A New Bike Path Will Help You Get Off-Road And Out Of Town

By Danette Chavez in News on Apr 16, 2015 8:05PM

(Photo courtesy of Trails for Illinois Facebook page)

Chicago cyclists— if you don't find the lakefront path challenging enough (given Chicago's flatness), plans have just been announced for an extended trail that could take you from Edgewater to Joliet and give you all the off-road miles you want on your way in and out of the city.

This is good news for adventurists and Trails for Illinois, a non-profit that wants to build on the state's network of trails. Executive director Steve Buchtel told DNAInfo Chicago that while many Chicago cyclists want to access suburban forest preserves and regional trails, they're usually a car ride or Metra trip away. But not for (too) much longer. Plans for this federally funded project look to expand the Burnham Greenway Trail into southern Burnham for a 74-mile path that's currently connecting Calumet City to the Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in Darien. The new trail would also provide access to the best mountain bike trails, including those at the Palos Preserves in the Cook County Forest Preserves.

And that's just for starters. By 2017, this 74-mile stretch will be part of the Southland Century Trail (Cal-Sag Trail for short). The Cal-Sag trail is also mostly federally funded and construction on the western half has already begun. This part of the new trail will have its grand opening on June 6, which just happens to be National Trails Day. When it's complete, almost 97 miles of the 100-mile loop will be off-road.