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Print Friendly MapThe 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 forest, farmland, and the suburban neighborhoods of Lake County with a range of surfaces, including crushed stone, asphalt, and concrete. Though largely well marked with Millennium Trail signs, the route is intertwined with other trails throughout, so pay close attention to the signage.
The northern section of the Millennium Trail begins in Lindenhurst's Forest View Park. From there, the trail heads south, traveling through the gently rolling hills of McDonald Woods Forest Preserve and into Bonner Heritage Farm, first settled by Scottish immigrants in 1848. The farm is especially popular with children, providing educational programing with barnyard animals, field crops, and gardens. The route continues through Fourth Lake Forest Preserve, with beautiful views of lakes, ponds, and wetlands.
South of Lake County Road 31/A20, the trail travels roughly east-west through the Rollins Savana Forest Preserve, where you’ll enjoy views of wild prairie mixed with shaded patches through tree groves. The trail continues along busy E. Rollins Road and through residential neighborhoods, ending where Sunset Avenue meets Beachview Drive.
Note that there’s no off-road connection between the northern and southern segments of the trail. To pick up the southern segment, head to Fairfield Park (part of the Round Lake Area Park District). Along this section of the trail, you’ll find prairie land mixed with small shaded sections and a more rugged pathway. The south end travels through Volo and Wauconda and ends in Mundelein. The southern end of the trail provides access to dog parks and areas for picnicking and fishing. Equestrians can also use the trail between Singing Hills Forest Preserve (where horse trailer parking is available) and Lakewood Forest Preserve.
The northern segment of the trail begins at Forest View Park (513 Forest View Road) in Lindenhurst. From I-94, take Exit 2 for IL 173/Rosecrans Road. Head west on IL 173 for 2.8 miles, and turn left onto US 45. In 2.9 miles, turn right onto W. Grass Lake Road and follow the roadway 0.9 mile west to Waterford Dr. Turn left onto Waterford, then make an immediate left onto Forest View Road. It is only a 0.2-mile drive to the park’s parking lot on your left.
The southern segment begins in Fairfield Park (350 N. Fairfield Road) in Round Lake. From I-94 W, take Exit 11B for IL 120 W/Belvidere Road. Head 10.3 miles west on IL 120 to N. Fairfield Road. Turn right onto Fairfield and travel north 1.3 miles to the park’s parking lot.
Additional access points for the trail are available in the forest preserves through which it passes. See lcfpd.org/millennium-trail for maps and directions.
Great place to ride the bike!
You can make about a 5 mile loop out of the trail by using some of the connected trails. Takes you through some wooded areas and has some smooth gravel areas as well. I liked that it had some small hills to make it a bit more challenging.
Started at Fairfield and 176 (waconda). Ample parking but not that crowded. Went north past the dog park through some gentle turns and inclines. Beautiful ponds along the way with plenty of benches along the way to stop and rest Went all the way to Ray’s and looped back around with a total of about 8-9 miles It is our go to trail for fresh air They also have a two other trails there, one goes northwest and one that goes east toward Mundelein
We just moved to Lindenhurst at the very beginning of the trail. I have many parts of the trail out of Volo when we stayed at Fish Lake Beach in our motorhome. I am a senior rider. The trail had lots of wildlife and lots of wildflowers.
Today was a beautiful day to go out and explore. I loved it that it was quiet and not too crowded, it was very relaxing to venture in such as tranquil place. We brought bikes and it was just perfect!
Rode this with my 10 year old son and loved it. Started it at Rolling Savannah woods in Grayslake hooked up on the Millennium trail and almost made it to McDonald's woods. Very beautiful lots of wildlife and quality time spent with my son.
Great trail but it is mostly crushed stone, careful with the thin tire hybrids
I ride a 3 wheel Terra Trike. I began in Wauconda, IL & rode north to Round Lake and then back down Fairfield Rd to Gilmer to the bike trail. Did this 4/10/20. Totaled 27 miles and 3 hours. Got a great workout. Am 70 years old, am 6’1”, weigh 290. So got a great workout on very scenic trail. Well maintained. Great topography. Thank you Lake County Forest for providing a lot of various trails!
This is a wonderful trail for bikes! Very wide tails traverse forest preserves, wetlands, and residential areas. Gently rollIng hills. At least 20 miles of limestone/gravel so choose wider tires. Well marked, restrooms provided and nicely maintained. Note there are no rest stops along the way so be sure to pack food and lots of water.
I love this trail for biking! Great forest and savanna scenery. Thankfully most of it is not parallel to roads, and none of it is old train tracks, which I find more boring. Really feels like you're moving across country under your own power.
I love hiking this trail. lots of scenery between Fairfield and Marl Flat. Just be cautioned that the some disc golfers at Fairfield may take exception to hikers and bikers. But nothing at all to worry about.
My first experience of this trail began at Fairfield and 176 in Wauconda. I love it. I love the terrains, variety of surface, the scenery, and the many different directions to choose. It will take me several outings to cover the trails of Millennium, as well as its offshoots.
