Illinois Cross Country Skiing Trails and Maps

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Looking for the best Cross Country Skiing trails around Illinois?

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

City Trails and Maps in Illinois

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Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type
94 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

Busse Woods Trail

11.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete

Cal-Sag Trail

16.2 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

ComEd Greenway

2 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Conservation District Trail

2.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Constitution Trail & Historic Route 66 Trail

50.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete

Danada and Herrick Lake Regional Trail

5.8 mi
State: IL
Crushed Stone

Deer Grove Trail

3.9 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Des Plaines River Trail

56.1 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel

DuPage River Trail

33.1 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Fairview Park Trail

1.7 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Fox River Trail (IL)

45.7 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Grant Woods Bike Path

5.9 mi
State: IL
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

Great Western Trail (DeKalb, Kane)

18 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Great Western Trail (DuPage)

12.7 mi
State: IL
Crushed Stone

Greenbelt Bikeway

1.7 mi
State: IL
Concrete

H.U.M. Trail

3.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Illinois Prairie Path

58.52 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Jane Addams Trail

18.9 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

John Husar I&M Canal Trail

8.9 mi
State: IL
Asphalt
Accordion

Kankakee River Trail

10.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Kickapoo Rail Trail

9.7 mi
State: IL
Crushed Stone

Kishwaukee River Recreation Path

2.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Lake of the Woods Path

3.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Lincoln Park Trail

0.9 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Lincoln Prairie Grass Trail

12.9 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Lost Bridge Trail

5.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Lowell Parkway Trail

3.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

MCT Ronald J. Foster Heritage Trail

12.2 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Major Taylor Trail

7.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Millennium Trail (IL)

30.7 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Moraine Hills State Park Trail

11.4 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

North Branch Trail

25.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Old Plank Road Trail (IL)

21.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Orland Grassland Trail

8 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Palatine Trail

9.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete

Prairie Trail (IL)

26.4 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel

Rock Island Trail (IL)

38.2 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Rock River Recreation Path

10 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Route 30 Bikeway

7.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Stevens Creek Bikeway

4 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Stone Bridge Trail

5.8 mi
State: IL
Crushed Stone

Thorn Creek Trail

17.2 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Timber Ridge Trail

1 mi
State: IL
Gravel

Tinley Creek Trail (South)

3.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Tunnel Hill State Trail

55.2 mi
State: IL
Boardwalk, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Valley Line Trail

1.1 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Veterans Memorial Trail (IL)

2.7 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Virgil L. Gilman Trail

11.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Waterfall Glen

9.5 mi
State: IL
Crushed Stone, Grass

Arches Rail Trail

2.2 mi
State: IL
Dirt, Grass

Buffalo Creek Trail (IL)

5.5 mi
State: IL
Crushed Stone, Gravel

Carlyle Lake Bike Trail

10.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete

Chain O' Lakes Bike Path

3.2 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Delyte W. Morris Trail

2.4 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Effingham TREC

3 mi
State: IL
Concrete

General Dacey Trail

6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Great River Trail

63.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Green Bay Trail

6.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Green Diamond Rail-Trail

4.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Hennepin Canal State Trail

93 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Grass, Gravel

Illini Trail

0.8 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Illinois & Michigan Canal State Trail

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

Joliet Junction Trail

4.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Kishwaukee-Kiwanis Trail

4.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Lincoln Prairie Trail

14.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Long Prairie Trail

13.9 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

North Shore Bike Path

7.7 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Robert McClory Bike Path

25.4 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Rock Run Greenway Trail

12.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Sangamon River Trail

1.2 mi
State: IL
Concrete, Gravel

Spring Creek Greenway Trail

8.45 mi
State: IL
Boardwalk, Crushed Stone

Stone Mill Trail

1.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Techny Trail

3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete

Wauponsee Glacial Trail

22.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

East Northbrook Trail

1.1 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

El Paso Walking Trail

2.8 mi
State: IL
Crushed Stone

Joe Stengel Trail

7.9 mi
State: IL
Ballast, Grass, Gravel

Kiwanis Park/West Side Trail

1.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Lake Renwick Bikeway

3.35 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

MCT Confluence Trail

18.7 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Gravel

O'Malley's Alley Trail

0.5 mi
State: IL
Concrete

Pecatonica Prairie Trail

14.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Pekin Park Bike Trail

4.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Prospect Heights Bike Path

4.2 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Eagle Points Trail

7.2 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Oswego Prairie Trail

0.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Commonwealth Edison Bikeway

1.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Lynn Boulevard/Westwood Trail

3.7 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Plum Creek Greenway Trail

