Find the top rated mountain biking trails in Illinois, 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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Just hit the trail today from Tutty's Crossing in Freeport all the way to Wisconsin state line (35 miles round trip). It's been 3 years this month since my last ride there. It's in great shape and the weather was perfect. Great scenery for small towns and farmland. Plenty of food, drink and shopping in Freeport. (Definitely check out Union Dairy at Douglas and Adams!)
5 star trail for any serious biker.
It's a very nice ride on a bike; relatively flat with quite a few shady zones. It's near my house and I've ridden it many times. However, be very careful...there are several blind corners where the trail wraps around (~270 degrees) the concrete bases of road bridges crossing the canal. People tend to "fan out" across the trail with no regard for the fact that a biker can't see them around the corner until they're about to collide. I've considered this many times, but it finally happened for real about two weeks ago; came around the corner, not anywhere near top speed, to find two guys on push scooters blocking the path. Clipped one and caromed into the guard rail, ended up with a mild concussion and a wrenched up shoulder. I'm 57 and it could have been much worse. When I get back out there I'll either stop or call out as I approach the blind corners. Don't find out the hard way like I did!
Off-topic, they claim it's 15 miles, but between Freedom Park on the east and the Sagawau Environmental Center on the west I've only ever clocked it at 24+ round trip (based on GPS), so I'd say it's more like 12.
This is a lovely trail! Fairly level with a few inclines along the wAy, this trail is well maintained and it’s such an enjoyable ride. A new fire house in Lily Lake has a bike pump and a water filling station. A large picnic table is available for a nice stop. Restaurants are available along the trail but you have to cross Rt 64. The Dean Street parking lot is nice and has restrooms. My friend and I love the Fox River Trail, but we’ve just made this trail a new addition to our favorite list.
After riding Joliet to Morris the week before I was anxious to do the section from Morris to Marseilles with the expectation to go to LaSalle. This was a mistake.
The trail coming out of Gebhard State Park is okay for a few miles, then it deteriorates quickly. Long sections are single track with grass and weeds tall enough to catch you mid-shin. Once you get to Seneca the trail turns into a farmer's access/driveway, with large sharp gravel on hard dirt, so easy for punctures and rough to ride on. This carries on for a good mile or so, then turns into mostly grass until you reach Milton Rd. From there the trail dog-legs across the [dry] canal and is even worse. The only parts that are good are where the rail lines cross the trail. Here they have completely redone the grading and the crossing, but only for a few yards on either side. It's easier to just ride the street (Broadway) on the south side of the path. If it were allowed it'd be much better suited as an ATV trail.
Continuing west into Marseilles doesn't improve. Looking at the trail going west of Main street doesn't look any better. From that point I abandoned my ride and took country roads with additional miles all the way back to Morris just to avoid the harshness of the trail.
Two weeks ago rode the section from Hollywood Rd (Joliet) to Morris. Overall not bad, but there are a few sections where narrow tire bikes might have some issues. The bridge over the river in Channahon was out, so you have to cut through Channahon State Park and cross using the road at Bridge St.
The next issue is on the west side of Morris where the trail (both sides of the canal) are supposed to cross Nettle Creek. On the south trail the bridge is out, and trail is closed. The north trail is basically non-existent and also no bridge. You have to backtrack a few blocks towards town then ride north to Jefferson St. From there go west as it changes to Fremont St. Turn left at Ottawa Street to head south and enter Gebhard Woods State Park. As the parking area starts there are stairs to the right. You can climb these to catch the trail heading west, or continue through the parking lot past the latrines to where the path goes up an incline to also catch the trail.
Overall it wasn't too bad. Some areas the path really thinned out, almost to a single-file path.
Something I noticed. There are almost no places along the trail to refill water. There are fountains at Channahon State Park and Gebhard Woods State Park, but both were out of order and covered.
Enjoyable trail. Not too challenging. I usually ride it once a year and start from near Science and Industry. I have not rode over the sky pass yet by wackier.
I rode this trail on a whim one early summer day.
It was a nice ride, went the wrong way twice but got back on track
While only 5 miles in length the trail has a lot to offer. The trail is mostly covered with trees which is really nice on extremely hot days. Would ride again.
We rode from the southern trailhead AI the Kankakee River 9 miles north and back yesterday. It was over 90 degrees, and much of the stretch that we rode was unshaded, so we quickly got overheated. The trail condition ranged from good (in Kankakee County) to excellent (once we crossed into Will County). We will try it again for a longer distance in the fall or spring when it isn’t quite so hot.
Pros: fast way to get north-south or vice versa, mostly clean gravel.
Cons:Many streets to cross, if you don't keep your head on a swivel and you stop, you have a great chance of being mugged.
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