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Map of regional bike paths / walking paths in Illinois

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Recreational trails for walking, running and cycling in Illinois

Regional Recreational Trails, Illinois map area

Regional Recreational Trails, Illinois

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Illinois has numerous recreational trails that go for miles across the Illinois countryside or that connect urban communities. Many of these trails are rail-trails that were constructed along abandoned railroad right-of-ways, other trails follow along canals or rivers and still other trails connect multiple parks.

Northeast Illinois, the Greater Chicago Urban Area, has numerous interconnecting bike paths / walking paths that cover much of the area and connect communities. Other cities in Illinois also have recreational trail systems, as well as a number of the rural communities.

Illinois has a number of "Rail Trails". These are recreational trails that have been constructed within the abandoned right-of-ways of historic railroads. These trails often extend out into the Illinois countryside and travel through natural areas, farmlands and past rural communities. These Rail Trails offer a fantastic way to experience Illinois and see sights that you would never see from the major roadways.

Below is a list of some of the major recreational trails in the State of Illinois. The trail names in red are links to a map and description for that specific trail. Many additional trails are shown on the maps for the various cities and counties within Illinois.

TRAIL NAME SECTOR LENGTH (mi.) SURFACE COMMUNITIES
Cal-Sag Trail NE 12 paved Lemont, Palos Hills, Palos Heights, Crestwood, Alsip
Chicago Lakefront Trail NE 18 paved Chicago
Des Plains River Trail NE 60 paved Rosecrans,  Libertyville, Des Plains, Rosemont
DuPage River Trail NE 16 paved Naperville, Woodbridge, Plainfield, Shorewood
Fox River Trail NE 37 paved Carpentersville, Elgin, Geneva, Aurora, Oswego
Great River Trail NW 33 paved Rock Island, Moline, Hampton, Albany
Great Western Trail NE 29 unpaved Sycamore, St Charles, Carol Stream, Elmhurst
Hennepin Canal State Trail NW 155 unpaved Moline, Geneseo, Rock Fallsm Bureau Junction
Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail NE 96 unpaved Peru, Ottawa, Seneca, Joliet
Illinois Prairie Path NE 61 unpaved Aurora, Wheaton, Elgin, Bellwood
Jane Addams Trail  NW 17 unpaved Orangeville, Freeport
Kankakee River Trail NE 10.6 unpaved Kankakee
Lincoln Prairie Grass Trail S 12 unpaved Mattoon, Charleston
Lincoln Prairie Trail C 14.5 paved Taylorville, Owaneco, Pana
Long Prairie Trail NE 15 unpaved Roscoe, Poplar Grove, Capron
MCT Confluence Trail SW 23 paved Alton, Hartford,  Granite City, Venice
MCT Nickel Plate Trail SW 29 paved Pontoon Beach,  Edwardsville, New Douglas
MCT Quercus Grove Trail SW 19 paved/unpaved Edwardsville, Hamel, Worden, Staunton
Metro BikeLink SW 11 paved Swansea, Belleville, Scott AFB
Millennium Trail NE 28 unpaved Lindenhurst, Round Lake, Wuaconda, Mundelein
North Branch Trail NE 33.5 paved Glencoe, Morton Grove, Chicago
Old Plank Road Trail NE 22 paved Joliet, Frankfort, Chicago Heights
Pecatonica Prarie Trail N 12.5 unpaved Pecatonica, Winnebago, Rockford
Prairie Trail NE 26 paved/unpaved Genoa City, McHenry, Crystal Lake, Algonquin
Rend Lake Bike Trail S 11 paved Sesser, Rend City
Robert McClory Bike Path NE 25 paved/unpaved Winthrop Harbor, Wuakegan, Fort Sheridan
Rock Island Trail C 37 paved/unpaved Toulon, Princeville, Dunlap, Peoria
Salt Creek Greenway Trail NE 32 paved Itasca, Addison, Oak Brook, Brookfield
Sam Vadalabene Great River Road Trail SW 20.5 paved Grafton,  Alton
Skokie Valley Bike Path NE 9.5 paved Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Highland Park
Southern DuPage County Regional Trail NE 46 paved/unpaved Naperville, Woodridge, Lemont
Tunnel Hill State Trail S 53 unpaved Karnak, Vienna, Tunnel Hill, Harrisburg, Eldorado
Virgil L. Gilman Nature Trail NE 10 paved Waubonsee, Aurora
Wauponsee Glacial Trail NE 22 unpaved Joliet, Manhattan, Ritchie


Individual Maps for Recreational Trails in Illinois

Here is a list of links to the individual maps for specific recreational trails in the State of Illinois.

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