Explore the best rated trails in Effingham, IL, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Lincoln Prairie Trail and Lincoln Prairie Grass Trail . With more than 4 trails covering 36 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.
This trail is well maintained. Lots of birds and wildlife. I rode the trail on a Friday afternoon in late March (62 degrees) and there were 5 other folks riding and walking. It is a flat trail that runs through mostly farm land. ¿
The trail surface is smooth asphalt. Except for the first and last miles, it is also essentially seamless. Great.
The scenery is pretty much nothing, and there isn't really anything along the way. The eastern portion is more scenic than the western, passing over a couple ravines of tributaries to the Embarras river.
Great trail for a workout.
Nice way to spend a beautiful day biking 16+ miles on an asphalt trail. They are currently doing work putting in new telephone poles.
Heavy leaf cover and branches and other debris from trees completely cover the pavement in many areas along the trail which require very slow and careful navigation when on a bike. Stopped several times to either walk bike through rough patches or to pull twigs lodged between tire front fender. This trail is not maintained at all and needs a thorough sweeping by villages or organization tasked with keeping trail in a safe and reasonably maintained condition for the enjoyment of everyone whether biking or hiking.
There are sections of this trail that are very rough. After a few miles...I just gave up beating me and the bike to death. This could be a beautiful trail if it just had some repaving and trimming.
We enjoyed our first out and back ride on the Lincoln Prairie Trail on a hot and sunny morning. First the positives. Beautiful farmland scenery over a 13.5 mile straight line from Pana to Taylorville. Tree cover is intermittent and very welcome on a sunny day with the exception of a 2 mile long open stretch just east of Taylorville. There are a number of really beautiful stretches where you’re going through a tunnel of trees along the way. For those looking for a flat trail, this fits the bill. Over our 27 mile out and back ride we gained a mere 250 feet of altitude. As for the less positive elements, the pavement varies between good and poor condition. The opening 2 miles from Pana is pretty rough with lots of grass and weeds growing through cracks in the pavement. In other areas there are a lot of cracks and bumps that detract a bit from the ride. Be aware that there are no amenities along the path. Use the restroom at the McDonalds in Pana before starting as the porta-potty at the Pana parking lot is not very nice. Also be sure to pack water and a snack as there is no where to get something along the way. Despite the negatives, we really enjoyed our ride and will be back. If you love beautiful farm scenes and a flat ride you should enjoy the Lincoln Prairie Trail. When we reached the north end near Taylorville we were greeted with an imposing concrete barrier that keeps you from crossing a small bridge and completing the last mile into Taylorville. I hope they can raise the funds to repair the bridge as it would really be nice stop for a refreshment before returning to Pana.
100 percent ashphalt! Straight with nice towns on either end. New bathroom stop 1/2 way. Great length and a nature center at one end. Worth the effort.
If you happen to be in Charleston IL then definitely visit it, but don’t go out of your way to visit it It is in very excellent condition, 95% paved despite the photo on this website Straight as an arrow, one slight turn in 11 miles. Very nice nature center about 3 miles from end in Mattoon Il.
The trail is great, but needs shade and wind barriers.
We parked at the Charleston Baseball Seaton Complex and rode towards Mattoon. The trail is a wonderful smooth asphalt surface which is sunny all the way to the Douglas-Hart Nature Center. It is a great trail!
Beautiful scenery! however this trail is no longer asphalt it has been converted to a gravel trail,Lack of signage also makes it hard and confusing to find, If you have the luck of finding it you will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the lake and heavily wooded areas.
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