Illinois
Prairie Path
Built
on an abandoned railroad right-of-way, the 55-mile Illinois Prairie
Path (IPP) is really an elaborate multi-trail system. The main
stem runs west from the community of Maywood in Cook County across
eastern DuPage County to the western trailhead in Wheaton. Then
from the Wheaton trailhead, a northwest branch leads to Elgin
and a southwest branch runs to Aurora in Kane County. Spurs off
the Elgin and Aurora branches run to Geneva on the northwest route
and Batavia on the southwest. Shaped like a sideways rake, the
IPP serves as the backbone and connects with many other trails
in the area. As a result,
hikers and bikers have access to the most extensive inter-connected
trail system in the Chicago area. In Cook and DuPage counties
(main stem, Elgin branch, Geneva spur), the trail is 10 feet wide
and crushed limestone. In Kane County (Aurora Branch), you will
find asphalt as well as crushed limestone segments. There are
numerous street crossing along the way, so if you are biking,
go slowly. Take your time and enjoy the parks, forest preserves,
communities and other points of interest along the way. Main stem
The main stem of the IPP runs east to west and consists of 15
miles of trail from Maywood to downtown Wheaton. The Maywood trailhead
is at busy First Avenue .3 mile north of I-290. While the first
mile of trail in Maywood is in good shape, the next 1.5 miles
is in questionable condition. You might consider skipping the
first 3.5 miles of trail and start farther west at Wolf Road and
Butterfield Road in Hillside. From Hillside the IPP passes into
DuPage County and through the communities of Elmhurst, Villa Park,
Lombard, and Glen Ellyn before ending at the path's western trailhead
in Wheaton's Volunteer Park. At the Wheaton trailhead you'll find
a display case with information about the IPP as well as a free
map and a water fountain at Volunteer Park. The name of the starting
point is appropriate given the thousands of volunteers who have
contributed their time and talents to make the IPP a premier trail
system. Elgin branch The Elgin Branch begins at the Wheaton trailhead
at Liberty Drive and Carlton Avenue and travels north for 15.7
miles. The branch eventually leads to Elgin where it connects
with the Fox River Trail. Along
the way, at 2.5 miles out, the branch splits in two. The Geneva
Spur heads west along the south side of Geneva Road and continues
8.6 miles to Geneva. The Elgin Branch continues northwest and
travels through a number of forest preserves on its way to Elgin.
Aurora branch The Aurora Branch runs from the northern trailhead
at Volunteer Park in Wheaton to Aurora, a distance of 13 miles.
Along the way the branch travels through numerous forest preserves,
over street, railroad and river crossings, and alternates between
off- and on-road terrain. The surrounding countryside is mostly
farmland. At 7.3 miles out (west of Route 59) the branch connects
to the Batavia Spur. The spur heads northwest into Kane County
for about 14 miles to downtown Batavia. Along the way it passes
through several forest preserves, the Fermilab Bike Path and eventually
connects with the Fox River Trail
in Batavia. For more information contact The Illinois Prairie
Path, P.O. Box 1086, Wheaton, IL 60189 or call (630) 752-0120.
Members receive a quarterly newsletter and a large IPP map. Your
contribution will help maintain and improve the IPP.
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Danada
Regional Trail
This
preserve located east of Herrick Lake is unlike most others you
may have visited. A 19-room mansion once owned by the late Daniel
and Ada Rice sits to the left. Nearby is a large guardhouse, barns,
stables, and paddocks for the horses. The Danada Equestrian Center,
a facility of the Forest Preserve District, has provided programs,
training, and a place for DuPage County residents to ride their
horses since the 1980s. One of my favorite trails in Chicagoland
is the peaceful .9-mile crushed limestone nature trail that winds
through the gently rolling terrain of the Parson's Grove area.
The Forest Preserve District is restoring native plants to this
area. From Danada hikers and bikers also can take the Regional
Trail back to the Herrick Lake preserve.
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Herrick
Lake Regional Trail
This 767-acre preserve features 6.5 miles of crushed limestone
trails that meander through woodlands, meadows, wetlands, prairie,
and around the lake. It also provides habitat for 300 native plants,
13 fish species, 108 species of birds, as well as 19 mammal species
and several different amphibians and reptiles. The Regional Trail
runs 2.2 miles through the Herrick Lake preserve, then continues
on to Danada Forest Preserve (see below) for another 2 miles east.
