08/31/25 - Last day of August absolutely spectacular weather the last two week. At 9:30am it's 68 degrees, sunny w/ very low humidity . Get out and enjoy the last days of summer & Fall. So far productive done over 11,000 steps & it's only 12:00 read more

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This is one of my favourite trail for cycling in Chicago. It is long, you can get to Skokie Lagoons, botanical garden and even farther to the north. Miles and miles of fun. Usually not crowded. I like it during the summertime. read more

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Fantastic trail! We finally crossed it off the bucket list. We biked the entire north branch trail and oooo weee I am exhausted. The trails has bridges, hills, hiking paths, prairie grass, deer, birds and so much more. My husband and daughter loved it. Be sure to bring water and there are plenty of pit stops along the way, so maybe some snacks for a picnic too. read more

North Branch Trail - Map - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

So gorgeous. The trail is pretty smooth. I don't like that it cuts off a lot by intersections but that maybe 1/8th of the ride. Otherwise it's separated between runners and cyclists. I saw some deer and they didn't do anything but look up and then continue eating read more

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The paved trails are great and run next to the river. If you want to cycle to the Botanical Garden you can. The views were breathtaking in many spots. A special attraction for kids were passing trains. The traffic and the noise did bother us little bit. read more

North Branch Trail - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The North Branch Trail is a pretty cool thing, but not quite what I expected. While the trail does wind through some pretty wooded areas, it is broken up quite regularly by busy roads and is very crowded at the weekends. I suppose I'm a victim of unrealistic expectations. I was just hoping for more of a relaxed ride instead of being forced to dodge an inordinate number of people moving very erratically in both directions. Although, I'd be hard-pressed to think of another place where one could be treated to an encounter with a huge Hasidic family on inline skates. All in all, the bike trail experience was not unlike the lakefront slalom down by North Avenue. Just be alert and prepared for a little competition. That being said, the trail itself is smoothly paved and well-maintained. Under normal weather conditions, it should pose no problems whatsoever. Deer sightings are pretty much guaranteed, but just remember to pull to the side if you want to stop and enjoy their graceful beauty! If your entry/exit point is at Caldwell and Devon, do stop for a treat at Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream in Edgebrook (Devon/Minehaha). On the way home, when you've earned it! The staff are friendly and the ice creams are great. I particularly recommend the Zanzibar Chocolate in a sugar cone. Happy biking! read more

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From the perspective of a hiker/walker, this is a wonderful trail. It passes through woodlands, savannas, and along waterways. If you watch, really watch, where you are walking, you will see numerous dirt trails that branch off from the main paved trail. Follow them. Get some dirt into the cleats of your shoes. The side trails are not mapped, but it's not as if you're Daniel Boone travelling the wilds of Kentucky. You'll find your way out again. When you're walking the main trail, be sure to walk as far to the right as possible. There are a lot of bikers and rollerbladers sharing the trail with you; and only occasionally does one of them sing out "on your left" as they pass you by. I do not recommend wearing earphones of any type while you're walking, because you need to be aware when someone is about to run you down, so that you can dive onto the grass. Almost all the bikers we saw this most recent time were wearing headsets, so they, too, were unaware of what was going on around them. The only thing I don't like about this trail is the constant roar of traffic from the nearly expressway. There's absolutely nothing to be done about that. Of course, if you're really seeking a wilderness experience, you should know that you're not going to get it on a paved trail. Even in this urbanized natural setting, you can see wildlife. The bird population is vast. We did see many geese and ducks, of course, including families with five or six downy babies. We saw a great blue heron swoop onto a sidebar, then stand on one leg and survey its domain. We heard many frogs chirping in the wetlands, and saw one turtle laboriously crossing the path. Sometimes I go here alone. I bring a snack and something to read, and I plop myself down against a tree, somewhere with a water view, and I watch the fish peek up and make eddies. I listen to the wind move the leaves. I watch the social interactions of red-winged blackbirds. Even if you don't want to walk, or can't walk far, you can find some peace and relaxation here. There are a few porta-potties along the way. I guess Yelp can count that as "gender-neutral" bathrooms. My busy work time is on the weekend, so I'm always here on the weekdays. It's never crowded then. I imagine it's nuts on the weekends, so all the more reason to be cautious on the trail and aware of traffic. The North Branch Trail is a gem. read more