Recently moved from colorado to wauconda and missed my daily bike rides. Picked up a cheap steel frame hybrid bike, converted to a single speed and this is the go to trail I ride when I dont want to load my bike on the car and drive.. Its about 2.5 miles to trailhead from my front door. Not sure what some commenters on here have expected.. It is a quintessential midwestern park district trail. Mostly flat, wide, crushed rock or paved trail. Scenery is midwestern park district. Not alot of elevation, but again, we live in the flatlands. A bit of variety in the fact that there a few different options in how you can ride these or link these trails together. Not overly crowded (in my experience) with a fair mix of wooded and prarie style scenery. Wanna get out, get exercise, ride your bike and avoid the overly congested roads and awful drivers? This is a nice choice.
We are new to the state and really enjoying all the parks, trails and boating access. We started at the Rollins Forest Preserve and traveled north to Sand Lake Rd. Had we traveled just a bit farther we would have ended up in McDonald Woods FP, which is where we started our day of exploring. Nice scenery even in the neighborhoods. Good birding spots all along the way.
I just got back from riding this trail and had a blast. We started in Mundelein, parked at the Golf Course (20800 W Hawley St) which is probably not allowed, but great access to the beginning of the trail. The first 2 miles is along a road but the bike path is wide, then you enter very hilly terrain (for Illinois standards) and it is beautiful. When you cross 176 you will ride through different neighborhoods (about 1/3 of the trail) and the road is pretty flat, until you get to Singing Hills where you ride through pretty nature again. Condition of the trail is excellent. Trail is well marked.
This is a ho-hum trail that I would say is more for the residents of the communities along it's route than for serious trail enthusiasts. If you haven't done it then I would say it's worth doing once, but you probably won't want to do it again.
I started at the northwest (Singing Hills) entry point, once I managed to find it. Gilmer Road does not intersect Rand Rd (US 12) as I expected. Instead, go east about 0.1 miles on Belvidere Rd (Rt 120), then southeast 1.3 miles on Gilmer to S Fish Lake Rd, and north less than 0.1 miles to the Singing Hills parking lot entry on the right. There is plenty of parking there, along with outhouses and a water fountain. The path is crushed limestone for its first almost 9 miles from this end, then asphalt for the remainder of the east portion. Initially, the trail is marked South Millenium Bike Path in this direction (and North going the other way.) Scenery is mostly prairie with houses nearby, and a few short wooded stretches. There are lots of little hills, just long enough to need most of my recumbent mountain bike's gears (BikeE-RX.) Only once was it unclear where to go next. At that corner the path continues at the diagonal corner of a busy intersection with stop lights and crossing buttons. (All the busy crossings have lights and buttons.) Just before reaching N Forest Preserve Rd heading toward the south (Lakewood) entry and parking area, there is construction in progress with the trail temporarily rerouted a few feet and still crushed limestone. After that intersection the trail resumes, but suddenly is blocked for construction again just before the parking lot, with a sign pointing up a mowed grass path to the parking lot. In the south parking lot there are again outhouses and a water fountain. The trail then continues, again by a short grassy detour past construction to what is now labeled East Millenium Bike Path. The only current underpass, below N Fairfield Rd (Co Hwy 49) is paved for a few feet on both ends. (Another underpass is apparently planned as part of the current ongoing construction.) Next, the trail continues to the left, with an optional labeled "One Mile Loop" to the right. They join together again a half mile further, so I took the main path going East and the loop when returning West. (There is a nice 100 foot long wooden bridge on the loop.) After another short wooded section, the only bridge on the main path, a short wooden one, crosses a stream of Davis Lake. After another mile or so, at about the 9.7 mile mark, the path parallels W Hawley St (Co Hwy 70), and abruptly switches to asphalt for the rest of the path. The remainder of the ride passes two golf courses and then abruptly ends at N Midlothian Rd by Mundelein HS. Total round trip distance (with optional access paths skipped) was 24.54 miles. Total ascent and descent was 2.96 miles. Total ride time was just under 2.5 hours (3 hours overall.) I averaged 10 mph, and my maximum was 22.1 mph. This would be a great trail for new riders and trikes, as the path is clean and smooth and wide enough for 2 trikes to pass, and never too far from civilization. I chose not to bring my road bike with its narrow 1 inch tires, but I'm pretty sure it would have done fine, as I often ride it on the similar Des Plaines River Trail (with which I understand this trail is someday to be linked.) Next, I'll upload some photos.
Lake county IL has has the same plan rolled out for it's bike trails...basically wide open and sunny. If you like this approach..it is for you. I personally think the county clearcuts too much. This ride sees lots of ho-hum suburban houses..until you get to Lakewood forest area..then it gets more quaint..forest up close to you while you ride for a short distance. Markers are good for the trail & through out the county on any trail. There is some tough peddling(inclines) to be navigated. Family Fun though.
We rode the trail today from the northern start point near Volo to the end of the trail at route 176. Very good trial with a few hills to get a good sweat going. The trail is almost all crushed stone, with only the road crossings being paved. A few of the hill sections of the trail are rather loose so use caution. Also beware of horse droppings on the trail, it is also popular for horseback riding. There are plenty of benches to stop for a rest, but not a lot places to stop for a snack or drink. Overall a very enjoyable ride, well kept trail, nice scenery (we watched a doe and two fawns cross the trail to feed in a field) good trail for a family ride.
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