Explore the best rated trails in Harvard, IL, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the New Berlin Recreation Trail and City of Franklin Hike and Bike Trail (Route of the Badger) . With more than 126 trails covering 1134 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.
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 started at the south end and parked in the Robert McClory Bike Path parking lot (1000 Old Elm Rd Parking). Parking is free on Sundays. A permit to park is required Monday-Saturday but I don’t know where you’d get one. The path was recently repaved on the south end for a good stretch. The path is mostly straight with some small bridges and a lot of trees on both sides. Not many other people which was nice. I went to the end at Sheridan Rd and turned around, making it a 14 mile ride.
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.
In rough shape for cycling. The trail is a mishmash of gravel, crushed or deteriorating rocks/asphalt.
If it were crushed limestone that would be a great improvement. It doesn’t have to be paved over to make it better.
It’s too bad because it’s a nice quiet ride that isn’t too long if you want a quick ride after dinner etc.
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.
Nice, peaceful, perfect weather Monday morning ride. There is a tree laying over the trail @ 5.3 miles from Cottage Grove. Had to duck low, but was able to ride under it on the side that is still off the ground. No other issues for this part of the trail. Very enjoyable trail.
Did this ride starting at the East end. Loved the views and the trail was well maintained. I do wish the connection through Burlington as more direct or better signed.
We use this trail all the time. Flooded portion was about 100 feet long by 1 foot deep in places. Shoes got very wet as we pedaled through it. Ducks were happy. Usually the puddle is not this deep and long but we’ve had a lot of rain lately.
Biked this trail yesterday to complete a loop with the Lake Michigan pathway. The trail itself is enjoyable…getting out your phone to figure out where you are is not! The trail does have signs, but all signs are located in places where you don’t need help. I actually starting laughing every time I saw a sign with the arrow pointing forward on a straightaway. Almost every time I had to make a decision, there was no sign anywhere! Poor planning.
We’ve ridden from Sumner Park in Pecatonica east to Meridian Rd. several times. It’s crushed gravel most of the way. Between Lundgren Rd and Hoisington Rd it’s grass and gravel and kinda bumpy. The rest is in pretty good shape. West of Pecatonica to Farwell Bridge Rd is fairly bumpy. It’s mostly flat. It runs along the power lines so it’s not shady. Great bike shop in Pecatonica though, Bicycle Hub. Open Tuesday-Saturdays. Right on the main street.
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