For those cycling, you'll find the trails are well paved. I remember some sections that were not all that great. Amazingly, the trail has actually improved over the years. If you want to start out around Devon and happen to be using your bike carrier, drive a little north on Caldwell and park/unload at Bunker Hill. Google map it to get a visual. You will be starting before mile marker 1.5 and will frequently cross intersections for the first 5 miles, more often than the rest of the trail. Not a problem for adults, but if you are bringing along the kids, be very careful. It gets better after Dempster and Golf, and by then you will probably want to head back with the kids. Recently, as a family excursion, we started out at Dempster with the destination being Botanical Gardens. I think we covered about 20 miles plus the walking through the Garden. At Tower Rd., you have two choices around the Skokie Lagoon and I believe the eastern route is a little shorter, or at least it seems that way. When you finally do get to the Garden at Dundee, you will have to continue cycling for about another 5 minutes more to the north end entrance. As you get close to the entrance, they request that you stay off the visitors road. Pay attention and take the short alternative back road for bicycles and you will find the bike racks just outside the entrance. Beyond the North Branch Trail If you are distance cyclist, you might already know that you can continue your route north by heading less than a couple of miles east on Lake-Cook to the Metra Line. Along the tracks is an extension of the Green Bay Trail, Robert McClory Bike Path. You will ride past Ravinia, can get off in Zion and go to the Illinois State Beach or take the trail all the way to the State Line. Water Trail Loop Or as an alternative route back south, you can take the 10 mile Green Bay Trail into Glencoe, ride through Evanston on Green Bay Rd. (west of the tracks) and run into the 8 mile North Shore Channel Trail. It looks like a river, but is actually man made and an extension of the Chicago River that assists in reversing the east/west river flow downtown away from the lake. (Locks by Navy Pier to Sun-Times Building). The North Shore Channel Trail will take you back into Chicago and it ends around Lawrence and little west of California. If you will be doing a little research, part or all of the trail may be referred to as simply the North Channel Trail. The Fork in the Water Right before the southern end of the North Shore Channel Trail, the North Branch of the Chicago River and the North Channel intersect. The branching of these two water flows start right behind the North Park College Football Stadium off of Foster and can be seen along the North Shore Channel Trail in Chicago's River Park. From this point, the Chicago River drastically meanders almost directly west before the North Branch Trail starts at Devon. If you haven't caught on, the North Branch Trail runs along the North Branch of the Chicago River. read more

Such a nice change of pace from the lakefront! Don't get me wrong: I love our beautiful lake, its waves, its beaches, its sweeping views on the skyline and its great running path. I am not such a big fan of the crowds that take it by storm every summer and turn it into an obstacle course where bikers and roller bladers always seem eager to injure you in some twisted and sadistic way. Besides - when you run long distance, a change of scenery is always nice so that you don't completely lose it over boredom. The North Branch Trail is the ideal counterpoint. Trees, lots of them. Mini-hills, too many of them (!). Roads to cross. A running river. Little creeks. Wild life. And if you feel nostalgic - bikers, roller bladers, families, mile markers (painted on the ground) as well. I didn't see water fountains on the stretch I ran but I heard that they do exist, aplenty. Definitely deserves more exploring. Bonus point: if you park by Caldwell Woods, you can refuel with a malted shake (or whatever you heart desires!) at the nearby Superdawg....just sayin'... read more

