The Top 5 Bike Trails North and Northwest of Chicago

The Chicagoland area is known for great bike trailscrushed stone path that winds it's way through the
and you've just found a summary of the best bikewooded north shore suburbs not far from the shores
trails in the Chicagoland area (north and northwest).of Lake Michigan. The main 18 mile stretch of the GBT
With so many great bike trails to choose from, thereavoids most of the north shore business areas but
will, of course, be different opinions, depending on yourthere are many nice places that are easily accessible
personal riding style and preferences and what is mostfor an interesting break from the trail. Some parts of
important to you. The top 5 bike trails selected havethe GBT actually lead you through some residential
quite a bit to offer to a wide variety of riders.streets of the affluent north shore suburbs and you
Our top 5 bike trails choices include nicely paved trailscan also visit Ravina Music Festival and some of the
as well as crushed stone trails and trails with accessbeautiful beaches on Lake Michigan.
to more rugged mountain biking areas. Most of our topThe GBT starts in Wilmette, Illinois at the southern end
5 trails connect other trails which will allow you to varyand goes north to Lake Bluff when it turns into the
or extend your rides as you choose. You can selectRobert McClory Bike Path. There is some disputes
the best sections of the trails for short or mediumregarding the exact path names but for this article I am
distance rides or extend your rides to 100 miles orreferring to the GBT between Wilmette and Lake
more on a some of these trails!Bluff. The GBT does get a little crowded at peak
The Top 5 Bike Trails - Chicago North and Northwesttimes so if you prefer more solitude, I would suggest
Fox River Bike Trail - The Fox River Trail (FRT) is theplanning your ride around the potential busy times.
nicest paved bike trail in the Chicagoland area. TheGreat Western Bike Trail -The Great Western Trail
FRT has beautiful wooded areas along the river, cool(GWT) is one of the many Rails to Trails bike trails and
winding paths through the woods and scenic viewsrolls through the Illinois prairies and countryside from St.
from the trail and from the many bridges that the FRTCharles, Illinois to Sycamore. The trail is crushed stone,
crosses.has a few easy rolling hills and very light bike traffic.
The FRT starts in Aurora, Illinois on its southern endWhat I really like is the rural atmosphere, prairies and
and runs north to Algonquin where it connects to theopen farmland.
McHenry County Prairie Trail. Although the Prairie TrailThe eastern end of the GWT is mostly shaded while
can be taken all the way to the Wisconsin border, itthe tree cover on the western part of the trail opens
becomes crushed stone and more rugged as you goup and it can be quite sunny. The trail ends in a quite
north. You can also connect to the Illinois Prairie Pathcommunity park in Sycamore. I'd suggest this trail if you
(IPP) (also crushed stone in many sections) at threewould like to get away from the rush of the city and
different locations, for some very nice rides thatenjoy a quiet rural bike ride where you can hear your
branch out east on the beautiful IPP.own thoughts.
You can easily ride over 100 miles on the FRT and it'sBusse Woods Bike Trail - The Busse Woods Trail
connecting trails or you can select your favorite areas(BWT) is a paved bike trail that loops through the
along the Fox River and enjoy a relaxing ride in theBusse Woods Forest Preserve in Elk Grove, Illinois.
wooded areas along the riverside. This bike trail doesThere's quite a variety of scenery in this 12 mile bike
get a little crowded on hot summer weekends and ontrail. At the northeastern part of the trail there is an
holidays so if you prefer less people, I would suggest aactual Elk heard (in a large fenced off area). Once you
weekday or off time.head south from the elk herd you'll ride past a number
Des Plaines River Trail - The Des Plaines River Trailof forest preserve entrances with lots of activity on
(DPRT) is a nice crushed stone trail with somebusy summer days and weekends. You will pass over
wooded and shaded areas mixed with sunny prairiethe Salt Creek and some small lakes and will ride
sections. Traffic on the trail is a little lighter than manythrough some scenic wooded areas.
of the other bike trails in this area (probably due to theThere are also plenty of other side attractions such as
crushed stone surface). Most of the highwaylots of boaters, fishers, major kite flyers and a Remote
intersections are bridge underpasses so you can doControlled airplane field in one of the groves. It can be
quite a distance, non stop without having to deal witha lot of fun to watch the flyers do their aerobatics...
highway crossings.The one drawback to this trail is that it can get quite
The northern section of the DPRT is the nicestcrowded on busy weekends and at peak times. If you
crushed stone bike trail in the area. The northern partdon't want to deal with the crowds you will want to
of the DPRT starts in Lincolnshire (Half Day) and canvisit this trail at an off time.
be taken all the way to the Wisconsin border. One ofPlease keep in mind that there have been quite a few
the nicest features of this trail is that most of it is well"runner ups" for this top 5 bike trail category, and there
shaded on hot summer days. You may want to avoidare many more great bike trails out there in the
this trail in extremely wet weather. The underpassesChicagoland area. There may also be some changes
can be closed when the river is high and when therein this top 5 listing as time goes on, but for now, this
has been flooding.should give you some real good opportunities to get
Green Bay Bike Trail - The Green Bay Trail (GBT) is aout and enjoy the ride!