Map of the Illinois Prairie Path
Illinois Prairie Path
Illinois Prairie Path
LENGTH:
61 miles
SURFACE:
unpaved - ompacted crushed limestone
COMMUNITIES:
Elgin, South Elgin, Wayne, Lakewood, Wheaton, St. Charles, Geneva, West Chicago, Winfield, Batavia, Aurora, Warrenville, Glen Ellyn, Lombard, Villa Park, Hillside, Bellwood
HIGHLIGHTS:
rail-trail, James Pate Philup State Park, Timber Ridge Forest Preserve, Downtown Aurora, residential neighborhoods.
NEARBY TRAILS:
Fox River Trail
Stearns Road Trail
Great Western Trail
Timber Ridge Trail
James "Pate" Philup State Park
West Branch DuPage River Trail
Salt Creek Greenway Trail
RELATED LINKS:
The Illinois Prairie Path is a 61-mile long system of unpaved pathways located in Cook, DuPage and Kane Counties in Northeastern Illinois. The trail was the first Rails-To-Trails conversion in the United States and dates back to the 1960s.
The lengthy trail system branches out in several directions and serves several communities. The route goes past numerous parks and forest preserves. The trail also intersects with other major recreational trails in the area and with pathways and hiking trails in the forest preserves.
Conditions
The Illinois Prairie Path is open for non-motorized use such as bike riding and running. Horseback riding is allowed in certain sections. The surface of the trail is compacted crushed limestone.
Communities
The Illinois Prairie Path travels through or close by to the following communities: Elgin, South Elgin, Wayne, Lakewood, Wheaton, St. Charles, Geneva, West Chicago, Winfield, Batavia, Aurora, Warrenville, Glen Ellyn, Lombard, Villa Park, Hillside and Bellwood.
Points of Interest
The Illinois Prairie Path goes nearby to the following parks, schools, nature preserves and other points of interest:
| James Pate Philip State Park | Prairie Path Woodland Swamp County Park |
| Timber Ridge Forest Preserve | O'Donnel Park |
| Good Templar Park | Metea Valley High School |
| Prairie Landing Golf Club | Blackwell County Forest Preserve |
| Reed Keplar Park | St James Farm Forest Preserve |
| West Chicago Metra Station | Wheaton Metra Station |
| Lincoln Marsh Natural Area | Wheaton College |
| Glenwood Park Forest Preserve | College Avenue Metra Station |
| Rotolo Middle School | Hoffman Park |
| Illinois Avenue Park | Glen Ellyn Metra Station |
| Atten Park |
Nearby Trails
The Illinois Prairie Path intersects or goes nearby to several other recreational trails in the area, including: Fox River Trail, Stearns Road Trail, Great Western Trail, Timber Ridge Trail, James "Pate" Philup State Park Trails, West Branch DuPage River Trail and the Salt Creek Greenway Trail.
End Points
There are seveal branches to the Illinois Prairie Path system of trails.
The west end of the north branch is located along Raymond Street on the south side of Elgin. The trail meets the Fox River Trail at this location.
Another western endpoint of the trail is near Good Templar Park in Geneva. The trail intersects the Fox River Trail at this location as well.
A third western endpoint of the Illinois Prairie Path is located near S. River Street and Bond Drive in Batavia. The trail intersect the Fox River Trail at this point.
The west end of the south branch is located just north of W. Illinois Avenue in Aurora. Again, the trail is close to the Fox River Trail at this location.
The branches meet at W. Liberty Drive and S. Carlton Avenue in Wheaton. This point is close to the Wheaton Metra Station.
The east end of the Illinois Prairie Path is located at Butterfield Road and N. Forest Avenue in Bellwood.
Resources
Following are links to official off-site resources to find out more details about the Illinois Prairie Path in Northern Illinois.
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