Explore the best rated trails in Sycamore, 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 129 trails covering 4783 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.
Traveled roundtrip from 135th St (Romeo Rd). then south to Joliet at the Ironworks. Because the trail follows the old I&M canal there are no steep grades. Some parts in Lockport are paved but most of the trail is crushed limestone with few other trail users outside the cities. There are numerous markers all along the trail that explain the history of the canal and the surrounding area.
Rode this trail 7/6/24 and found it disappointing. Rode from mile 3.0 to 15.0 and back. The trail had sections of too deep gravel challenging traction. The entire route had loose stones and some ruts.
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.
The section from Bruce Road to the 355 tollway is gravel (not crushed limestone) and rather rough. The remainder of the trail westward is crushed limestone and is very scenic. At the 355 tunnel, you can head north on the Veterans Memorial trail which is asphalt and in excellent shape, super smooth with no annoying cracks. Night and day difference from the start of this trail.
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
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’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.
Biking between Sycamore and Lily Lake the trail is long, straight and flat - if that’s your kind of thing. Just lock your wheel straight and go. Trees offer protection from the sun and a nice farmland setting to view along the way, but could be monotonous for some. Trail parallels Route 64 on this section so there is some road noise, but no busy streets to cross. The crushed limestone is in great condition making for a nice relaxing ride. We much preferred the eastern end from Lily Lake to St Charles, but we started to encounter more trail traffic. A foray into Leroy Oakes Forest Preserve is worthwhile.
My Overall Thoughts Of This Path Is Amazing, Except The 12 Miles From North Chicago To The State Line, Is The Downside. Ever Since I've Been Living In Waukegan For 8 Years, This Path Has Not Changed. The Path Is Still Crushed Limestone To This Day, And Lake County Hasn't Paved it Yet. Bike Paths Are Not Supposed To Be Unpaved, All Paths Should Be Paved Except The Forest Preserve. The North Chicago, Waukegan, and Zion Sections Are Sketchy. These Area's Has A Lot of Street Crossings, And I Have An E-Bike, That I Ride On Here Most of The Time. With That Amount Of Street Crossings, It Drains My Battery, And I Can't Even Get To My Destination Without Getting Stranded. Before Spring This Year, I Got Stuck Nearly 3 Times On This Trail. Back On February 11th, 2024, I Was Riding To The State Line Which Was 9 Miles From Waukegan, And Then As I Was Heading Home, I saw 2 Or 3 Deers By The Trail Intersection In Beach Park Where Lions Woods Is At. So I had To Take A Shortcut Home. So I Turned Around And Turned Left On The Lions Woods Savanna Trail West, And Turned Left On Butrick Ave, And Went Straight Down. When I Left The Trail My Bike Tire Pops! With All The Constant Stoppings For These Cross Streets Is Really Bad, And I Had To Walk The 2 Miles Back Home. I Hope The City Of Waukegan Tells Lake County To Pave This Asap. Now The Second Time, On February 18th 2024, I was Riding To Highwood, And Thats 12 Miles Away From Waukegan. So When I was Entering Downtown North Chicago, My Bike Battery Dies. Thanks To The Constant Stops! If This Part Of The Trail Was Continued It Would Not Happen. Lake County! You Really Need To Pave This Path, It's Not Good, And With All This Limestone, Is Making The Treads Of My Bike Tire's Ware Out. If You Guys Have Kids, Make Sure They Have An Electric Scooter With Tires, And Not Rubber. I Contacted The Lake County Division Of Transportation, Asking Them If They Could Pave The Trail From North Chicago, To The State Line, They Never Responded. People Need To Stop Being Lazy And Pave This Path. The Only Part Of This Trail That Is Paved Is When Exiting North Chicago South To Great Lakes Navel Base, Lake Bluff, lake Forest, Highwood, Highland Park, And The County Line. Btw This Path So Far Looks Better With The New Bike Signs, And The Mile Markers, Which I'm Very Happy About. Now, When It Started Getting Warmer, In The North Chicago / Waukegan Section, The People Are Putting Graffiti On The New Bike Signs, Which Is Disappointing. How Am I Supposed To Navigate If They Are Going To Be Doing That? I Don't Know, But They Better Stop! Let's Hope Soon They Pave This Trail Soon! Now 2 Days Ago I Was Taking Some Night Photos Of This Trail, Right By Dugdale, And Belvidere Rd, Which Is The Small Portion Of The Trail Which Was Really Dark With No Lights, And It Was an Amazing Spot To Take Pictures. That Night I Saw Really Bright Lights Coming From The South Thinking it Was The Police Patrolling On The Trail, But There Was 4 People With Electric Scooters Which Was Cool, However, When I was Taking Photos Of The Trail, They Were Looking At Me Like I was Doing Something. Number 1, You Do Not Own The Trail, Number 2, Don't Give People Looks Just Because They Are Taking Pictures, Number 3, Your Kids Should Not Be Out Riding At 10:00 At Night, They Should Be In Bed. Now Today! As I Was Cruising On My E-Bike This Afternoon, I Saw This Idiot Speeding With His Dirt Bike On The Trail, It's A Good Thing I Pulled Over, Because He Would Have Gotten Dust All Over Me From The Ground. If It Says No Motorized Vehicles, Why Are People Doing It? Waukegan Really Needs Strict Rules Here. If I See That Guy Doing It Again, I'm Calling The Police. Anyway It's Still A Nice Trail, It Just Needs A few Updates, And Lets Hope They Pave The Whole 12 Miles From North Chicago To The State Line.
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