CYCLE ON
W
hether you’re inclined to take the path of least resistance or a die-hard mountain biker, it’s time to get out there and put the rubber to the road. Northwestern Illinois is full of bike paths for the beginner as well as the seasoned biker, and trading in your four wheels for two for a few hours is a great way to shake off the office blues, commune with nature and get in shape, to boot.
Sports & Recreation
The Illinois Prairie Path — which, by the way, was one of the first inducted into the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame — runs 61 miles through DuPage, Kane and Cook counties. The rail-trail movement has transformed thousands of unused railroad miles into hiking and biking trails nationwide for the last 50 years. The Illinois Prairie Path is considered the best in Illinois, according to Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, a national nonprofit based in Washington, D.C.
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The Fox River Trail will take you on more than 43 miles of scenic wonders through Kane, Kendall and McHenry counties, from Oswego to Algonquin, where you’ll
NEIGHBORHOOD TOURIST
SUMMER 2022
Celebrate the arrival o f summer with these 6 bike trails By Diane Krieger
Spivak Photo of Great We stern Trail by Shaw Media
find wildlife, woods, flora and fauna, and some historic highlights like vintage mill towns-turned tourist areas offering a wide range of dining, shopping and cultural attractions. (And it connects to the Illinois Prairie Path in Batavia and Aurora.) The trail surface is asphalt, concrete and crushed stone. “The trail goes through Pottawatomie Park where you can see birds, beavers and a lot of other wildlife along the river,” says Jacqueline Mulligan, marketing supervisor at St. Charles Park District. Stop and play a round at the park’s golf or mini golf courses along your way. The park also has a bike repair station, water bottle refill station and benches, notes Mulligan. The Great Western Trail runs 17 miles through DeKalb and Kane counties. Also an abandoned railway, the trail includes rest areas with shelters in a natural setting rich with wetlands, vegetation and prairie. Moraine Hills State Park, in McHenry, offers 11+ miles of beautiful bike trails, one of the park’s outstanding features. However, be ready to tackle some hills, and definitely bring a bike with gears.