Absolutely love this trail. The North branch of the Chicago river winds through this trail and there are forest preserves along the way that you can stop at and use the facilities and take a break and have a picnic before continuing on. Portions of trail are through the woods so it's nice on a hot day to have some shade. There are a few streets you'll need to cross to continue along the trail and some where the crossing is not at a stoplight, so you'll have to be very careful. I've never seen the trail very crowded but there is a good mix of walkers, bikers(both casual and speed), roller-bladers, dog walkers, families, etc. so you will need to do some weaving but nowhere near the amount of chaos as the lakefront trail. People are mostly courteous of others. We've never made it all the way to the Botanical Gardens, but it is my goal to do so. One of the women's bathrooms didn't have any doors, to the stalls, which I found particularly odd. I definitely recommend this trail during the Fall season as you'll be treated to beautiful colors along the trail and possibly deer sightings. Construction has started on an extension to the trail even farther North, which I am very excited about. Here is a link to the trail map. Enjoy! http://fpdcc.com/downloads/maps/trails/english/FPCC-North-Branch-Trail-Map-10-15.pdf read more

North Branch Trail - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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To those that ride the Lakefront Path regularly, two things will immediately reveal themselves to you about the paved trail. There are significantly less people on it. There is no lake affect wind. There are streets that break up the trail and force you to come to a dead stop. You'll see all sorts of riders on this trail from true Fred's to the gleaming Cervelo riders in team regalia on their way back from a jaunt up to Fort Sheridan. The blind turns and small elevation changes keep the pace of the trail pretty subdued overall. Don't expect to be able to hammer the whole time as it's a sure fire way to "schwinn" someone or take a turn a bit to briskly and end up forced by traffic into the trees. While this may turn off some, it gives the trail a very nice charm. I can't think of anywhere else where in the fall, you can ride through a forest in the Chicago area on a paved trail that is absolutely exploding with bright yellow leaves from sugar maples. It puts a smile on my face just thinking about it. This path also has some of the best "rest stops" ever. Superdawg is close by on Devon and Milwaukee. TBK is less than half a block away on Touhy. The Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe lies at the end between Dundee and Lake Cook road. And for the more adventurous, a short pedal up the Lake Cook road hill will link you up to the Robert McClory path and take you all the way up to Anderson park in Kenosha, Wisconsin for a 98 mile round trip ride from tip to tip. After a while you'll start to see the regulars. The fit shirtless guy riding a road bike at a good clip in denim jeans, the thin white haired senior lady doing her daily jog, the gray haired senior gentlemen that daily jogs his route with his head tilted to the right... A worthy ride for the casual biker, a great break or recovery ride for the serious, and the usual route for cyclists like me that like to think they are fast but can't hang with the XXX racing crowd. =P read more

A few weeks ago I was stuck with my 2 boys for a "Daddy Day Care" weekend and I was looking for something to do on a Saturday afternoon. It had to be something that only I could do with them, not to detract from Mommy's contributions. Well, this is what I did. I hitched up a little covered wagon trailer to my bike and got my 4 year old and 1 year old inside, and strapped them in for a relaxing afternoon ride to the Skokie Lagoons. The North Branch Tail can take you to Chicago Botanical Garden in Glencoe, but I chose not to go that far. Still, we had a good 2-hour round trip ride, pausing by the lagoons for an off-the-path picnic by the water. The trails are easy to follow and well-marked, even for beginners. A word of warning for un-seasoned cyclists. Be sure to pack water and snacks or you'll run out of gas before you get where you're going. And watch out for "Lance Armstrong Bridge" across Oakton and Caldwell. If you can bike across it, you'll feel like Lance Armstrong. If you don't think you can do it, then start doping now... Just kidding. I saw a little boy on a small bike crying on the trail because his legs were hurting and could not pedal across the bridge on his little bike. His mom and dad were trying to have him walk it across and he couldn't even do that anymore. Crossing the bridge, I slowed to 4 mph on my bike speedometer and crept along but somehow did it. Pace yourself, it's not a race, is the best approach. A steady 12-14 mph along the path is good. A fun part on the way is the "Wheee!" tunnel that takes you under the Edens expressway farther north. The boys loved that. Along the way, you have the tranquility of the forest, picnics in the groves, an occasional horse (there are nearby horse trails too), and maybe a deer in the woods. The majority of riders on the trail are polite and say hi or wave as they pass by, signaling if they are passing you from behind. Over 10 years ago, the last and only time my wife rode this trail, she missed a turn and crashed into a tree. Other riders stopped and came to help her get up even. In short, I love the North Branch Trail and I hope to do it again this fall when the leaves are changing colors and the weather is cooler. Da Boyz are coming too. read more

