Find the top rated walking trails in Des Plaines, whether you're looking for an easy short walking trail or a long walking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a walking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
Closure Notice: The trail is closed at the 127th Street bridge until the end of 2024.
Overview
The Cal-Sag Trail (also known as the Calumet-Sag Trail) runs for 13.7 miles and connects several...
|
IL | 13.7 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 |
|
|
The Chesapeake and Ohio Greenway (also referred to as the C&O Trail) offers a short, paved route through Merrillville, a town just a few miles south of Gary and the southern tip of Lake Michigan. The...
|
IN | 1.9 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 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 |
|
|
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 Warrenville and...
|
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 Erie Lackawanna Trail runs for 17.6 miles and connects Crown Point and Hammond, two former rail junctions whose early fortunes were tied to the tracks carrying people and goods to and...
|
IN | 17.6 mi | Asphalt |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
Note: This developing route is not yet fully contiguous – it is just over 50% complete. Please refer to the Trail Map for more information on the existing sections of trail, as well as the online...
|
DC, IA, ID, IL, IN, MD, MT, NE, OH, PA, WA, WV, WY | 3743.9 mi | Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
The Hickory Creek Bikeway offers nearly 4 miles of paved pathway through a wooded preserve. On its western end, the trail begins at Hickory Creek Barrens Nature Preserve and Lincolnway Road; on the...
|
IL | 3.7 mi | Asphalt |
|
|
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 Iron Horse Heritage Trail in Portage, Indiana, runs for over 2 miles between Max Mochal Road (SR 149) at the east end and Hamstrom Rd. at the west end. The trail passes through a greenway corridor...
|
IN | 2.4 mi | Asphalt |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 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 |
|
|
As the name suggests, the Lake George trail travels along the north shore of Lake George, turning north at Calumet Ave/US 41 to skirt the east shore of Wolf Lake. From Lake George the trail also heads...
|
IN | 3.1 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 Marquette Trail is part of the Marquette Greenway, which will one day span more than 50 miles through Northwest Indiana, connecting communities along the southern shore of Lake Michigan.
The...
|
IN | 2.1 mi | Crushed Stone |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
First-time visitors to the Oak Savannah Trail might be surprised at the profusion of natural areas they’ll encounter as they travel the 10.3 miles between Hobart and Griffith in northern Indiana’s...
|
IN | 10.2 mi | Asphalt |
|
|
Overview
Running between the suburbs of Chicago Heights and Joliet, the Old Plank Road Trail runs for 21.6 miles and offers views of oak trees and sugar maples, prairie grasses, and wildflowers...
|
IL | 21.6 mi | Asphalt |
|
|
The Orland Grassland trail is a perfect escape from the Chicago suburbs. The grassland itself is an Illinois Nature Preserve, and has been restored from farmland and now boasts 750 acres of...
|
IL | 8 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 |
|
|
The Pennsy Greenway stretches between Calumet City, Illinois, and Schererville, Indiana. The trail begins at the southern end of the Burnham Greenway on the eastern edge of the Forest Preserve...
|
IL, IN | 14.5 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 |
|
|
Overview
Prairies and dunes are just two of the natural features trail users will experience on the Prairie Duneland Trail, located just a few miles south of the Lake Michigan shoreline and the...
|
IN | 10.3 mi | Asphalt |
|
|
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 |
|
|
Leave the cars at home: the Route 30 Bike Path gives users an alternative way to travel from the Village of Frankfort in the east, through Mokena to New Lenox in the west, a distance of over 7.5...
|
IL | 7.6 mi | Asphalt |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 Thorn Creek Trail offers a paved route traversing woodlands abundant with wildlife through several communities on the southern outskirts of Chicago. The trail travels from Brownwell Woods in...
|
IL | 17.2 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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
The Tinley Creek Trail is currently in two segments. This southern segment is within the South Green Belt Forest Preserve between Flossmor and Matteson, just west of I-57. The trail traverses wooded...
|
IL | 3.6 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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
When complete, the Veterans Memorial Trail will stretch close to 12 miles, connecting a series of memorials honoring US veterans from every era. At present, 1.9 miles are complete and usable, located...
|
IN | 1.9 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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 Burnham Greenway is composed of two distinct portions that both run along a former railroad corridor between Chicago and Lansing, Illinois. There are plans to extend and connect these short...
|
IL | 5.3 mi | Asphalt |
|
|
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 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 Dunes Kankakee Trail is a 1.8-mile walking and bike path that carries trail users throughout Indiana Dunes National Park.
