General Cycling Discussion - Chicago riders...

Does anyone have information about the Green Bay Trail, starting in Wilmette and heading northbound? I've read about it in a book, but I wonder how difficult it would be to follow it, since there's no map given in the book I have.

Is there a website where I can pick up the map? I'm thinking of heading north on that trail tomorrow morning.

Thanks,

Koffee

[Edit: I just realized this message was probably too late, but if not, here's some info anyway...let us know how the ride was!]

It's pretty easy to follow, since it parallels the north shore Metra line. I've only been on it once, probably when I was about 14 or so, and I had no trouble finding my way from Lake-Cook road south to Howard. Though some of that was on the Evanston lake front path, since as you say, the Green Bay Trail's southern end is in Winettka. I think there are (or at least were) on-street bike route signs linking the two trails.

There are some crushed limestone sections, and some breaks around Highland Park, but beyond that, you can basically ride the Green Bay Trail/McClory Trail all the way to Kenosha, WI if you so desired. There's also the North Branch Trail that goes through the Botanic Gardens which would make a nice alternative on the return if you wanted to make a loop.

Anyway, it might be time for you to bite the bullet and get a Chicagoland Bicycle Map (from the CBF), since it has excellent detail on all this stuff.

I know! I know!
I'v lived in wilmette from when I was 3 and I'm 26 know so that's
HeHe
But I can tell you that the trail cuts on and off a lot up to highland park but after that it's gets better, but when all else is lost take Greanbay rd
I was thinking of riding to my frends house in winthorphorbor.
Koffee Brown some of the trail is dirt and gravle but mostaly paved.
If you need any info ASK

Or I could even be [kinda] help full and post this link

http://www.fpdcc.com/tier3.php?content_id=68&file=map_68e

Thanks for the map- I know this one by heart. It's easy to do by trail, but more difficult to do when you keep north and roll through Skokie and Evanston into Wilmette, then cut across on Green Bay Road to try and pick up the trail.

I got it figured out- next time, I will stick with Green Bay Road from McCormick Road and take Green Bay all the way to Sheridan, then take Sheridan for a bit until I catch the trail again and catch the last 10 miles or so up to North Chicago. If I do it this way, it makes life a lot easier for me. A lot of street riding, for sure, but I'm ok with that!

Koffee

Koffee
If it helps, at McCormick and green bay there is no trail but If you go North on green bay like 2 to 3 miles you can hop over the tracks and there's a road that runs along to green bay but on the other side of the tracks.
So at this point you’re north bound on the green bay trail but there is no marked trail until you hit the train station in Wilmette. Don't think I don't like riding by the lake or on Sheridan but if you want the green bay trail you don't need to go any further east.

So I gotta ask what ride are you going on? Is there a loop? Have you been on the other trail that runs along the 94 up thru the Skokie lagoons and in to the baticanal gardens?

Yeah, I know about the trail you pick up over the tracks, but I just stick to Green Bay Road- it's a lot easier, plus I can stop at this Baskin Robbins shop if I'm feeling like I'd like a cone.... :D It's just past Glencoe, I think.

The trail that runs through Skokie lagoons (with the Skokie Sculpture Park, right?) doesn't ride alongside I-94. It's a bit farther east and runs alongside McCormick Road. You can backtrack from Foster Ave and catch the start of that trail there to Devon, then hop west on Devon to Caldwell and catch the Botanic Gardens trail at Caldwell and Devon, then ride the full 20 mile trail to Lake Cook Rd and Green Bay Rd. I guess you could also take the trail that runs along the lagoons to Golf Rd too, but then you'd be heading more eastwards, which would take you farther away from the Botanic Garden trail, and the hike from Golf Rd and McCormick Rd to Golf Road where the Botanic Garden would be a pain to hike over from.

I pretty much wing it- I don't know which trail or route I'm going to take until I get going and decide how I'd like to plan my pit stops. If I need lots of pit stops, I'm going the Botanic Garden route, and if I don't need as many pit stops, I'll take the McCormick Rd/Green Bay Rd/Sheridan Rd alternative and do the street thing.

Send me a pm sometime if you ever want to hook up for a ride...

Koffee

Koffee
The Skokie lagoons are in Northfield
I know the sculpture park your talking about on McCormick, that sculpture park kinda freaks me out. I made something like that at work when the straps on the Crain broke. :eek:

Koffee I have ridden from the baticanal gardens popped out on Dundee and that is the north point of the Skokie lagoons from there you can ride south [there is a big paved bike loop around the lagoons]. If you just go south you’ll pop out at golf and harms.
Koffee, I will pm you for a ride.

Cool- drop me a pm, cause I have no idea where Northfield is!

We can compare our riding levels, and if we can make some compromises, I would love a ride....

Koffee

This is kinda cool take a look
http://members.aol.com/CMorHiker6/backpack/GBTrailBike.html

the des plaines river trail is great also. every bike shop in lake county has a booklet of trails. borders even has books on chicago area trails in the cycling section.
i have a booklet of trails (pretty much updated) you can borrow.

I felt bad bumping the thread again . But as long as its bumped look at this.
http://www.bikelib.org/

RiPHRaPH-

Call me tomorrow, and try my cell if you can't get me at home.

Koffee

Does anyone have information about the Green Bay Trail, starting in Wilmette and heading northbound? I've read about it in a book, but I wonder how difficult it would be to follow it, since there's no map given in the book I have.

Is there a website where I can pick up the map? I'm thinking of heading north on that trail tomorrow morning.

Thanks,

Koffee
I rode up to the Naval base from Evanston two years ago when I was clearing out my father's house. What rankled me, is bike riders are no longer allowed on the stretch of Sheridan Rd., I think that was in Highland Park, or was it Winnetka, where the road makes a couple of nifty curves and swoops. That stretch, to me, was the best part of the ride.

I'm sure that must have changed, because I rode that part of Sheridan Road. Yeah, it was a bit nerve racking, but no one pulled me over, and I wasn't the only rider on that stretch of road that day.

Koffee