Illinois Fishing Trails and Maps

2264 Reviews

Looking for the best Fishing trails around Illinois?

Find the top rated fishing trails in Illinois, 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.

City Trails and Maps in Illinois

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Activities
Length
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Type
43 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

Baumann Park Recreation Path

1.25 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Busse Woods Trail

11.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete

Cal-Sag Trail

16.2 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Conservation District Trail

2.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Constitution Trail & Historic Route 66 Trail

61.4 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete

Danada and Herrick Lake Regional Trail

5.8 mi
State: IL
Crushed Stone

DuPage River Trail

33.1 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Fox River Trail (IL)

45.7 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

George Rogers Clark Discovery Trail

3.9 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete

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

Jane Addams Trail

18.9 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Kankakee River Trail

10.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Kishwaukee River Recreation Path

2.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Kishwaukee Riverfront Path

6.9 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Lake Arlington Walking Path

2 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Lincoln Park Trail

0.9 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Mahomet Village Bike Trail

4 mi
State: IL
Concrete

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
Accordion

Ottawa Riverwalk

0.9 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

Puri Path

4 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Rend Lake Bike Trail

20.6 mi
State: IL
Concrete, Crushed Stone

Rock River Recreation Path

10 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Village of Rantoul Trail

7.9 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Waterfall Glen

9.5 mi
State: IL
Crushed Stone, Grass

Carlyle Lake Bike Trail

10.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete

General Dacey Trail

6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Great River Trail

63.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

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

Lincoln Prairie Trail

14.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Richland Creek Greenway Trail

3.8 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Rock Run Greenway Trail

12.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Sam Vadalabene Bike Trail

20.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Dorr Road Bike Path

2.7 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

El Paso Walking Trail

2.8 mi
State: IL
Crushed Stone

Eagle Points Trail

7.2 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Oregon Park East Bike Path

0.25 mi
State: IL
Asphalt
Trail Image Trail Name States Length Surface Rating
Baumann Park is adjacent to the Kishwaukee River in Cherry Valley, a community on the outskirts of Rockford in northern Illinois. A paved pathway runs through the park and loops around Baumann Park...
IL 1.25 mi Asphalt
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 meandrous lake...
IL 11.6 mi Asphalt, Concrete
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 and secluded...
IL 16.2 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
The sprawling Constitution Trail and Historic Rte. 66 Trail covers over 61 miles throughout the Bloomington-Normal area. The trail was officially named and dedicated in 1987 in celebration of the...
IL 61.4 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 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 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 multitude of...
IL 45.7 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
The George Rogers Clark Discovery Trail has a name from the history books, and it runs entirely through Fort Massac State Park—Illinois’ first State Park, now over 100 years old—with its recreated...
IL 3.9 mi Asphalt, Concrete
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
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, Wisconsin. The route,...
IL 18.9 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
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 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
The Kishwaukee Riverfront Path winds nearly 7 miles through downtown Belvidere, east of Rockford in northern Illinois. As its name implies, the paved scenic trail follows the waterway for most of its...
IL 6.9 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
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 Mahomet Village Bike Trail is a safe, paved route that connects all the major parts of the village. On the north, there are the various and popular facilities of the Lake of the Woods Forest...
IL 4 mi Concrete
The Millennium Trail spans just over 30 miles in two disconnected segments. The trail goes through forest, farmland, and the suburban neighborhoods of Lake County with a range of surfaces, including...
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
Accordion
The Ottawa Riverwalk runs directly beside the beautiful Fox River, just north of its confluence with the larger Illinois River. It's a tranquil walkway with river views along its entire length. To...
IL 0.9 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 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 farms and...
IL 26.4 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel
The Puri Path is a paved route in Rock Cut State Park, a beautiful outdoor destination of more than 3,000 acres for the city of Rockford. The path runs through the heavily wooded northeast corner of...
IL 4 mi Asphalt
The Rend Lake Bike Trail, in the heart of southern Illinois, goes around nearly half of the second-largest man-made lake in the state. Along the way, trail-goers will enjoy picturesque views of the...
IL 20.6 mi Concrete, 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
This is a story of four trails in one. The newest and northwestern section of the trail runs by the old downtown area of the village and its local Amtrak station. Then across the northern section...
IL 7.9 mi Asphalt
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 significant,...
IL 9.5 mi Crushed Stone, Grass
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 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
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 Chicago, St....
IL 63.3 mi Asphalt
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 Resources, and...
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
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
This trail along Richland Creek is in two disconnected sections that must be accessed separately. The northern section goes by the thick and quiet woods of Centennial Park, where there are also very...
IL 3.8 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
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
Paralleling the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers along the border between Illinois and Mississippi, the Sam Vadalabene Bike Trail (also known as the Sam Vadalabene Great River Road Bike Trail) runs...
IL 20.5 mi Asphalt
The Dorr Road Bike Path begins at South Beloit Municipal Park and parallels the roadway for its entire length. The views are primarily residential. After about three-quarters of a mile (from the...
IL 2.7 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 Eagle Points Trail is located on the Mississippi River's Chouteau Island—a man-made construct from building the Chain of Rocks Canal to carry river traffic around the rock hazards of the...
IL 7.2 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
Oregon Park East Bike Path is nestled along the east bank of the Rock River in the small town of Oregon in northern Illinois. The 23-acre park offers athletic facilities, restrooms, grills, and picnic...
IL 0.25 mi Asphalt
The Sterling Multi-Activity Recreational Trail starts at one end at the edge of the Hoover Park parking lot and heads into a scenic wooded trail crossing a wooden bridge over Woodlawn Creek and...
IL 2 mi Asphalt

