Best Gravel / Trail / Mountain Bike Riding Near Chicago
Get a bit outside of Chicago and you can find numerous riding opportunities if you know where to look. Whether you want to take the kids on a family outing, improve your skills, enjoy some flow or escape for the weekend, the trail systems around the Chicago area provide abundant opportunities.
With options that range from easy to advanced, gravel seekers, trail riders, and bikers of any level can find a ride within two hours of downtown Chicago.
Here’s some of our favorite places to go when seeking out some great rides outside the city!! Do a little of your own research before you head out to plan for your day outside the city and have the best time possible, and let us know where you go and what fun you get up to!
Des Plaines River Trail
Since it takes a while to dry out in the spring, but once it's dry, the Des Plaines River Trail is a local favorite. Imagine gliding along in a quiet, serene forest beside a calm, gentle river.
Much of the trail south of Northwest Highway is dirt (and prone to mud). North of Northwest Highway, the trail is mostly crushed limestone. Sometimes it is best to pick up the trail in the city of Des Plaines (where the Des Plaines River crosses Northwest Highway) and head north.
Depending on your level of ambition, you can ride a few miles up and turn around, or take it all the way to the Wisconsin border. This 50-plus-mile trail takes bikers and hikers through a large swath of Lake and Cook counties, from as far north as Gurnee down to River Grove. Users of the trail also can enjoy canoeing and kayaking, fishing, horseback riding and picnic areas.
Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve
Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve is a large complex filled with wetlands, prairies and woods that’s home to numerous plant and animal species. A popular spot for naturalists, hikers, runners and bikers, the preserve also offers a variety of classes, workshops and races throughout the year, making this a great place to bring the whole family. With abundant wildlife, bridges, ponds and some nice overlooks, this ride won’t disappoint. The route navigates through most of the preserve, and the gravel and brick-paved trail surfaces make it an easy ride for beginner riders of all ages.
The ride begins by following the eastern side of the loop on a fine gravel surface. It loops along the edge of the woods, in places getting close to Coffee Creek. This is what really makes the ride! You’ll get to see and hear all kinds of wildlife around the creek, and the gravel surface allows for easy riding with the kiddos. When the route reaches the southern end, it crosses the creek via a bridge which offers an excellent viewpoint of the creek. Where the trail turns to pavers, you can take a quick jaunt north to Trellis Overlook for a break and a snack. Though younger kids might be getting tired at this point, there is only about one mile left in the ride; however, if needed, from this spot it is also possible to cut straight back to the parking area. The last mile heads along the western perimeter of the preserve, following a brick-paved trail that makes for easy riding. After looping past a pond, you’ll follow a short boardwalk before jumping onto gravel and pavers back to your car. This route is heavily trafficked by walkers and joggers, so keep your speed under control and respect other users.
Palos Trail System
One doesn't generally equate the Chicago-area with mountain biking, but we actually have a really nice trail system a short drive from the city. It's certainly possible to ride your bike to the Palos Trail System, or take a train most of the way. But for convenience, this one might be best by car, since that will afford you the most time to enjoy riding on dirt. Palos has a nice network of crushed limestone and gravel double track trails, suitable for most hybrids, touring bikes, cyclocross bikes, etc.
Regardless, for most riders it will require a proper mountain bike, plenty of water, some snacks, a helmet, eye protection (from wayward branches), and the expectation that trail riding will be more difficult than street riding (and you might fall occasionally). Once you set those expectations, be prepared to have an amazing amount of fun, and a changed perspective on what Chicago-area cycling has to offer. Depending on your goals, you can do a short, 30-minute loop, or be out there all day.
Tips: Visit cambr.org for information on all Chicago-area trails, including maps, trail etiquette, directions, parking, volunteering, and trail conditions. Only ride on trails when they are marked as dry. If possible, try to ride with an experienced mountain biker your first few times out. Definitely print out a trail map to take with you. Also, be aware that the trails are two-way. As such, lots of mountain bikers recommend ringing a bell or calling it out when approaching blind corners.