Starting at the trail's southern endpoint just outside the park at the...
|
IN | 1.8 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 Gary Green Link Trail is part of the Buchanan Street Green Gateway project and follows the Grand Calumet River starting at Bridge Street on its way to Broadway at City Hall. It is about 4.4 miles...
|
IN | 2 mi | Asphalt, Concrete |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 Little Calumet River Levee Trail zig-zags east-west between Gary and Munster in Lake County, bringing residents to the river and its wetlands, and offering ample opportunities for birding and...
|
IN | 13 mi | Asphalt |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 Monon Trail in Lake County, Indiana—not to be confused with the trail of the same name in Indianapolis—links the two Chicago suburbs of Hammond and Munster. The paved trail occupies an abandoned...
|
IN | 4.4 mi | Asphalt |
|
|
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 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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
In just a few short miles, the Wauponsee Glacial Trail leaves the urban confines of Joliet to bask in open farmland and reclaimed tallgrass prairie where the bison roam again. Named for a glacial lake...
|
IL | 22.3 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone |
|
|
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 |
|
|
Overview
The Calumet Trail traverses the south side of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, a unique ecosystem of forest, marsh, dunes, and beach along Lake Michigan.
About the Route
The...
|
IN | 9.1 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
The 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.
The Blue Route is the...
|
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
Following a former rail corridor for less than a mile through Lake Station, the Fairview Walking Trail is a flat and paved multiuse path. The rail-trail runs through a small linear park in a...
|
IN | 0.7 mi | Asphalt |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
Overview
The Plum Creek Greenway Trail meanders for 3.15 miles through the Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve, with an unconnected 1-mile section in Plum Valley Preserve.
About the Route
The Plum...
|
IL | 4.15 mi | Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel |
|
|
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 |
|
|
The Preservation Path is a two-mile paved trail in the community of Matteson, Illinois. The path begins on Vollmer Road and terminates at the Old Plank Road Trail. The trail is paved with center...
|
IL | 2.1 mi | Asphalt |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 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 |
|
|
Turkey Creek Trail is a short but sweet walk or ride through the beautiful Ivan Gatlin Nature Preserve in the northwestern Indiana community of Schererville. This wetland area provides the opportunity...
|
IN | 0.8 mi | Asphalt |
|
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.
rode the trail on 11/2/2024 roundtrip from manhattan road (mile 7) to the kankakee river (mile 22) . it was in good shape almost the whole length and without loose gravel anywhere.
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!
We started in Akron and rode about 18 miles north. Loved 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.
Good News! This Path Is Finally Going To Get Paved Soon, Between 2025 And 2026. I Can't Wait To See How This Path Turns Out, And I'm Ready For This Trail To Be Like The Kenosha County Bike Trail. I'm Glad They Are Doing This, Because I've Caught Several People Speeding On This Trail With Dirt Bikes, And I Think It's Annoying And Dangerous. The Signs Say No Equestrian, And Motorized Vehicles On The Trail, And People Don't Listen. Till This Day, People Still Ride These Motorized Vehicles On This Trail, Including The Waukegan Savanna Trail, Which Is Connected Right By The Trail Intersection In Beach Park, Right Next To The Lyons Woods Forest Preserve. Today, I Saw This One Person Speeding With A Dirt Bike On The Waukegan Savanna Trail, And I Was About To Film Him And Report Him To The Police. If I Catch More People Doing It, I Will Start Recording, And Reporting It To The Police, Because That Should Be Illegal. Overall, I Ride This Trail Often To Visit The Waukegan Airport, To Do A 10 Mile Round Trip Ride, Just Looking Forward To Seeing This Trail Paved, Hopefully In Spring 2025. Be Safe Guys!
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 water fountain noted on the map at Hillside Rd no longer exists. Looks like it was taken out.
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.
Rode the OST today. Well marked, flat and paved. A few tree roots but not significant. The trail goes through neighborhoods, parks and open land. Shaded most of the way. Overall a good 20 mile RT ride.
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (a non-profit) and we need your support!