Find the top rated fishing trails in Pontiac, whether you're looking for an easy short fishing trail or a long fishing trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a fishing trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
Rock island trail connects to rock island greenway through Peoria. Great ride but there are sections with some big bumps. Cool places to stop near/in Peoria Heights.
Rode the Blackwell Forest Preserve section on July 25, 2026. Despite hot temperatures, the shaded stretches kept us cool. The condition of the crushed limestone surface was smooth but dusty. The only glitch was that several times we rode around a bend only to be run off the trail by groups riding two or three abreast. First time that’s happened In 2000 miles of biking. Wouldn’t keep us from going again…outstanding trail.
Discovered this comfortable place with great accommodations for two bike travelers. They offer a pullout sofa if you do not wish to share a bed. Indoor bike storage with a comfy bed and a hot shower! Distillery right next-door and two restaurants to fuel up in the morning to get back on the trail. Close to the panhandle of West Virginia. Their name is Harmony Trail Haven on Airbnb.
This is my favorite rail to trail in the Chicago area. I ride a gravel bike. The wide open spaces and rural scenery is a relaxed vibe. I park at Sugar Creek Admin Center which has a nice parking lot and go all the way to the end just over the Kankakee River at Custer. My favorite section is the area that’s next to the Midewin Tall Grass Prairie. My tips for you if you’re going 40 miles round trip, water, a Gatorade, small snack. Folks on the trail are friendly and wave however once you get to the bridge crossing Hwy 102, things get weird. I don’t know why but the vibes are negative and you can feel it. I always want to see the river but again, bad vibes.
From the Alta trailhead to downtown 12.5 miles there are many rough patches of asphalt. They have money to put up sign saying: "rough trail" but not to fix. The gravel section are great.
Highly recommend this beautiful and well kept trail. Beautiful to ride along the trees and over the 2 epic ohiopyle bridges.
Kankakee is half gravel half asphalt. It’s a perfect 15 miles so back & forth you can get a nice 30. Adding miles through town isn’t hard just watch the areas you go through. It is a BEAUTIFUL trail! It travels through Kankakee State Parks & along the Kankakee River. Some rises & falls, nice little hills. Cute bridges one big suspension bridge over a creek where locals swim in the summer. The far (NW) side of the trail has a pit toilet & an archery setup with a big stand. You ride through campgrounds, suburb sections, fairgrounds, parks, make sure to stop at the Indian Cave. Lots of photos ops along the trail. I really highly recommend checking it out!
This trail segment winds through forest preserves alongside the river without any road crossings. There are some small hills and a short on-road section but a pretty easy ride with great scenery all the way. A few turf trails are in McDowell Grove preserve as a side trip.
My son and I rode from the visitor center east to the first aqueduct, about 20 miles round trip. It was beautiful day, we took our time, looked for turtles and stopped at a Casey's in Wyanet for lunch. Keeping to a healthy diet I went for sausage pizza, Yoo-hoo and an iced sugar cookie. The trail was rough, and rougher in spots but not a problem on my gravel bike with 40 mm tires. My son rides a Synapse with 35 tires and did it have a problem. If you ride a road bike or prefer smooth trails this might not be for you. we enjoyed it.
Aug 2025
Aug 205
I typically ride prairie path area, but like to get out and find something different from time to time.
Did minimal research before heading down to ride here.
The north end of the trail is on a pretty industrial road beneath an underpass for I-80 and just north of a train crossing.
You can find a place to park within short distance of the trail, but next time I will park at one of the following:
#1
Sugar Creek forest preserve
17540 W Laraway Rd
Joliet, IL 60433
https://maps.app.goo.gl/2GMxcK6ZHjynGe8M9
#2
Near one of the businesses with big empty parking lots on the weekend where the trail crosses Mills Road.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/1Grwn9j5QNm4wT6Y7
Heading south the first few miles is paved blacktop that does not appear to be that old, but has numerous bumpy patches from tree roots. After a few miles it becomes the self healing compacted gravel and is a nicer ride.
I did 16 one way, 32 miles round trip with the south end being Symerton, IL
I think 5 more miles gets you to the river.
There are a couple public rest areas with pit toilets, and a couple fountains also with taps to refill your bottle.
Did not see much in terms of food. There may have been if you ventured off a bit.
The only place inviting bikers were these folks.
Symerton Tap and Grill
https://maps.app.goo.gl/bLMprvEBzoduYS6V9
I don't like a big meal while riding, and just had my own snacks.
Nice ride, its little effort for me to get here, but can see doing this again once each year.
I traveled about an hours drive from our home to the parking lot at the NW end of this trail in mid August, 2025, along with my wife. The first 2 miles of this trail, going SE from this parking lot, involves multiple crossings of busy roadways, some with stoplights at intersections, others without. It really slows you down and, frankly, gets tiresome. Once you move away from W. Camp Street, the trail becomes less burdened with road crossings and becomes more interesting. From Faley Hollow Road, still going SE on the trail, there is a gradual, but very noticeable, upward gradient to the trail, much of which travels through some lovely trees. Once you reach the top of the long, gradual hill, the remainder of the trail skirts through some neighborhoods and then closely parallels State Route 150 to trail end. My overall impression is that I would not travel out of my way to take this trail again. For locals, I get it: it's a trail you can hop on and get some exercise. But the 2 miles along E. Camp Street is totally missable, IMHO. And the end of the trail map on the NW end shows that the trail continues for a way once you cross West Washington Street, when in fact the trail ends at this intersection. There is no reason for you to continue going NW on the short section of trail from the parking area towards the intersection with River Road.
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