4.15 mi
State: IL
Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel

Prairie Point Trail

2 mi
State: IL
Asphalt
Trail Image Trail Name States Length Surface Rating
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
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
North of the Sangamon River crossing, the Conservation District Trail closely follows Stevens Creek through a flat and dense wetlands forest on the west end of Decatur. South of the river, the trail...
IL 2.3 mi Asphalt
Overview The sprawling Constitution Trail and Historic Rte. 66 Trail covers over 53 miles throughout the Bloomington-Normal area. The trail was officially named and dedicated in 1987 in celebration...
IL 50.5 mi Asphalt, Concrete
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 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 Fairview Park Trail, in western Decatur, traverses the large and beautiful Fairview Park and connects (via roadway) to the park's various attractions: an aquatic center, lake, gardens, pavilions,...
IL 1.7 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 backbone of the Greenbelt Bikeway runs north–south along Copper Slough, passing through two large city parks divided by W. Bradley Avenue. In Dodds Park to the north, there is a spur west through...
IL 1.7 mi Concrete
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
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
Overview The Jane Addams Trail runs for 18.9 miles between Orangeville and Freeport, following a rail line that the Illinois Central built in 1887 between Freeport, Illinois, and Madison,...
IL 18.9 mi Asphalt, 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
Accordion
The Kankakee River Trail is fairly wooded and runs primarily through Kankakee River State Park. Walkers, bicyclists, and cross-country skiers can enjoy more than ten miles of trail along the north...
IL 10.6 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The first 6.7-mile section of the Kickapoo Rail Trail in eastern Illinois opened in August 2017. Paralleling U.S. 150, the Champaign County rail-trail runs from Urbana east to St. Joseph along the...
IL 9.7 mi Crushed Stone
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
This trail through the Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve shows off Central Illinois' great natural beauty. Starting from the west, the trail meanders through a wonderfully restored prairie. It passes...
IL 3.3 mi Asphalt
The Lincoln Park Trail runs along the wooded north banks of the Sangamon River. It's mostly flat with a few low hills. Visible from the trail are Decatur's Lincoln Park, some classic old neighborhoods...
IL 0.9 mi Asphalt
The Lincoln Prairie Grass Trail runs 12 miles, much of the way along an old railroad right-of-way between County Highway 2 east of Charleston and the ball fields at 10th Street in Mattoon; an...
IL 12.9 mi Asphalt
The Lost Bridge Trail, jointly managed by the Springfield Park District and the village of Rochester, is one of the area's earliest and most popular multiuse trails-even for locals taking a weekday...
IL 5.6 mi Asphalt
The Lowell Parkway Trail runs through the charming town of Dixon, Illinois, boyhood home of Ronald Reagan. The trail occupies the rail bed of the old Illinois Central Railroad, between Lowell Park and...
IL 3.5 mi Asphalt
You can make connections all over the countryside from the Madison County Transit (MCT) Ronald J. Foster Heritage Trail. The paved path travels 12.2 miles between the villages of Glen Carbon and...
IL 12.2 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 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
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
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
Running from East Peoria to Morton, The River Trail of Illinois was resurfaced in summer 2011. From East Peoria, the hiking and biking trail travels southeast along the old Illinois Terminal Railway...
IL 9 mi Asphalt
Overview The Rock Island Trail has two distinct sections. Its southern half (sometimes referred to as the Kellar Branch Trail or as the Rock Island Greenway) stretches from Peoria's riverfront to...
IL 38.2 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
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
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
The Stevens Creek Bikeway follows a scenic stream for 4 miles through neighborhoods and woodlands, connecting two parks (one at each end of the trail) on the western side of Decatur in central...
IL 4 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 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 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
Overview    With a dark railroad tunnel and two dozen trestles crossing streams and rocky ravines, the scenic Tunnel Hill State Trail travels 55 miles through forests, wetlands, farmlands and towns...
IL 55.2 mi Boardwalk, Concrete, Crushed Stone
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
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
Opened in the Fall of 2012, Arches Rail Trail continues to be improved by an active local support group. It lies between Butler and Hillsboro, Illinois, along a section of an old 1850s route that...
IL 2.2 mi Dirt, Grass
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 Carlyle Lake Bike Trail is located in one of Southwest Illinois's most popular recreational areas, just 50 miles east of St. Louis, Missouri—not far from that area's abundance of great trails, as...
IL 10.3 mi Asphalt, Concrete
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 Delyte W. Morris Trail lies entirely on the campus of Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville (SIUE). It is named for the university's president at the Carbondale campus in the 1960s who helped...
IL 2.4 mi Asphalt
Monticello is a small, central Illinois town steeped in a railroad history it still celebrates. Its Chamber of Commerce has offices and special activities in the historic downtown Train Depot. And it...
IL 1 mi Asphalt
The first portion of the TREC (Trail Recreation Effingham County) system, totaling approximately 3 miles, is complete, although eventually 30 miles of county-wide bicycling and walking trails will be...
IL 3 mi Concrete
The General Dacey Trail, which first opened in 2006, is a beautiful and richly varied trail located between the city of Shelbyville to the west and large Lake Shelbyville to the east. Its surface is...
IL 6 mi Asphalt
Overview The Great River Trail is a breathtaking journey along more than 60 miles of the Mississippi River in northern Illinois. In places, the paved trail follows the former spur route of the...
IL 63.3 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
Dedicated on August 5, 2000, the Green Diamond Rail-Trail was the first bicycling/pedestrian trail in Montgomery County. Partially funded by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the trail is...
IL 4.3 mi Asphalt
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 Illini Trail (formerly known as the Hesse Trail) connects two neighborhoods and a park in the city of O'Fallon. It is a short, completely tree-covered rail-trail, well used by local residents....
IL 0.8 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
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
While you’re in the land of Lincoln, visit the Lincoln Prairie Trail to make the trip complete. Starting at the trailhead in northwest Pana, leisurely stroll along a paved trail that is nicely...
IL 14.6 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
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 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
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
Monticello is a small, central Illinois town steeped in a railroad history it still celebrates. Its Chamber of Commerce has offices and special activities in the historical downtown train depot. And...
IL 1.2 mi Concrete, Gravel
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
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
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
The El Paso Walking Trail runs along part of an old railroad right-of-way through the town of El Paso, beginning at the city park on the south side of town and ending at a creek north of town among...
IL 2.8 mi Crushed Stone
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
Except for short-distance walkers, the principal attraction of the Kiwanis Park/West Side Trail is its connection to the other parts of Decatur's trail system. From its western terminus, one can...
IL 1.5 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
Bring your camera to the MCT Confluence Trail. Part of Illinois' Madison County Transit (MCT) bikeways network, this trail is a photographic patchwork of rivers, bridges, waterfront wildlife and...
IL 18.7 mi Asphalt, Gravel
O'Malley's Alley is a paved, half-mile trail through a residential area south of Kaufman Lake on the western end of Champaign. On Kenwood Road (at the eastern end of the trail), you can head south on...
IL 0.5 mi Concrete
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
The Pekin Park Bike Trail traverses more than 4 miles between Allentown Road and the Illinois River at Pekin bridge. The trail does a loop in Coal Miners' Park and passes through Mineral Springs Park,...
IL 4.3 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
Caution: While construction continues on the new I-270 bridge over the Mississippi River, be alert for trail restrictions or closings north of the parking lot access. The trail will remain open from...
IL 7.2 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
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 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
The trail user can be transported from the bustling Westwood Fitness and Sports Center to a beautiful wooded trail that offers Elkhorn Creek on the far outer loop of the trail, a shelter at the top of...
IL 3.7 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 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

