Best Chicago Area Trails For Recumbents
In the photo: Chicago Recumbent Riders by Paul Gough
Riding a recumbent—especially a trike—is a different experience than riding a traditional upright bike, and the trails that shine for one don’t always suit the other. Though I’ve shared favorite routes for upright riding before, when it came to compiling a list for recumbent riding, it quickly became clear this needed a fresh start.
Recumbents truly come into their own on long, uninterrupted, and preferably paved trails—places where you can settle in, avoid crowded jockeying for space, and simply enjoy the rhythm of the ride as the miles unfold.
Here are some of our best suggestions for best long recumbent trails located within a reasonable drive from Chicago. I should point out that these there are recreational and adventure rides, rather than training rides for competitive events. Some of these are entirely doable as day trip outings, but a couple of them are probably better done as weekend or overnight trips.
Old Plank Road & Hickory Creek Trails, IL
Old Plank Road Trail is a linear 22-mile rail-to-trail between Chicago Heights and Joliet. It runs through oak groves and sugar maples, prairie grasses, and wildflowers, with many opportunities to view wildlife (including bald eagles!) while passing through nature preserves adjacent to the trail. One highlight is an award-winning, arrowhead-shaped suspension bridge, which takes trail users over US 45.
The trail passes directly through the town of Frankfort, which holds a wonderful farmers market on Sundays throughout the summer. This is a fun place to stop for a snack or refreshment, or bring along a bag to carry local goodies back home with you.
Heading west, a short distance past Wolf Road, don't miss the turn-off for Hickory Creek Bikeway --a little gem of a trail, which is especially gorgeous during fall leaf splendor. This rolling, hilly stretch of trail is not to be missed, and --though there are some climbs-- it is generally down(ish)-hill when heading west. If you want to avoid the more strenuous return trip, you can connect back to Old Plank via (the decidedly unscenic, but much flatter) Route 30 Bike Path.
Kankakee River Trail
The Kankakee River Trail is fairly wooded and runs primarily through Kankakee River State Park. It’s home to more than ten miles of multi-use trail along the north bank of the river between Bourbonnais and Wilmington in the southwestern suburbs of Chicago.
Heading out from Bourbonnais side there's about three miles of crushed limestone which is generally well maintained.
The rest of the trail is paved, with some typical some “heaving” from tree roots. Just west of the main parking area in the state park is a suspension bridge that spans the river offering some of the best views in the park. Much of the route has shade from a lush tree canopy, and in the spring, you can enjoy an exuberant display of early wild flowers.The trail is about 10 miles in length, so out-and-back it makes a decent 20-mile ride.
Northwest Indiana Trails
The Northwest Indiana region is teeming with recreational bike trails which span the three counties bordering Lake Michigan. They can be enjoyed individually, linked together into longer trips, or used as routes for the Lake Michigan Circle Tour.
From the Indiana Visitors’ Center in Hammond (off the Kennedy exit from I-94) you can connect to Erie Lackanawa Trail. At 17 miles, this is the longest trail in this network. Just past the town of Griffith, it connects to the 10-mile Oak Savannah Trail, which merges seamlessly into the Prairie Duneland Trail in Hobart, for the remaining 10 miles into Chesterton.
Further connections are available via the short Dunes Kankakee Trail runnig north along sections of Indiana Dunes National Park to the start of the Calumet Trail. If you have time, pause here, and hike one of the most gorgeous local trails at Cowles Bog. Or, keep heading east to the new Singing Sands trail into Michigan City.
Though Calumet Trail has been notorious for its poorly maintained gravel surface and enormous puddles, it is currently undergoing a transformation and re-paving over sections of its length, as part of the future Marquette Greenway bike route from Chicago to New Buffalo, MI. Many online descriptions of this trail are inaccurate, and do not reflect these recent improvements.
Chicago Lakefront Trail (South Portion)
To avoid summertime lakefront crowds, head down to Jackson Park, and ride the south portion of the trail to Museum Campus and Northerly Island.This section of the trail offers surprising opportunities to experience quiet pockets of serenity against the background of a bustling city.
Heading out from 63rd Street Beach, consider taking the underpass to the Wooded Island for a quick visit to the Japanese garden. The path here is a bit rough, and bikes are not allowed inside the garden. However, the garden is a must-see, a hidden nugget of quiet beauty, and a nice, peaceful start to the ride.
Returning to the lakefront path, north of 57th Street take a spin around the Promontory Point for sweeping views of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan. In fact, throughout the ride you will enjoy uninterrupted views of the lake, pass through restored natural habitats, and ride under several impressive pedestrian/bike bridges that connect local neighborhoods to the lakefront.