The Green Heron (1.9 miles), Bluebird (.4 mile), and Meadowlark
(1 mile) trails each form loops off the Regional Trail running
through the grasslands and woodlands. Farther north is the 1-mile
Lake Trail around Herrick Lake. The path runs through the U-shaped
parking lot north of the lake, along the shore, and through some
large oak trees near the lake. Drinking water, picnic tables,
and restrooms are available at several sites around the lake.
The trails are all open for cross-country skiing in the winter.
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Blackwell
Regional Trail
The
nearly 8 miles of multi-purpose trails at Blackwell offer a brief
lesson on the natural history of DuPage County. According to kiosks
along the trail, the preserve's most significant event was the
1977 discovery of a woolly mammoth skeleton, recovered from McKee
Marsh during a restoration project. It's now on display at the
Fullersburg Woods Environmental Education Center near Oak Brook.
Other restoration efforts in the 1,300-acre preserve include viewing
platforms, which offer ample opportunity to stop and check out
what the county looked like roughly 10,000 years ago. There are
two halves to the preserve, each offering similar views of native
plants and birds. With its flat terrain, Blackwell is perfect
for beginners. There's also a link to the Illinois
Prairie Path and other trails in nearby Danada and Herrick
Lake preserves.
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Oak
Brook Bike Path
This community has an excellent pedestrian/bike path system. You
can access the bike path on the east side of Jorie Boulevard near
the park district parking area. Take the asphalt path north by
the entrance to McDonald's Hamburger University. You will first
past Butler National Golf Course and then the Oak Brook Golf Club.
Evergreens, mostly spruce and some pine, line the trail, and hopefully
block the errant golf ball from landing on a trail user. At the
intersection of 22nd Street and York Road, follow the crushed
limestone path running south between York Road and the Oak Brook
Golf Club. At the intersection of York Road and 31st Street, head
right (west) along 31st Street. The bike path crosses over Salt
Creek and then runs behind the community library at the Spring
Road intersection. Continuing straight at the intersection will
take you back to Jorie Boulevard just south of the parking area,
making for a 4.6-mile trip. Or continue heading south on the bike
path. The first .3 mile south of 31st Street is an off-road crushed-limestone
surface trail to the Adams Road intersection. Continue southwest
on Spring Road for another .3 mile to the Madison Street intersection.
On your left is a trail entrance into Fullersburg Woods Forest
Preserve. Another portion of the bike path farther north leads
from York Woods Forest Preserve southwest to the Oak Brook Center.
From the York Woods south area entrance, head south on Harger
Road. After crossing Salt Creek, the dedicated bike path along
the east side of Harger leads to Spring Road and the Oak Brook
Center. Yet another good place to bike or hike is the asphalt
path in Central Park in the Oak Brook Park District area west
of Jorie Boulevard.
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Waterfall
Glen
A nearly pristine environment, Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve
encircles the Argonne National Laboratory in the southeastern
part of DuPage County. This is one of the county's most ecologically
and scenically diverse areas. You'll find hilly ravines, rock
outcroppings, a waterfall, and bluffs overlooking the Des Plaines
River Valley. Living in this 2,470-acre ring of wilderness are
75 percent of all plant species found in DuPage County. Ten endangered
plants and 71 plants of special concern grow here. Scientists
discovered the federally endangered Hines emerald dragonfly on
the preserve. Hikers and bikers can enjoy all this from the hilly
and well-maintained 9.5-mile crushed-limestone path, one of the
best in the area. In addition to the main path, there are many
mowed turf trails, dirt paths, fire lanes, and service roads throughout
the preserve offering miles of somewhat rugged pathways. If you
venture off on the side trails, bring a map and compass. The Lemont
Police shooting range is mentioned on the trail map, but is actually
a fair distance from the trail. Also, bicyclists are prohibited
from trails less than 8-feet wide. A mountain bike is recommended
over a road bike. Drinking water and restrooms are available at
the trailhead. It's a good idea to partake since the next water
fountain or restroom is 3/4 of the way around the preserve at
the Outdoor Education Camp area.
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