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Recent Trail Reviews

Centennial Trail (IL)

First time on this trail

June, 2025 by diane connelly

I rode on this trail for the first time yesterday. It is well maintained, pretty shady, and has well placed maps. I will definately go again. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because there aren't any water sources at either end or along the trail. There are toilets (vault and a porta potty) at the ends, so that's a plus. At the Willow Springs end, about 2 blocks from the trail end, there's a Speedway gas station with snacks and beverages. You can see it from the trail. So if you go, make sure to bring plenty of water!

Long Prairie Trail

OK for mountain bikes

June, 2025 by ggroth99

Rode this a year or two ago, and although it was a bit rough, it was enjoyable. Now, not so much. The asphalt trail from the east trailhead to Capron has been replaced with "crushed stone". The crushed stone has baseball sized chunks of asphalt and rock mixed in with it, and 50% of the rest are chunks bigger than an inch across. Barely passable on a gravel bike, if you find the right rut on the path. No way a road bike is making it down this stretch. Once you get to Capron, it's back to asphalt for a short bit, then it changes to gravel / crushed limestone. Some of the bridge crossing can be bone jarring, but not overwhelming. It changes back to asphalt outside of Poplar Grove, and continues all the way through to Caledonia. Some potholes can be pretty harsh, but not terrible. At some point between Poplar Grove and Caledonia, it turns back to gravel for a stretch. Although not my favorite, this was done well enough for our gravel bikes. We usually do this trail either from the east trailhead to Caledonia, or Caledonia into Roscoe, as there's a rest stop & parking in Caledonia. If you park on the street in Capron, and skip the first 2 miles, you'll be a lot better off. Although there's no water / bathrooms in Capron, there's a Casey's just down the street from the trail.