I just got back from a loooong afternoon walk with Liz M. on the North Branch Trail. What a little treasure! It was so much nicer than walking on the lakefront, and I imagine it will be even prettier once the grass gets green and the trees start to grow their leaves. I wouldn't jog or walk on this trail alone. There were some suspicious looking men parked in their cars at different points along the trail, but it was perfect for an afternoon walk and chit-chat with a girlfriend. read more

I'm hesitant to make a listing of this trail simply because it is my favorite sanctuary of escape in Chicago, and one of those things you want to keep on the down-low. But I am so grateful for having this trail shown to me that I feel the need to tell you. This is a paved trail that runs from the northwest corner of Chicago (near Superdawg) and if you follow it all the way through, will spit you out in Glencoe at the Chicago Botanical Gardens. It winds its way through wooded neighborhoods, parks (where cook-outs are almost always happening), fishing lakes, kayakers, the Caldwell Woods, and the Skokie lagoons. On MANY occasions I have seen unphased and tame deer on this trail that allow you to pass within feet of them. The trail itself is broken into 2 sections, each 7 miles, so if you do the entire thing from start to finish, that's 28 miles. If you ride up there from somewhere central like the Ukrainian Village, that puts you at a nice 50 mile ride. (I suggest taking Elston all the way up to the start.) This map (pdf) gives you the general lay out: http://www.fpdcc.com/tier3.php?content_id=68&file=map_68e There are people that walk it or rollerblade on it, but the majority of people ride bikes. A lot of it is shaded so that you can make this a weekly ride even when it is 100 degrees out in the summer. Just make sure to pack a frozen water bottle or two so you'll have cold water when you need it, as there are not a ton of convenient stops off the trail. I also suggest packing a lunch and enjoying that once you get to the Gardens. Or you can always buy lunch at the Gardens as they have a fairly decent cafeteria there. read more

Another thing in my life, that after trying I ask myself "What the heck took you so long?!?" What a beautiful place to ride your bike, (which we did) walk the dogs, or go for a jog. We traveled all of the south end just going past the border at Golf Rd. to the start of the north end. Awesome ride, view, experience! The trees, the lagoons/creeks, smooth paved trail. Just fantastic! They have mile markers so can estimate how far you traveled, and how much exercise you actually accomplished. My goal for this spring/summer 2008 season, is to make it all the way north to the Botanic Gardens and back!! Here is a map: http://www.fpdcc.com/tier3.php?content_id=68&file=map_68e Caution: just a note for the lone woman walkers, joggers...don't wear your ear phones while enjoying this trail, there was an occasional (only a couple in 15 miles) lone non-joggers/non dog-walkers that I just got a weird vibe from. Maybe it's just the "city-girl" in me. read more

While this path is mostly used by bicyclists, I find it's a great place to go running. The majority of it is in the shade, which drastically helps to cut the heat, and there are some tiny "hills" that offer some slightly varied terrain from the flat Lincoln Park trails in the city. The path also pops out near roads, and is populated enough to allow you to feel safe running alone, while remaining secluded enough to let you appreciate your surroundings. There is a parking lot at Willow and the Edens, and going north there is about a mile and a half of gravel path that is easier on the knees. Another parking lot at Tower Rd, north of which there is a 4.4 mile paved loop around the lagoons and picnic glades. If you run/bike with your mouth open, you can protein load on the random bug clouds. Sightings on a recent hour long run: two deer, a mallard, several dozen cicadas (65% of which were smashed on the ground), two fishermen, ten bicyclists, three walkers, three robins, a red wing blackbird, a cat that turned out to be a tree branch, and zero cougars. read more