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Recent Trail Reviews

MCT Schoolhouse Trail

work almost done

April, 2026 by lucinda.baileyweaver

The bridge over IL 111 is nearly done and it is looking awesome. This will take out a dangerous road crossing and let us fly down the trail.

Kankakee River Trail

Gorgeous river trail!

April, 2026 by scarletbegonias426

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!

H.U.M. Trail

My honey had not.rode a bike in many years and didn't want to ride around a lot of people. So when we found this trail it became a favorite, very few people, flat, nice flowers and views. The parking is really easy at both ends.

April, 2026 by dambrisco

My honey had not.rode a bike in many years and didn't want to ride around a lot of people. So when we found this trail it became a favorite, very few people, flat, nice flowers and views. The parking is really easy at both ends.

Accordion

Thorn Creek Trail System

I live in the area, caution following map

April, 2026 by d9cjtq6qd8

I have been walking the woods around here for decades. The main bike trail is fine. Do not attempt to go in at jurgensen woods and try to head east though. Start at sweet woods across the street and stay on the main. Cook country forest preserve actively tries to only maintain the main paved bike trail. The very nice little jog which is shown here in jurgenson is not maintained at all and it’s a shame because it was a nice out of the way side quest 20 years ago.

Tunnel Hill State Trail

Beautiful spring ride near Vienna, IL

April, 2026 by tcoving22

Tunnel is about 10 miles north on the trail, nice crushed stone, generally well-maintained.

The trail is tree lined, dogwoods flowering during our ride. Numerous nice wooden bridges. Generally a gorgeous ride.

You can park in Vienna or just about the tunnel. Remember to take your sunglasses off when you go in the tunnel or it is pitch black!

About 1.5 miles south of Vienna, the trail has much more coarse gravel which is ride-able with a hybrid or gravel bike but not as pleasant as the rest of the trail that we enjoyed with electric cruisers. Gentle grade varies throughout the trail.

We camped at Shawnee campground within 1.5 miles of the trail, nice shoulders on the road leading up to a round-about with a wide sidewalk taking you the rest of the way to the trail. Very popular Mexican restaurant and Diner right off the train in Vienna, also gas stations and fast food.

Busse Woods Trail

inline rollerblading

March, 2026 by goldengirl1998

Beautiful trail, love that it is more than 10 miles, but would not recommend for rollerblading. Much of the asphalt was cracked, and not sealed. It did not feel safe to be rollerblading on it, and did not love the vibrations from the asphalt shooting up my legs. Seems like a wonderful trail for walking/running/ and maybe biking.

Poplar Creek Trail

You need to cross several major roads, but the ride is beautiful!

March, 2026 by judy.meigel

You need to cross several major roads, but the ride is beautiful!

Prairie Trail (IL)

2026 ride in early March very rough

March, 2026 by w5q7jv7kc9

The trail from rusty nail north to Richmond was very rough and I lost the screws to my kick stand with all the bumps in the trail is there any plans to help smooth them out — I understand the horses share the trail but if they could help by staying to one side so us bikers have a chance on using the trail with out so many bumps dug into the paths¿

Waterfall Glen

amazing trail

March, 2026 by totalpromochicago

I don’t know how anyone could give this trail less than five stars. There are hills of course. It does have fine P gravel. it gets busy with hikers during the weekends when the weather… because it’s a great trail! I have been hiking and biking this trail for years now and it’s one of the most scenic spots. If you are a street rider, obviously you would want pavement and a more even trail. As long as you know how to use your gears and pace yourself ..pay attention and look ahead. You’ll be fine. I am no expert bike rider. But this is a great trail. I highly recommend for all levels.

Veterans Memorial Trail (IL)

Love this trail

March, 2026 by totalpromochicago

Easy paved trail with lots of wildlife. steep incline after bluff road though.

MCT Riverbend Trail

nothing special

February, 2026 by rhfdcaptain

There is nothing special about this trail except it gets you to the bike path that runs along the Mississippi River which is a very nice ride. It’s nice you can park your car at the MCT bus station to start the trail. The trail does run along the levee of the Wood River creek which you can usually see deer but the levee road has lots of pot holes so you will have to watch while you are riding. To me this is just a feed trail to the nicer one along the Mississippi.

DuPage River Trail

West branch Dupage River (Warrenville-Batavia Rd to Naperville-Jefferson Ave)

November, 2025 by jcook1950_tl

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.

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