Reviewed by: Paul Dumais , from Elk Grove, IL

Summary:
Start at County Farm Rd and Geneva Rd. Go west on the Geneva Spur, This section is never crowded. It goes through West Chicago, over a suspension bridge, around an airport, and through some forest preserves. When you get to the river, turn right. This is the scenic part. There is a short but difficult climb up out of St. Charles, but that leads to a tremendous downhill run over the river a couple of miles north. (Note: It is important that you do this loop in a clockwise direction. Otherwise, you have to go up this hill, which is a killer. Trust me on this).
After you cross over to the west bank of the river you follow an antique trolley track, which is kind of neat when the trains are running. When you get to South Elgin, you cross back over the river and continue north. This section is full of winding, rolling hills. My kids call it the roller coaster. Go down the first hill fast, and your momentum will carry you over most of the other hills.
The junction with the Elgin Branch is just south of Lake Street. Before turning right and heading south back towards Winfield, make sure you have enough water. The nearest fountains are 5 miles to the south (at Army Trail Rd.) or 1 mile north,(at the Riverboat). This final stretch is basically flat and straight. There is are bridges over Rte. 25, and Rte. 59, and a tunnel under North Avenue. Your starting point is at Milepost 3, so you can count down your distance to the finish.

Recommended Route:
North Loop (Winfield-Geneva-South Elgin-Winfield)

Reviewed by: Kevin , from Hillside IL

Summary:
This route is a pleasure cruise that lasts all day. There is no challenge to it whatsoever and it is not a mountain biking trail. Its wide enough for 4 bikes and is made of crushed gravel. The trail is nice for a sunday ride with the ladyfriend and maybe for learning how to break and turn fast and hard on loose gravel but thats about it. You can go far on it, but so can anyone else. It is fairly crowded and if you are going from villa park to Elgin, Id recomment taking the Great WEstern Trail as a shortcut because it not only has less people, but less street crossings too. the GWT is also gravel 4 lane.
Not a mountain bike trail either-not sure why they are listed on this site...
Excellent trail for a pleasure ride though

Recommended Route:
The whole thing

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Great Western Trail (for Sunday cruises)

Reviewed by: Alex , from Elmhurst Il usa

Summary:
THis sucks but once you get to wildmedows trace and see some steps leading down take them up into the other area acroos that the kids have name "the Monkey trail" these are by far the funnest part of the tril.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
monkey trils

Reviewed by: njiplex , from bellwood

Summary:
why is this even on the list. this is not a trail to mountain bike, even for fun. its nothing but a flat strip. good for road work, not for mountain biking. done even waste your time if your looking for some good mountain biking ie off road, single track. if you want to good for a ride with the famil of girlfriend this trail is good, other than that keep away.

Recommended Route:
none