This was one of my goals of the summer-to bike ride from Caldwell woods to the Botanic Gardens on the North Branch Trail and I reached it this past weekend! We biked to the trail from my place which added on a few miles so my total mileage was around 34+ miles round trip. The trail is beautiful-not too busy-just a few speed bikers zooming through. Very peaceful-unlike the Lakefront bike path which is just too crowded now. We took water and Gatorade with us and there are restrooms in each of the Forest Preserve groves you go through. Bring some snacks with you too! Driving through the Skokie Lagoons was very cool. You can rent kayaks at one point and take them out-we might have to try that one day. It is very well kept-the markings at some points when you cross main streets are slightly confusing, but the drivers usually let you pass with no problems. Really enjoyable biking experience! read more

My family loves biking and jogging on the North Branch trail. There is plenty of parking off of Dempster St. (across from the Callie Ave. McDonald's). Go north to Chicago Botanic Gardens or go south to Superdog. If you're quiet, you might spot deer and other woodland critters in the forest. On Saturday mornings, you could make a quick detour to the Morton Grove Farmers' Market just a few blocks east on Dempster. If you are with young children, make sure they don't get too far ahead of you. Hazards could include unleashed dogs, flying cyclists, and busy streets to cross. read more

This is a great trail for a relaxing ride. Its an oasis of calmness and beauty in the city. Ideal for a day out and a ride up to the botanic gardens (which are free to enter, but cost money for cars to park, so this trail is the best way to get there!) Not a great trail for serious cycling training. Its hard to maintain more than 16 mph on this trail because of its usage and its twists and turns. Also there are about 5 or 6 serious road interruptions that are frustrating if you've got your pulse up. For more serious training try the Greenbay trail to the East (which turns in to the North Shore Trail as you get closer to Wisconsin) read more

Possibly the best bike path in Chicago! The good: - Well-paved and smooth - Not too many stops at intersections - Plenty of rest areas and bathrooms (though as far as I can tell no water fountains) - Not crowded - Scenic The bad: - No water fountains; BRING A WATER BOTTLE! read more

Not one, not two, but three deer did I see on my last excursion by bike on this trail. And two were a mother and fawn. Munching on stuff right next to the trail. If you want a quick getaway to a place where there are more trees than people, this trail does the trick. And Abe D. did such a good job with the details and logistics that I won't repeat them here. I am currently using this trail for every-other-day 20 mile bike rides, at least until Old Man Winter chases me out of these woods. But I am really looking forward to fall color rides, especially during weekdays when the crowds are small. If you ever want to reward yourself (and totally wipe out the caloric loss you accomplished on your ride), get off the trail at Lake Street where Harms Road ends, and mosey over to Hackney's on Harms for a German beer, a delicious burger and one of those bricks of onion rings. Better to do this on your way back home, though, when you are heading back south. You don't want to be driving drunk on the trail. You might hit a deer. And then that organization DADD will be all over yo' ass! read more

I love this trail as well. A.R.T.'s review really says it all. I've almost always found deer between Oakton and Dempster streets, so if that's what you're looking for, that is where the deer are located. The ride is beautiful. The woods are quiet and peaceful. If you have a bike rack, or just want to walk, there are plentiful parking lots where you can bike and go from there. Up around the Skokie Lagoons is my favorite area of the trail. The water looks so calm and pleasant and life just seems better when you can see a solitary fisherman in a row-boat. I need to get back here soon! read more

Rode about 12 miles on trail in the early spring foliage. The small bugs flew into my mouth and one got in my eye. Afterwards went to Superdawg per Aurore L.'s recommendation and got a Superfish. read more

