Sterling, IL Mountain Biking Trails and Maps

488 Reviews

Looking for the best Mountain Biking trails around Sterling?

Find the top rated mountain biking trails in Sterling, whether you're looking for an easy short mountain biking trail or a long mountain biking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a mountain biking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.

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Activities
Length
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Type
7 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

Bear River Recreation Trail

5.6 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone

Copper Creek Trail

0.75 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone

Great American Rail-Trail

3743.9 mi
State: DC, IA, ID, IL, IN, MD, MT, NE, OH, PA, WA, WV, WY
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Badger State Trail

39.8 mi
State: WI
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Hennepin Canal State Trail

93 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Grass, Gravel

Illinois & Michigan Canal State Trail

79.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Grass, Gravel

Joe Stengel Trail

7.9 mi
State: IL
Ballast, Grass, Gravel
Trail Image Trail Name States Length Surface Rating
The Bear River Recreation Trail follows part of the Maquoketa River outside of Spragueville and Preston, through bucolic countryside of woodlands, farms and river lowlands. You can start the trail in...
IA 5.6 mi Crushed Stone
The Copper Creek Trail runs for a short distance from the town of Preston, heading northwest along Copper Creek to meet with the Bear River Recreation Trail. You'll find a nice picnic spot with a...
IA 0.75 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
Closure Notice: The Stewart Tunnel has been closed since 2019 and remains closed for the foreseeable future. A detour using Tunnel Road allows trail users to go around the tunnel. Visit the trail page...
WI 39.8 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
Overview The Hennepin Canal State Trail stretches for 93 miles in northwest Illinois along an old canal towpath. The trail is administered as a State Park by the Illinois Department of Natural...
IL 93 mi Asphalt, Grass, Gravel
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 first...
IL 79.5 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Grass, Gravel
The Joe Stengel Trail follows an old railroad corridor for 7 miles between the town of Polo and the much smaller community of Woosung. The trail corridor traces farm country along a route scattered...
IL 7.9 mi Ballast, Grass, Gravel

Recent Trail Reviews

Badger State Trail

Serenity

October, 2024 by ggroth99

Coming from Chicago, we have only ridden this trail as a day trip and ridden from Orangeville, IL (Jane Addams Trail) to Monroe (Twining Park) and back. This stretch is on a slight incline most of the way from Orangeville to Monroe, so the ride back is a lot easier. Trail is well maintained, and mostly shaded by trees. Trail in Monroe proper was a little dicey due to no protection from the elements, a bit of a steep hill, and a lot of runoff from rain by 8th street. Crossing at 8th street is "interesting". Pit toilet in Orangeville, with a BP gas station right across the road, flush toilet in Twining Park. Went riding on 10/26, and saw a grand total of 5 other people the entire ride (2 bikers, 2 walkers, 1 jogger). Only trail I've been on where there were complete moments of silence, combined with some of the scenery, just absolutely breathtaking.

Jane Addams Trail

Great trail

October, 2024 by ggroth99

Have ridden this trail multiple times over the past couple of years. Generally ride from the trailhead by Hwy 20 to Orangeville. Trail is well maintained and generally flat, and fairly empty of people, a few joggers on the South end. As with all the limestone trails, there's a few holes here and there from the local furry creatures. Pit toilets at Hwy 20 & Orangeville, a portolet at Red Oak. There's a BP gas station right across from the pavilion in Orangeville. Specific highlights are the old buildings from the railroad in Scioto Mills, and saw sand cranes inhabiting the wetlands south of Orangeville.

Jane Addams Trail

Beautiful and quiet

October, 2024 by shanlalond

Rode our hybrids from Freeport Public Library to trail and followed it to the state line. Found it to be well maintained, flat and very little bike traffic. We biked on a Friday morning. FYI the library has paper maps of the trail.

Accordion

Great American Rail-Trail

such a beautiful trail!

October, 2024 by sherryschie

We started in Akron and rode about 18 miles north. Loved it!!!

Rock Island Trail (IL)

Rock Island Trail, Princeville to Alta IL

October, 2024 by q4prh9v7k7

This was a very nice trail thru mostly wooded area.

Hennepin Canal State Trail

It was fine…

October, 2024 by ogre395

Rode from Colona to Bureau early October. The trail was dry and in good enough condition to average 9-10mph. There was lots of animal and bird life. I was surprised at how few people I saw. It was very peaceful. The only trail hazard of note were walnuts in the path. I did notice that there could be issues if it is wet. Drainage and mud could be a problem. I do ride a Surly Ogre with 29x2.35 tires and 45 lbs of gear on it. Navigation was not a problem.

Hennepin Canal State Trail

It was fine…

October, 2024 by ogre395

Rode from Colona to Bureau early October. The trail was dry and in good enough condition to average 9-10mph. There was lots of animal and bird life. I was surprised at how few people I saw. It was very peaceful. The only trail hazard of note were walnuts in the path. I did notice that there could be issues if it is wet. Drainage and mud could be a problem. I do ride a Surly Ogre with 29x2.35 tires and 45 lbs of gear on it. Navigation was not a problem.

Rock Island Trail (IL)

Great trail!

October, 2024 by dpate

I rode the Rock Island trail in early October 2024 on a perfect day. I started in Toulon and rode into Peoria to East Glen Ave and rode back. This is a wonderful long trail. In the gravel section there are a few small rivulets where water has drained to watch out for, mostly by the bridges. Most of the asphalt was good. Some older places had some roots but most of it was great. My favorite was the gravel section for the solitude. I would rate this more than five stars if I could. I highly recommend checking this trail out! Traveling cyclist Facebook

Illinois & Michigan Canal State Trail

Mostly Cow Paths

September, 2024 by ronbadger66

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.

Kishwaukee River Recreation Path

Gorgeous!!!

September, 2024 by taylorwardlow

Such a beautiful path, partially in shade- partially open. There are multiple restrooms along the way, benches, picnic tables as well as a playground about halfway thru the trail! The paved path was mostly smooth and very easy to navigate. There is a few dips and hills but nothing challenging. Highly recommend!

Badger State Trail

Nice Views

September, 2024 by the_masseuse

Trail is really nice and taken care of. There are a a few sand traps along it tho. It’s mostly shaded until you reach the asphalt. Decent parking along it. I very much dislike the detour on this trail..it’s super hilly. Really regret coming to see the tunnel while still open.

Clinton Discovery Trail

Gorgeous in parts

September, 2024 by katie.burke

The north most section has wonderful river views, picnic tables & benches. Then the trail runs along a heavy industrial area & is pretty ugly. The trail is also appears longer than the map indicates, but we turned back based on the map’s endpoint & poor scenery. TrailLink gives little mention to Eagle Point Park at the north end which is just amazing. If you just load/unload in their parking lot you will have missed the very best of the trail.

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Accordion

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