Waterfall Glen
The trail system in Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve makes a loop around the entire park. The preserve is geologically significant, featuring glacier-carved rock ridges, ravines and wetland potholes, which are not found anywhere else in the county. The 700-acre forest is a contiguous wooded acreage interspersed with dolomite beneath a prairie habitat, home to rare plants.
As you explore the limestone-surfaced trail, you'll discover the woodlands with dominant oak and maple trees, as well as prairie and grassland habitats and planted pine groves. You're likely to see lots of wildlife here, too. Gravel bikes are ideal for these twisty and slightly hilly gravel paths - it’s a bunch of fun!
Illinois Prairie Path
This trail is crushed limestone the whole way, so bikes with slightly fatter tires work better, and the trail can be wet and sloppy if there's recently been rain. On the plus side, the trail passes through several towns, offering several opportunities for coffee stops.
This trail covers a lot of ground, about 61 miles worth through three counties: Cook, DuPage and Kane. Drinking fountains and water pumps are available along the trail, and public parking is available in all suburbs along the path's Main Stem. There also are branches in Elgin and Aurora and the Batavia and Geneva spurs.
Many riders in Chicago love to take a trip from Chicago to the Two Brothers Roundhouse for beers in Aurora and then bike back (or catch the train home!) Pick up the Illinois Prairie Path in the town on Maywood, and ride it until it literally delivers you to the Roundhouse's front door. Just be careful to go south when the Prairie Path splits near Wheaton. When you are done eating and/or tasting Two Brothers beer, take Metra's BNSF Line back to the city, which is literally across the parking lot from the Roundhouse. You honestly couldn't ask for more convenience.
North Branch Trail
We love to take this trail all the way to the Chicago Botanic Gardens - and if you don’t need to pay to park a vehicle, you get into the gardens for free!! Pick up the North Branch Trail at the intersection of Milwaukee and Devon in Chicago, and follow the trail north until it drops you off at the southern end of the Chicago Botanic Garden. From there, ride through the park to the visitor's center. Park your bike, grab some food, walk around and enjoy the spectacular scenery. To head back to the city, simply back track on the trail, or take the bike path that follows Lake Cook Road east to pick up the Green Bay Trail, Sheridan Road, or Green Bay Road and head south. Depending on where you're coming from, figure on 40-55 miles round trip.
Salt Creek Trail
Brookfield Zoo is the main attraction on this 26.7-mile trail right off 31st Street and across from the Brookfield Woods, which features a picnic and shelter area. But if riders head south on a 1-mile stretch along the DesPlaines River, they also can find a connection to the Cermak Family Aquatic Center and the Stony Ford Canoe Landing, both in Lyons.
Southern DuPage County Regional Trail
This 46-mile trail connects two major forest preserves in DuPage County: Springbrook Prairie and Greene Valley, both in Naperville. The trail also leads to a 10-mile path around Argonne National Laboratory near Lemont. The middle portion of the Southern DuPage meets up with the DuPage River Trail and offers a connection to downtown Naperville and Warrenville.
Kettle Moraine State Forest
If you’re looking for a longer trip, the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Southern Unit is an ideal destination. With camping nearby and more than 30 miles of biking trails, this is a great place to spend the weekend. If you’re bringing any non-bikers, there are plenty of other activities to keep them entertained while you shred the trails. A $5 daily or $25 annual State Trail Pass is required to ride the trails. If you plan on riding Kettle Scuttle in one go, be sure to bring everything you need for a long day out, including water, food, an extra layer and a basic maintenance kit. At just under 30 miles of singletrack, this ride is a hearty undertaking. Though it’s a long ride, Kettle Scuttle is well designed and easy to follow, making it perfect for intermediate riders looking to push themselves and advanced riders on the hunt for a long, flowy ride.
There is plenty of mountain bike riding and some single track, but also other bike paths and walking paths to explore too. Getting out of the city can be so beautiful, enjoy it!!