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A friend and I packed our bikes in her car early on a Saturday morning for a happy 30-mile jaunt through the woods. It was a particularly hot and sunny day, so the trees and breezes (at times cool, other times hot and arid) were much appreciated. There's a nice variety of terrain - paved trails, hills, bridges. Even the unpaved paths through the woods had a smooth mix of gravel and earth (no annoying overgrown roots!). Despite its suburban location just off the highway, NBT feels like the forests of my childhood. A young fawn was grazing right by the trail (close enough to touch!), and it startled me as much as I scared it. Spotted other woodland creatures along the trail: chipmunks, robins, finches, and a beaver on its way to the creek. It's awesome that there are mile markers on each path to remind you how far you've come. The trails pick up and end at various intersections, which can be confusing. There's a definite end to the trails, so you eventually make your way back to your starting point. The concept of getting lost really depends on how tired you are. I intend to get lost as often as possible. read more

We have a 7 year old, she is what I consider to be pretty city savvy. She is used to the hustle and bustle and fast paced atmosphere of living in Chicago. The reason I am telling you this is because even though she is like this I can't take her on the Lake shore Bike path on the weekend. I am fearful that she will get run over by other bikers! I always have the constant feeling when we are on the lake shore path that she is going to get hit. It's just too fast paced for her. I love the lake front path but I feel it's for adults only. So, we ride the North Branch Trail on family bike riding days. It's calm, and quiet, we can ride next to each other at times. No one is rushing, or commuting, no one is in your way, she is not slowing anyone down or accidentally cutting anyone off. She can go at her own pace and so can we. We love this trail. It's the ultimate relaxing ride with or without your family. read more

The official trail is paved. There are parts where you can run on dirt or gravel but not much. The bridges over Oakton and Lake are good for training which is what I need to keep reminding myself. I've felt pretty safe running on the trail despite my non-threatening stature. Even the kid on the bike who seems to make a habit of chatting female runners isn't threatening. There's always someone else on the trail. Mostly runners and cyclists but there's the odd rollerblader or walkers here and there. And if you hear a loud scraping, it's a guy skating with poles. The wildlife include deer, raccoons, squirrels, and ducks. Last summer, we were out a little too late on our bikes and we got treated to the best firefly display I'd ever seen. It was "Little Mermaid" magical! read more

Scenic. Peaceful. Serene. Beautiful. Smooth. Up and down inclines. This is how I would describe the North Branch bike trail. When I was a single individual living in River North, years ago, I would ride my bike along the lake front because it was convenient. Fast-forward.......my husband and I ride our bikes along this trail now. There are some spots on the trail where there are up and down inclines, but this is actually something that I truly like. We usually ride 20-miles round trip. We stop at the end of our bike ride to relax and take in nature and people watch. There are some shady spots along the way. This is a relaxing way to start off any summer weekend. We load up our bikes on the back of our SUV at the end and head over to our favorite breakfast place to replenish the protein that our bodies burned on our morning bike ride. In the early Spring, when everything begins to bloom and is in its full glory, this bike trail is even more beautiful, but in the Fall, it is truly spectacular with majestic colors of golds, reds, oranges, copper and browns. The Chicago lakefront is truly a masterpiece. However, in the summer months it gets incredibly ridiculously crowded. Who wants to deal with dodging others like a pinball game on a bike trail. I don't want to go on a bike ride and experience stress, because people are getting in the way. Then, you have morons who are weaving in and out of others like the Indy 500 race. I wish more parents would take their kids for a nice, long bike ride on a regular basis. Too many children today spend hours and hours playing video games and sitting for hours at a time while eating junk food. Kids today get a lot of exercise using their thumbs 1,000 times a day -- by texting! Yes, there is an epidemic of obesity in our country today. This leads to so many other health issues. Ooops...but I digress.....any how.... If you want to avoid the crazy crowds at the lake front, and have a relaxing and stress-free bike ride, I highly recommend this place for its scenic, peaceful, serene and beautiful paths. read more

Enjoy this trail I usually run in the morning and this is my spot up the down. Walking on it is good to and the park is beautiful and good for family and friend events. read more