After you pass McCormick Place and the marina, be on the lookout for an underpass on the left side for access to Solidarity Drive. This section of the street is crowded, but short, and takes you to the entrance to Northerly Island, where you can take the mostly secluded, quiet trail to a hidden lagoon, and enjoy fantastic birdwatching, wild flowers, and rarely seen skyline perspective. It’s an unbelievably quiet refuge practically in the heart of Downtown.
North Branch Trail (North Portion)
This is a gem among Chicagoland's network of bicycle trails. It has everything a great bike trail should have: distance, scenery, variety, along with excellent pavement conditions and generally well-designed street crossings. The NBT passes through woodland and prairie, along the river and its adjacent wetlands, ending at the Skokie Lagoons, which can almost make you forget that you are still in the big city.
As with the Lakefront Trail, you need to be a bit choosy about your routing if you prefer to get away from the crowds. Starting from Linne Woods off Dempster and heading north, you’ll to skip some of the busiest sections, while still enjoying over 20 miles of riding out-and-back.
Between Tower Road and the end of the trail at Dundee Road you can simply double back, making a loop around the other side of Skokie Lagoons, or enjoy other options to extend your riding or day adventure:
Cross Dundee Road and ride into the Chicago Botanic Garden for a mid-ride picnic at a pleasant lakeside grove with views of the Japanese Gardens (there’s no admission fee for stopping at the picnic glade).
Continue through CBG, and join the connector trail along Lake Cook Road, which you can take to the McClory Bike Path, and continue north as far as you care to travel.
Turn your ride into a mini-vacation by paying the CBG admission, stopping at the Rose Terrace Beer Garden for a midday meal and a local brew, and then head back to Tower Road kayak rental, and spend the rest of the afternoon bobbing along the quiet waters of the Skokie Lagoons bird-watching and zoning out, like I did here.
Fort Sheridan & Robert McClory Bike Path
This Lake County route offers beautiful scenery, and is a treat for Great Lakes history buffs and those interested in architecture as it passes through some of the most choice housing examples along Chicago’s North Shore.
You can start from the public parking lot in Ft. Sheridan and —before heading north— be sure to explore the short but spectacular path along the bluff of the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve. It features one of the few publicly accessible ravines and blufftop ecosystems in the area. The sweeping views from the very civilized boardwalk on top of the bluff will take your breath away. (If you have time, the wild beach below is definitely worth exploring, and is accessible via a stairway with adjacent bike racks.)
From here, travel north through Ft. Sheridan and follow the trail through Lake Forest and Lake Bluff. You can ride through quaint downtown Lake Bluff toward the lake and then circle back to the trail, or continue north all the way up the Great Lakes Naval Base in North Chicago. Depending on your choice, your trip will from about 17 to 25 miles.
The path is extremely well maintained, recently repaved and very smooth rolling. There are a number of great places along the way for rest stops or lunch.
Ozaukee Interurban Trail
Another option a bit outside the immediate Chicagoland area. This is a wonderful regional trail, rolling through historic southern Wisconsin towns, a bustling port, and a chance to visit a serene quarry lake at a state park adjacent to Lake Michigan. Along the way, there are excellent opportunities for birdwatching, and plenty of local shops and restaurants to visit for refreshments and souvenirs.
The Ozaukee Interurban Trail stretches the length of Ozaukee County in SE Wisconsin and links charming historical communities of Mequon, Cedarburg, Grafton and Port Washington, terminating at its northern end in Belgium at the outskirts of Harrington Beach SP known for the scenic quarry lake. The nearly 30-mile paved trail is part of the Route of the Badger, a Milwaukee-area trail network. You can ride it out and back for a day-long excursion.
Alternatively, stop overnight in Port Washington, and break up the ride into two segments, each with a very distinct character.
Hading north, the route is more remote and has a rustic character. Ride this quiet section of the trail almost to the town of Belgium, and turn onto quiet country roads to visit Harrington Beach SP situated along Lake Michigan shoreline. Follow paved park roads to the beach, and then to the limestone quarry lake, where you can stop for a mid-ride snack, or park your bike and take a leisurely hike around the lake before heading back.
For routing with a more touristy vibe, travel south from Port Washington to the town of Grafton, former home to Paramount Records, a leading recorder of early Delta blues artists. The trail passes through town on about a mile of city streets.
Then continue to Cedarburg, WI, a spectacularly gorgeous little town on the banks of Cedar Creek, known for its restored historic downtown, and bustling atmosphere. You’ll have no shortage of options for drinks and lunch, from independent coffee shops and numerous restaurants, including the Anvil Pub & Grill located in the historic blacksmith shop alongside the creek with the patio overlooking a waterfall.