Review Date
July 8, 2009

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: jonnysprocket ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
the section that the last buy mentions is called the 8 ball as there are (were) 4 separate loops that make a figure 8 between Algonquin Rd at the north end and I-294 and the larger Des Plaines River bike trail at the south end. Because of massive flooding of the Des Plaines River, most of the good stuff is washed out. used to be see saws, long log rides, big jumps. all washed away now. best section is the north east, starting at Algonquin and ending at Oakton. right at the end (or the beginning if you start at Oakton) there is a gulley with a 10' downhill to flat to uphill. it's fun and if you hit it from the Oakton side, you can get air. south of Oakton, the east loop used to have a great BMX pump track with 3 jumps but some jerk took a shovel to it. The east loop is also very nice, and finishes with a nice singletrack that is generally not overgrown. these trails have been trashed by the weather lately but we've done some cleanup. i like the # of fallen logs that you have to go over. most of them have been made into ramps which makes it fun. technical difficulty is low, but you can make it more challenging and work on your technique over logs there.

Recommended Route:
both east loops are fun. go thru them from either direction.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
for singletrack? palos, wilmette/skokie lagoons/palatine.

Review Date
May 29, 2009

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: Tones23 ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
This is primarily a bridal trail for horse riding with several technical singletracks - if you know where to find them - ranging from easy to very hard. Most will be on the East side of the trail. They're easy to miss, and you'll think this trail is a joke if you're looking for a challenge and you do miss them. They are not posted on any maps and techinically not part of the trail at all. Some are casually maintained, and others untouched. None of them are official. Overall, there's something for everyone if you look hard enough - even a very hard to find downhill.

Recommended Route:
With a major link now completed, the trail is nearly continuous from Grand Ave to the Wisconsin border (50-something miles I think). The major broken section between Algonquin Rd and Ballard has been connected by a bike lane on Campground Rd and paved trail that leads you from Algonquin Rd to Rand and Ballard (about 1/4 mile from the re-entry point on Ballard Rd continuing North.

There is another similar Northbound break where the trail seems to dead end and you have to cross Milwaukee Ave and continue on Wikleman Rd to pick up the Northbound Trail.

Most of the singletracks have two paths at difficult areas for an easier ride or a more challenging ride.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
North Branch bridal trails (not the paved trails)

View Comments (1)

Would you like to Comment?
Join MTBR.com for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Review Date
September 15, 2008

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 2 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: redxjay ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Official Trail maps:
Lake County Section:
http://www.lcfpd.org/docs/map_22079.pdf

Cook County Section North:
http://www.fpdcc.com/downloads/dpn_trailmap.pdf

Cook County Section South:
http://www.fpdcc.com/downloads/dps_trailmap.pdf

This trail is mostly a wide crushed limestone or dirt trail from Wisconsin/Illinois boarder to Madison Ave in Forest Park, IL. With some really nice single track in the last south section.

As for dirt jumps:
Three possible locations I've heard of:
1. River Grove, North of Grand Ave. and just south of the rail road underpass - look east for some small jumps about 60 yards off the main wide trail. There is also a little bmx singletrack trail that wanders through the trees (very lame)
2. Off Oakton Ave - see other posts and youtube
3. Somewhere in Wheeling - as seen on youtube

Recommended Route:
Between North Ave and Madison Ave is an amazing singletrack trail. this is not on any off the official trail maps.

North of Washington and just south of the union pacific tracks head east on single track to a cool berm/hill for some fun stuff a few small jumps around the base.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Palos Hills

Review Date
October 12, 2003

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 1 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 1 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Review Date
September 14, 2002

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once