Explore the best rated trails in Rochelle, IL, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Illinois & Michigan Canal State Trail and Tall Grass Greenway Trail . With more than 85 trails covering 4508 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.
Better than battling cars to me. We saw tons of wildlife and the living history of the I and M canal! Won’t lie, very tough ride but super cool. Pair it with a visit to Starved Rock State Park and some hiking!!!
I’d read many negative reviews but wanted to do it anyway. I’m so glad I did. For me it’s a one and done trail. It’s a long trail and most of it over grassy and gravelly areas which makes it seem even longer since you can’t really ride that fast. But the grass had been cut and it was better than battling cars to me.
We ( recumbent trike & e-bike) headed West from the Kiwanis park. Turned around after 9km as the surface was really tough on the trike. There’s 2 good wheel tracks for bikes, but the trike had to ride partially in the coarse trail ballast. Scenic area with farm views and a huge windmill farm in the distance.
Except for the bison herd, not much interesting to see here on this flat trail.
As noted, bring Real-ID for trail access. Also, check lab website (fnal.gov) for occasional closings. Wilson Hall building with restrooms is open on weekdays.
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.
Starting on Leask Lane (at Butterfield Road) the trail skirts Rice Lake with some steep upward curves until the equestrian center (interesting buildings with history) then flattens out to go under Naperville Road. Along that section of trail on west side of tunnel, see the practice track and starting gate used to train the 1965 Kentucky Derby winner. Trail connects with several trails in the Herrick Lake preserve. Very little shade on most of the trails.
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.
As of July 23, 2024 there are no signs of tunnel revival. The first six miles from the northern end are paved and well maintained. After that it turns to gravel and dirt. With a lot of grass. It appears neglected.
As of 7/7/24 no work done on tunnel. There isnt even a trail left, leading up to the tunnel. The tunnel project is a complete sham. Where is the 6 million dollars? Where did the insurance money go, for the bridge, north of Monroe? Time for someone to be held accountable.
Nice trail with cool bridge over Fox River. However, came across two viaducts west of the river with homeless people literally doing drugs as I rode through. I didn’t feel very safe.
Excellent visit for the second time we were able to make this trip from Joliet to Peru, it was wonderful, it is a safe road I think it lacks some maintenance but in general it is a very good, recommendable
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