I LOVE the Des Plaines River Trail. But. Going north and going south are totally different experiences.

I live in Glenview, so I join the trail through an unmarked path I somehow found at the end of Carol Lane in the Timber Trails neighborhood just west of Milwaukee. I catch the trail in the East Lake woods.

If I go north, it's beautiful. There are weird spots. In Northbrook, you have to cross a busy Milwaukee Avenue (by Allgauers restaurant) with no stoplight. Then you have to ride up a little street to find the trail again. (There's an interesting story about how the Rat Pack played at the restaurant that used to be at the site of Allgauers, but we'll save that for another review.)

The woods are lovely. There's a Nature Center (not open during COVID). It feels like you've left civilization behind. Until you have to cross Dundee Avenue, which can be a bit nerve-wracking.

But there's a big meadow that I love. The trail is just a small rut at that point, but the meadow is thick and beautiful and serene. The last time I went through it, was the last time I felt totally at peace.

And the other reviewers are right. The difference between the Cook County Trail and the Lake County Trail are night and day. I'm surprised you don't hear and audible "POP" when you cross the bridge at Lake-Cook Road.

The Cook County side, while gorgeous, is dirt and mud, if it has rained, and roots to watch out for. The Lake County side is crushed gravel, wide trails and benches every other mile. I've only been five miles into the Lake County side, but that was enough to see herons resting in tree branches while I pedaled over a small, charming bridge.

And yet, while the Cook County side seems to be the embodiment of forest preserve patronage, (I got a nephew who's got a cousin who's got a friend who keeps the trails maintained) I still love it.

Which brings me to going south on the trail.

When I take people on the trail, I bring them south first because it's just so...different. And maybe not right if you just want an easy, lovely ride.

It's beautiful from Euclid past Central. Tall trees, with sparse underbrush give way to dense thickets that feel like the English countryside.

And then, yep, you get to the freight train tracks. You have to pick up your bike and carry it across the tracks. Freight trains are infrequent, but they come. Apparently there are plans to build a bridge. But until then, it's part of the adventure.

That soon leads into my favorite part of the whole trail. Riding through, or beneath, actually, downtown Des Plaines.

The path is paved and takes you right along the river, down below the street and commercial buildings. Pass through a tunnel, under a railroad bridge, and you soon come upon the Methodist Camp. A strange old series of buildings that have been around for more than 100 years. Before that, the Union Army used to train soldiers at the site.

Once you are past that, well, it depends how wet it's been. The trail can get flooded and super muddy, so be prepared to call it a day. And if that's the case, the tunnels that were built to go under Touhy and Devon and Lawrence can also get muddy and flooded, so you may have to cross those streets without a stoplight.

Irving Park is the same way and it, like the others, is a four-lane road at that point.

At this point, it's pretty. It's nature. But it feels pretty urban. The trail's a little bumpy too (I think they might have paved it a long time ago, and then didn't bother to keep it up. (Thanks, nephew's cousin's friend).

You even take a bridge over the Kennedy Expressway at one point.

I'm glad I finally made it all the way out to the trail's end at North Avenue. But it can get a touch dicey between Devon and Fullerton at times. That segment feels a little forgotten somehow. I hear there are plans to improve this section, and it would be a good thing.

In the end, North is beauty. South is adventure.

Happy trails!

Used the trail to connect the Glacial drumlin to the Lake country. Makes for a nice loop.

Nowhere is this trail marked as "Seven Waters" It's marked as Racine County Bike Trail. So I was a little confused. I had a hard time finding it. I parked at Bushnell Park and eventually found the trailhead by driving down to the dead end where you can park. You then proceed thru an electrical plant on your ride and the gravel is treacherous. You proceed to go out alongside Hwy 36 in the open and eventually have to CROSS HWY 36! I would recommend parking in the lot off of Hwy 36 where Saller Woods is and start there. The terrain thru Saller woods is pretty awful. It's made for a mountain bike. A lot of the gravel thru this trail is not good. By hwy 164 there's some deep sandy gravel, it almost took me out. The asphalt parts are BEAUTIFUL. It reminds me of the Bugline and the scenery over the bridges is amazing. If this trail was all asphalt it would be great. I turned around in Wind Lake because I didn't want to ride the road and had never ridden this trail before. I drove back to it to see where it would lead to and you would have to cross hwy 36 again and ride roads with no shoulder for quite awhile until it picks up at Amans beer and wine on Loomis.

I rode this trail in its entirety today logging 61.2 miles. The only reason that I rated this trail as 4 instead of 5 stars are the segments on roads instead of the trail. I did try to carefully navigate and watch for the signs, but still got lost a few times. Aside from that, there were some really enjoyable scenic portions to the trail as you head further north. The bridge near Grafton (cover photo for this trail) was particularly awesome. I also enjoyed the lakefront park in Port Washington. Plenty of places to stop and eat if you so choose. The portion of the trail furthest north has the least amount of intersections, so it's great if you want to ride with minimal interruptions. All in all I enjoyed my ride, and would do it again!

This is a trail that is best walked, not biked. In places, it would be very difficult to get your bike up and down some of the steps that exists. It's a very good trail for walking and relaxing. The trail as restaurants, boat rides, condos, hotels & fine arts center along the route.

I started out in Vernon Hills off of Milwaukee and Rt 22. I went south and it was a great ride. I crossed the bridge at Lake Cook Rd to Cook co. OMG it's a nightmare. Cook country should be ashamed of itself for calling it a trail.
This is a MESS,PERIOD. big stones, at some point you can't figure out where the trail is. UNSAFE FOR ANYONE. It's so shady in the forest floor you can't see the ruts until it's too late. You will get hurt on this trail on the Cook Co. side.
I hit two of them and one I got knocked into a tree. Don't be fooled , stay North of Lake Cook Rd and you will have a ride. Nice gravel and level trail. NEVER AGAIN will I travel South of the LC rd bridge.

Today was my first ride on the Bugline. It is completely paved and well maintained. Parts of the trail are "rail-trail" and some are not. I lost my way several times as sidewalks are part of the trail through a couple of the towns. There are some longer sections through wooded areas, which are beautiful. I also drove by a quarry with a really blue lake, which was unexpected. As opposed to the relatively gradual grade of Rail-Trails, this one has some hills in it; one was relatively steep, but small.

I began my ride in Menomonee Falls, and the trail end is just east of North Lake. There is really nothing at the end of the trail but a driveway into a logging outfit.

Overall, I really did enjoy my ride, and would do it again!

This trail is beautiful, well marked and maintained. Rode our bikes from Harrington Beach state park to Port Washington 11.6 miles each way. From Harrington Beach traveled on cedar beach road 3.3 miles to catch trail.

Attempted to pick up trail in Jefferson County where it intersects with the Glacial Drumlin State trail; it was poorly marked and I was unable to follow it in either direction. Very disappointed.