|
IL | 1.1 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Ridgefield Trace is a multi-use pathway that runs through suburban Crystal Lake, Illinois. The trail takes its name from the original Indian trace that once ran along the route of what is now...
|
IL | 8 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Oswego Prairie Trail is a short paved route that occupies an overhead electric utility corridor owned by Commonwealth Edison. The path forms a direct link between two parks in Oswego—Farmington...
|
IL | 0.5 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
This path runs along the west side of the North Alpine Road in the Village of Machesney Park. It starts at the Schnuks parking lot and stretches about a mile north to the Lowe’s store parking area....
|
IL | 1.5 mi | Asphalt, Concrete |
|
 |
The Bull Valley Road Shared-Use Path travels along the south side of Bull Valley Road in the city of McHenry, Illinois. The paved path is suitable for non-motorized uses including walking, jogging,...
|
IL | 1.1 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Commonwealth Edison Bikeway is a short paved trail that occupies an overhead electric utility corridor owned by Commonwealth Edison, the local utility company—hence the trail's name. While lacking...
|
IL | 1.5 mi | Asphalt |
|
_0_st.jpg) |
The Fort Beggs Bike Trail (North) is a nearly mile-and-a-half long trail in Plainfield, Illinois. The trail shares the electric utility right-of-way, stretching from Fort Beggs Drive south to Spring...
|
IL | 1.4 mi | Asphalt |
|
_0_st.jpg) |
The city of Joliet saw its electric utility corridors as a recreational opportunity. One such trail is the Fort Beggs Bike Trail, which starts on Theodore Street and heads northwest in the shadow of...
|
IL | 2.1 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Fort Hill Bike Path trail sits on the north side of Peterson Road/ County Road 20. The trail peels away from the Prairie Crossing Bike Path at Midlothian Road and extends west, passing industries...
|
IL | 2.4 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Great Divide Trail sits is a one mile non-motorized trail through a negihborhood at the northern tip of Joliet, Illinois. The paved trail, which sits in the shadow of electric transmission lines,...
|
IL | 1 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
This shared-use path runs east-west through the village of Carol Stream in Du Page county. Sitting on the grassy north side of Lies Road between Fair Oaks Road and Gary Avenue, the path is used as an...
|
IL | 2.8 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Lily Cache Greenway travels east-west across Bollingbrook, from the ComEd Greenway to the Plainfield border. The trail more or less follows the course of its namesake creek, and is characterized...
|
IL | 2.5 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
In the Village of Roscoe, a paved path of just over a mile parallels Main Street (which becomes Frontage Road) and then continues along the south side of McDonald Road, a quiet residential street....
|
IL | 1.2 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Midway Village Museum Loop is a 1.4-mile pathway around Guilford County Forest Preserve (6595 Guilford Rd, Rockford) and passes the Midway Village Museum (6799 Guilford Rd, Rockford). The trail...
|
IL | 1.4 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
This path runs along Mitchell Road, starting in Machesney Park. The trail heads north and then travels east where it terminates at Sunny Meadow Drive outside of Russ Park. This short path is just...
|
IL | 0.6 mi | Asphalt |
|
_0_st.jpg) |
Racine’s southeastern neighborhoods are home to the North Shore Trail, which extends south to the Racine–Kenosha county line. Because Racine County standardized its signs several years ago, you won't...
|
WI | 3 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
Located in the west side of Illinois' second largest city, this flat, straight bike path sits on the side of Orchard Road. The trail passes by commercial, residential and natural areas, and crucially,...
|
IL | 4.5 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Palos Heights Bike Trail offers a north-south route through residential and commercial areas on the west side of the community. It's also a key connector between two regionally important...
|
IL | 2 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Prairie Crossing Bike Path is a hard surface trail connecting Mundelein to Grayslake in central Lake County, Illinois. The trail is perpendicular to the 30-plus-mile Millennium Trail, which it...
|
IL | 3.7 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
With farmland to the east and the Des Plaines River Floodplain to the west, this picturesque trail is a relaxing adventure on two feet or on wheels. The crushed stone trail runs from Prairie Springs...
|
WI | 1.8 mi | Crushed Stone, Dirt |
|
 |
The Prairie Point Trail is a scenic neighborhood route that connects twice to the longer Grove Road Trail. While never far from houses, the trail offers surprising scenery, including a stretch along a...
|
IL | 2 mi | Asphalt |
|
_252658_st.jpg) |
Helping to extend the excellent network of trails around the city of Racine deeper west into the heart of the county, the Racine County Bike Trail serves as a disconnected addition to the...
|
WI | 1.4 mi | Asphalt, Concrete |
|
_0_st.jpg) |
The Racine-Sturtevant Trail runs for 3.5 miles from the western side of Racine to near the eastern edge of the Village of Sturtevant. The trail occupies an abandoned rail corridor for most of its...
|
WI | 3.5 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The southern Wisconsin City of Beloit, located near the Illinois border, boasts over 9 miles of multiuse trail along the Rock River. The river is the centerpiece of downtown, and a system of...
|
WI | 9.2 mi | Asphalt, Concrete |
|
 |
The Rockton Main Street Path is situated off the Rock River on the southern end of downtown Rockton, a charming Midwestern village near the Illinois–Wisconsin border. It begins at Settler's Park,...
|
IL | 0.8 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Rote Road Multi-Use Path offers a paved route along the south side of Rote Road in eastern Rockford. It travels for nearly a mile, providing access to neighborhoods, businesses, and the Aldeen...
|
IL | 0.8 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
This path runs along the north side of Highway 11 and south of the city of Janesville. The eastern end starts about 3/4 of a mile west of I-39 and runs all the way to S County Road D, crossing over...
