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 1132 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.
We rode from the parking lot near the corner of West Devon and N. Milwaukee in Norwood Park East up to the Chicago Botanic Garden and back, a total of just under 32 miles. The trail was in excellent condition--almost perfect asphalt surface, curvy, gentle hills and very shady. Most of the road crossings were quite easy--well regulated with lights or signage. We rode mid-day on a Friday in mid-May and there were only a few people on the trail (and one horse in the equestrian trail next to the bike/walk trail). We were on Class 1 e-bikes, following the 15mph speed limit, but did find that lots of people were speeding past us. The trail goes by many parks that include bathrooms and drinkable water.
We had planned to have lunch at the CBG, but found we'd have to buy tickets to enter ($23 pp). Apparently 3 years or so ago, you could get in for free and only had to pay for parking, as I had read in these reviews. We didn't have time to explore the garden so we ended up buying one ticket so one person could go in and purchase lunch for both us--we were hungry and did not want to ride busy roads to get to fast food places. There was a good picnic area by the parking lot where we could have our lunch.
CBG was a beautiful destination--you can ride through the perimeter of the garden with out buying a ticket. The Skokie Lagoon was also a wonderful natural area--full of deer and birds. I'd highly recommend this ride on the North Branch Trail if you're on Chicago's North Side.
Did the trail yesterday with my wife. Nice traffic bond trail with lots of shade and lots of dog poo left by unscrupulous pet owners . Why wreck this trail because you're too lazy to pick up after yourself . The world is not your toilet.
Nice ride, but many buckles in the pavement. Hang on tight!
Nice trail crossing Hwy 20 is kind of a pain but south of that it is nice. It goes to Hwy KR which is a lot further than the map shows. You can even go to Petrified Springs by taking the pathway that runs parallel to Hwy 31.
Be aware. Signage not good 1st part of south end (where we began).
Trail Link map + GPS very helpful. Since signs are more in keeping w/ biking, than nose on phone, a suggestion: At decision points pls post signs, rather than down the road when you’ve luckily made a correct turn. Once through that the South end chains thru parks, many charming bridges over The Root River. North end signage was elusive too. We park near Zoo, biked along shore line, cut West to pick up trail just west of Main Street bridge and enjoyed 90% of the ride back toward North/car. A leisurely and scenic ride except for the navigation guessing game at beginning and end.
We rode this trail along with the Stone Bridge Trail. The asphalt needs some repair but still a nice trail.
Rode this trail this past week. Nice and wide and flat. I’m sure it will be even more beautiful this summer.
It’s a short path that went quicker than expected on rollerblades. Still a nice path to explore, well maintained for the most part. I started at Doty Park (and I did not find a skate park as mentioned in the description, that was a bummer) and continued all the way to its end (a little past Boone County Conservation District) and then headed back again. Checking out all the little forks helped me to rack up around 8 miles round trip.
The Green Bay trail is nicely maintained but as others have mentioned the signs for how to keep the trail when going through residential areas is confusing. We found ourselves at one point randomly biking through Highland Park.
I’ve ridden this trail several times. It’s well kept and beautiful!
This is as close to the perfect path as you can get! Shaded and stays cooler in the summer and is also protected by wind and colder air in the winter! Tall trees border besides of the trail providing protection from the elements. Beautiful scenery, paved and well maintained. Only one small downfall is is no restrooms. There is also a small parking lot, midway on the path, between Harlem high school and Rock Cut on Zenith Parkway.
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