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The best trail because: Its well maintained (besides for the graffiti and homeless people items like mattresses under bridges) Its very scenic Its quiet and beautiful I love to meditate and exercise here Thanks read more

The summer before my junior year of high school I was unemployable until I turned 16 in mid July. I spent pretty much every day of the first 6 weeks of that summer riding my bicycle up and down the North Branch Trail to the point where I feel like I could ride of the 16+ miles with my eyes closed even to this day. This trail is great. It's paved throughout, offers lots to see from the Skokie lagoons to a prairie section near the south 1/3. On the weekends you see huge families grilling in the forest preserves throughout. Never crowded. Overall a great way to fill 4+ hours on a summer day. read more

We biked the entirety of the paved paths for of the North Branch Trail, and up into the Chicago Botanical Gardens (They don't seem to really like bikers, btw). The trail was beautiful, and for it being Labor Day weekend, not terribly crowded. The further north you go on the trails, the less crowded it gets, so if you're doing a shorter ride, I could see it making sense to start at the top, and go down. We also did a little bit of off-roading which was very cool, and a lot more quiet. But my friend's bike wasn't quite up to it. The trails seems like it's very popular training spots for distance runners/bikers. Seems pretty understandable, as it's a loooong uninterrupted paved trail. read more

I just got back from a nice five mile trail run on this path, and was beautiful! This is a nice alternative to running on the lakefront, and you can really get lost in the nature. I agree with Amy H., I definitely would not come out here by myself, even during they day. Maybe I have seen too many horror movies... Overall, this trail is a treasure. I will be back again! Watch out for horse poop. read more

We cycled up the trail to get from South Loop to the Botanic Gardens. It's well maintained, well-signed, and beautiful. One street crossing unfortunately lacked any crosswalk, which was a bit of a bummer. read more

Love this trail for running north of Dempster, except on weekends when the bikesters are out.

Excellent trail! Perfect to go riding early in the morning. If your up to it, you can take Lake cook rd East or West and connect to 2 other trails North. In the South, Elston rd will lead you downtown. Many options for an excellent long ride! read more

Aside from having to burn fossil fuels and endure traffic congestion on the Kennedy in order to get here from the near-southside, this trail is a real gem. We took a long ride yesterday from Devon all the way past Dempster, and it was exhiliarating to be out of the city and riding thorugh meadows and woods. The only disappointment was the construction on the path north of Dempster, where the path turns into gravel waiting to be repaved. The sign said that the work would continue until Oct. 1, but that is a week away, and I can't help but wonder if they will stick t their schedule. read more

A great way to spend a nice sunny day. Run, bike, rollerblade, walk! You can park at Bunker Hill and ride about 15 miles up to the Chicago Botanical Gardens which connects nicely at Dundee Rd and ends by the main gate! It's a great scenic ride with trees, and deer that chill at the side of the road (is it possible to do a hit & run on your bike?) and stare at all the cyclist passing by. A few bridges and stop signs at major intersections but otherwise it is smooth sailing! Passes through Skokie Lagoons as well which is a nice place to take a 10 minute breather before continuing to the Gardens read more

It's a rarity to have a city trail set in a forest park that wends over 15 miles. The north end abuts The Chicago Botanic Garden - free for bikers. I've spent a lot of time biking on this trail and seen improvements over the years. Errant, chuckleheaded pedestrians remain a real hazard. The park district has invested too little in signage esp. in alerting cars of busy crosswalks. If you're a serious bicyclist go early in the day. There is a feeder system of streets to approach south entrance: For maps www.traillink.com and support their rails-to-trails initiatives. read more

Riding the bike trail is one of the best things about living on the NW side. The trail is generally in good shape and it's nice to ride in the woods so close to the city. After big rains, watch out for flooded areas. read more

This is a great paved trail for road bikes! It is well maintained and winds through several parks. We started at Devon & Caldwell and rode to the Botanical Gardens. Round trip is about 32 miles. read more