|
WI | 3.8 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Stearns Road Bike Path is a dedicated sidepath traveling from Hanover Park to the Bartlett, in the Chicago suburbs. The asphalt path sits on the north side of Greenbrook Boulevard/ Stearns Road,...
|
IL | 3.54 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Struckman Boulevard Path is just over a mile long, stretching between Bartlett Road and State Route 59, (although the path narrows from the end of Sunset Park up to the end on SR 59). That said,...
|
IL | 1.1 mi | Asphalt |
|
 |
The Williamson Parkway Bike Path offers a pleasant, paved route through a residential area in southern Rockton. The mile-long trail follows its namesake roadway from Freeport Road (also known as S....
|
IL | 1 mi | Asphalt |
|
note: the trail shown in red is the regional trail. it overlaps with the Waterfall Glen Main Trail except for a couple of areas. Be sure to read the Trail Markers
Started in McHenry and went south. Did 33 miles round trip. McHenry to Crystal Lake lots of ruts and bumpy. Just north of Crystal Lake becomes a new, very smooth trail, but is extremely hilly with lots of turns. After going through a small section of downtown Crystal Lake becomes not as hilly to Algonquin.
Can confirm that many lazy and inconsiderate dog owners leave their dog's poops right on the trail, so keep an eye out for landmnes. Also beware that many people do not have their dogs on leashes, so have protection on you and stay vigilant. Beautiful farmland scenery starting from the Vandenboom trailhead heading west. Very flat, and occasional holes in trail possibly from critters. Nice that each road you reach from the trailhead is just about 1 mile so it's easy to gauge the distance you've walked.
Late April Sunday in clear weather. Started at southern end as marked on Traillink map. There is no dedicated parking but on-street parking in surrounding residential neighborhood was without issues. Rode north to McHenry, 16 miles. Surface is newly or recently repaved and excellent, until you reach Pleasant Hill Road, then only fair, with expansion cracks every 50 60 feet, bumpy ride into McHenry but very doable. Generally pleasant, only partially shaded ride, but not the most picturesque.
2 issues around Crystal Lake, first, signage for on-road traverse of the town is inadequate in both directions. Going north, 2 blocks after crossing the railroad tracks, you have to jog East from Main Street 3 blocks to Glen Ave., then cross IL 176 onto Lorraine Dr. to reach the continuation of the trail into Sterne's Woods. Visa versa coming south. Second, be aware there are several short but steep climbs and descents going through Sterne's Woods. Seamless continuation onto Fox River trail at southern end.
Parked at the West end in the WalMart parking lot. Entire trail is paved and is mostly flat with some gentle inclines. The first 4.5 miles is along Northwest Hwy (rte 14). This entire section is full of litter either in the grass between the road and path or along the farm fields. SO much garbage. The path turns towards Veteran's park in Crystal Lake just past MCC. The last 2.5 miles is along the high voltage lines that you can hear buzzing. Great path if you are commuting to and from MCC but not a pleasant path for an afternoon ride.
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.
Please note that the public is not allowed to pass through Fermilab. Rather, you must exit Fermilab through the same entrance that you arrived at Fermilab. Here is a formal quote from the Fermilab web site.
https://www.fnal.gov/pub/community/
“The public must not pass through Fermilab, but rather leave by the same entrance through which they arrived.”
trail is in great shape. from villa park westward it goes through residential areas with many road crossings with a bridge over the railroad/highway in lombard. but after that there are few crossings and a natural landscape.
although not shown on the trail map, there is now a trail connection just east of prince crossing road that goes north along the west branch of dupage river and fair oaks road which leads to the north central dupage regional trail at schick road.
Like all rails to trails, a good connector for locals but for bike touring, tedious. Boring, straight, only a few peeks of rolling farm land to catch your eye, when it wasn't on the trail - immediately in front of you. Sections of the trail are in jaw-jarring condition. Beware: with leaf litter you can not see the periodic holes, non existent bridge transitions, broken asphalt...you get idea. Sad that some entity can not repair these hazards. We def would not continue west, beyond Poplar Grove. Our bodies can't take it!
Short trail especially for cyclists, more so a commuter trail. Expect a slow and someone densely populated ride, but excellent views of the neighborhoods.
We just completed this paved trail. Absolutely beautiful! It’s whining and bikers, walkers, runners n dog walkers use this trail. We didn’t go fast and loved it.
I've had this trail on my to-do list for a few years and finally made my way down today. My perspective comes on an upper 70's-degree, bright sunny Saturday. I started at the west end, biked to the east end at Willow Springs, and did the full loop for about 25 miles.
This trail rides like a straight road that offers little resistance. Yes, there are bends and turns along the length of the trail, but there's not a single spot on this path that really slows you down. The trail is entirely asphalt and in some places, pure road. All bikes will find this trail user friendly, but road bikers especially love it. They were 90% of who were riding today. The asphalt itself is in great shape. Most of it appears to be newer, and the trail is nicely taken care of.
About the only drawbacks I saw: The trail becomes a road that shares space with semi's and other large trucks for about a mile. I didn't have any troubles back here, but when a truck drives by you're going to get some dirt kicked up into the air. Didn't care for that.
I parked at the west end which had a bathroom, signage and some seating. I didn't notice many benches along the path but a 3ft cement wall that resides in many places along the path would make for a good topping point for those who need a rest.
All in all this is a nice trail, especially if you're looking to go fast. In terms of site-seeing, I was a little surprised that you're siloed on this path and really don't see much of the surroundings while on the trail. Only a couple spots offer a view.
Happy trails.
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (a non-profit) and we need your support!
Scan the QR code to get TrailLink on your phone
Map Search
