Bicycle Trails and Routes for Cyclists in Illinois

There are several good guide books for trails in bicycle routes in Illinois. A couple of these are: Biking Illinois, and The Complete Grand Illinois Trail Guidebook. See more about these on the Resources for Cyclists page.

Supported Rides in Illinois

Supported rides are a favorite of many cyclists. Clubs and various organizations plan and support one day rides in Illinois. Routes vary in length and difficulty. Typically the routes are bicycle friendly. Some support causes. Mike Bentley provides an annual list of Bicycle Rides that he says is, "The Original Illinois Bike Rides website serving cyclists since 1999." You can find his Bike Ride page at Illinois Rides

Illinois Official Bicycle Maps

The state of Illinois has digital maps for downloading for earch county and 5 regional bicycle maps. The link takes you to the IDOT page where you can select the maps you need. These maps will mark roads and trails that are most suitable for bicycle travel. They provide very good detail for your bike route planning. I have used them in my bicycle travels in the state of Illinois. Illinois Bicycle Maps

Also checkout the the Illinois Trail Map which includes information on 100 Illinois trails with surface and length of each. You will find an overview or the Grand Illinois trail, the Missippissi River trail, and the old Route 66 to name a few. Download the map in "PDF" format here: Illinois Trail Map

North Western Illinois Trails

Northern Illinois has many tails. Some are useful for getting around in the western suburbs of Chicago while avoiding heavily trafficked roads. The Illinois county and regional maps linked above can help you plan you bicycle travels through the state of Illinois.

Fox River Trail

The southern section of this trail begins in Oswego winding along the Fox River to the edge of Algonquin in the north. More than 40 miles of mostly paved trails. Traveling through Aurora, North Aurora, Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles and Elgin, riders will find food, drink and a few bicycle shops. There are also spurs along the way. Here is a map of the Fox River Trail Fox River Trail

V.L Gillman Trail

The V.L. Gillman Trail starts in southeast Aurora, crossing Illinois Route 25 just north of Montgomery as it heads west. At Route 25, S. Broadway in Aurora, the trail crosses the Fox River on an old railroad bridge as it heads toward Waubonsee Community College. This trail is 11.2 miles long. Here is a trail map from the Forest Preserve District of Kane County Fox River Trail

The Prairie Path

Established in 1963 this trail runs from Wheaton to Melrose Park. There are branches to Aurora, St. Charles and Aurora. The map has information on trailheads and parking. Here is link to the map: Illinois Prairie Path

Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail

This trail passes through state parks and rural areas along the old I & M Canal tow path, once used by mules to tow boats. Mostly a limestone trail, it is 61.5 miles long with views of the Des Plaines and Illinois Rivers. In Ottawa you can see a replica tow boat and the toll booth. I have ridden it with road bikes and mountain bikes. You may prefer wider tires. Here is a link for more information about this historic trail. Illinois DNR IM Canal

Southern Illinois Trails

Tunnel Hill State Trail

This is one of my favorite Illinois trails. Stretching from Harrisburg to Karnac and traveling through an old railroad tunnel on the Chicago and Eastern railbed, spans 44.5 miles.

You will find more information about this trail on the Tunnel Hill Trail page.

Chicago Area

If your bicycle route across the United States includes the Chicago area, take a look at The Active Transportation Alliance, formerly the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation. They have been an advocate for safe bicycle commuting for nearly 25 years - Active Transportation Alliance A bicycle map of Chicago published by the City of Chicago can be downloaed in PDF format here: Chicago Land Bicycle Map The map shows biycle routes and trails. The Chicago has made a significant investment in bicycle lanes downtown in recent years. As of this page update in the spring of 2019, their map is marked 2015.

Active Transportation Alliance Chicago

The Active Transportation Alliance, orginally founded in 1985 as the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, is involved in advocacy for bicycling. Their site says, "We work with local residents and community leaders to create more convenient biking options." You can find out more about the alliance and their resources at: Active Transportation Alliance Contact Bike Across USA with tips and routines for bicycle fitness training or maintenance.

Links of Interest