Chicago Lakefront Trail

Beautiful

May, 2025 by sjf0809

I was traveling through to Ohio and wanted to ride this trail. Due to traffic on a Saturday with a concert at Soldier Field, I arrived a couple later than I had hoped. So I had to push the speed to do the whole trail. I got done as it was getting dark. I would encourage others to allow more time to enjoy it. Not knowing this in advance, I parked near trail construction and where the following day's event parking was being set up, so it was congested. I found the main trail (lots of sidewalks/paths going everywhere) and headed north. A few miles north and I was at the end. Going south, I got goofed up by the detour signs and other trails. A "north" or "south" sign on the detour signs might have helped. Maybe just me. I finally got on the trail and went north. The write-up says it is 19 miles long and ends at South Shore Cultural Center; however, the mile post ends at 18 (with a zero on the other side of the post) was at 71st street. That was where the red line on TrailLink also ended. Both close to each other, but I wasn't sure why the difference in mileage. I didn't have time to explore more. I turned around there.
Even though I don't like city driving and it all looked hectic to me (thankful for GPS voice commands), I wouldn't mind doing it again in the summer when more venues would be open and take all day to ride it by going a slower pace and seeing the sights. And maybe with someone else who will do the driving!

Accordion

Long Prairie Trail

Long Prairie Path, Boone County Illinois

May, 2025 by valentinehemmer

the 14.2 mile rail trail was a great trail 20 plus years ago, over the years a lack of state oversight allowed the trail to fall into a state of disrepair, the trail can no longer be roller bladed or skate boarded, about a decade ago they dug up the east section and most of it is crushed lime stone that the grass and weeds are now growing through, in places they ground up the asphalt and used it in place of limestone( horrible to ride on ). the section from route 76 to poplar grove was ground up last year and graded out and is now a section that will tear up road bike tires, there is sharp granite stones from the original rail bed mixed in with the ground up asphalt, the condition of this trail is only going to get worse due to the county not having two Nichols to rub together. If you put a child in a trailer behind you they will wind up with brain damage on the sections that still have pavement. I will say to politicians that it is asinine to allocate funds for new bike trail projects when they cannot provide funds for their future maintenance.

Illinois & Michigan Canal State Trail

Morris to Ottawa--beautiful scenery, rough trail

May, 2025 by dawnmsh

This is such a cool trail corridor, but it's a bit of an adventure to ride it. The scenery is great--there's some neat canal lock remains, the trail has lots of shade, and there aren't a lot of road crossings. It's also nice that the trail passes through several towns, so there are good opportunities for meals or snacks. The trail itself is just okay. It is mostly dirt, with a little gravel, and is rather over-grown for large sections. Many sections are basically single track--keep your wheels on the narrow dirt trail and it's smooth, but it's grass and weeds close on either side. Probably not a good ride for narrow tires or trikes. We went a few miles past Ottawa to ride into Buffalo Rock State Park, the trail west of Ottawa was a bit better. Overall it was a good ride and I'd do it again, but go in knowing that it isn't a smooth wide trail.

Tunnel Hill State Trail

bike riders

May, 2025 by bfxg2hcjbr

We started in Vienna and got 30 miles total. The trail was great, gravel, the tunnel is definitely a must to see. We stopped in to see the train station and talked to the lady in there she was super nice and had a lot of information to share on the trail. So glad we got to ride part of it.

Rend Lake Bike Trail

whispering pine loop to north Sandusky campground

May, 2025 by bfxg2hcjbr

We started at whispering pine loop and turned around at north Sandusky campground, this trail ended here. Such a great trail a few crazy spots behind the lake, but a fun trail to ride all concrete trail. We got rained but that even made it a lot more fun. We laughed so much.

Great River Trail

Not what we hoped for

May, 2025 by sheleylinda928

We rode from Albany to Fulton. There’s minimal signage along the way so we stopped a lot to check our app. Not great trail along the way. Will skip this portion as a repeat ride.

Waterfall Glen

be sure to look a trail markers

May, 2025 by robert.g.mcbride

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

Lost Bridge Trail

We liked the trail for its shallow inclines, and the trees lining the trail make it pleasantly shady.

May, 2025 by trekterri

We liked the trail for its shallow inclines, and the trees lining the trail make it pleasantly shady.

Prairie Trail (IL)

electric assist needed

May, 2025 by danwarwick

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.

Prairie Trail (IL)

Navigation thru Crystal Lake an climbs in Sterne's Woods

April, 2025 by tabuffa

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.

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