Explore the best rated trails in Machesney Park, IL, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Lower Yahara River Trail and Peace Trail . With more than 80 trails covering 764 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
Perfect biking day in September on an awesome trail. Started in Wales and biked to Sullivan and made return trip for total of 23 miles. First portion of trail was paved and remaining portion was well-maintained crushed gravel. Highly recommend this trail and will do again.
We absolutely love this trail. Many areas are shaded. Waukesha section is totally paved. It’s a gem!
Trail has different terrains, from pebbles, limestone, paved n larger gravel. We expected to only do this route n back, but due to poor signage, we rode 14 miles extra miles as we caught a different trail. I didn’t care for the larger gravel in the last 4 miles. Also, some of the limestone was not kept up. We rode carefully in those areas. Finally, there were many instances that you cross a street which didn’t have a slight ramp. Won’t do this trail again!
Tried biking from Monticello to New Glarus to get some lunch. Didn’t last long due to horrible trail conditions. Ended up riding back to Exeter Road and rode country roads to get to Badger State Trail. Very disappointing. I had great memories of riding the Sugar River Trail as a kid, now I’m worried about breaking a spike or bending a rim. Stay off unless you’re up to a rough ride, have lots of patience, a bike repair kit as well as a First Aid kit!
If you are starting at Meyers Park (the first parking area at this end of the trail), it cuts off approximately 5 miles of the trail. It is also not labeled or have signage that states "Seven Waters Bike Trail" rather the signage states Racine Bike Trail System. At some intersections the signage is very poor and I needed to pull out google maps to figure out where the trail continued. Lots of street crossings, most not busy however you are on a semi busy road for about a mile until you pick up the trail again. There is a bike lane but not the whole part of this road.
Overall I was not impressed with this trail. It would be a good trail for exercise if you live close to it but not worth driving to from anywhere else.
Rode the trail from New Glarus to Albany yesterday for 30 mile round trip. The trail needs some heavy duty repair like grading and a fresh layer of traffic bond. Not very suitable for a road bike ! The state really needs to fix it soon.
I loved how the trail was varied in scenery. Wooded, town, neighborhoods. We started in North Aurora, Il and went to South Elgin. During first 8 miles and of course the last 8 the asphalt was heaved frequently as much as 3-6 inches and the width of the trail. Riding a recumbent, the bumps are quite pronounced. Shortly after starting you come to a flight of stairs. There is a sign on a post on the left of the trail warning you. Just make a right through the parking lot and go to the street and go left in sidewalk to circumvent them.
Trail is all crushed stone until near Elgin along the Fox River and mostly shaded with long stretches between road crossings. Passes through several forest preserves and uses tunnels or bridges when crossing major highways. Trail website at ipp.org has good maps of the entire network.
I ride the Jane Adams (Il. path) to the Badger (Wi. state line) several times a week as they connect to the Sugar River Trail.
All have amazing views. One bridge missing on the Badger and the tunnel will be reopened in summer 2025 on the Badger.
It's been a horrible year with flooding, tornadoes, trees down and clearing. Trail work has been tedious. But I give the DNR an 'A' for effort.
Plenty of trail heads, places to eat and nature to enjoy.
Unfortunately the picnic tables and benches never seemed to be mowed around much this entire 2024 on all three paths.
Beauty, peace and tranquility is what I get out of it. Often week days I can put in 25 miles and maybe see one other rider.
Good but not great this year.
Biked from New Glarus to Albany round trip. Very disappointed in quality of the trail. Doesn’t appear to be well maintained. Originally planned to bike to Brodhead, but turned around early.
We e-biked a Brodhead to New Glarus round trip with a short jaunt from Crazy Horse Campground (Great Place near the trail in Brodhead). Perfect day: 80 degrees, sunny, low humidity, a few mosquitos when we stopped. We have done this route two other times and this time was still a great experience even after recent weather events. Wisconsin DNR teams were clearing, mowing and as always extremely kind. There was one tricky, soft and slightly washed area just north of Monticello.
An incredible lesson learned while on the trail today. If you ever come across something of value to someone else....like a government ID or a wallet...pick it up and turn it in to the local police/sheriff. The owner of such item will be forever grateful to your kindness.
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