I grew up in DesPlaines and spent many a time on that trail. I now live in glenview and am closer to a different entrance of the trail on Central rd. I just got a new bike and a friend and I went for a ride to check out that section of the trail for the first time. We rode the trail from Central Rd North to where ever the trail seemed to end, we estimated it was around were Milwaukee meets up with River Rd. Then we turned around and rode South down past Big Bend lake to whatever that street is called. Most of the entire section we rode was just multi-use trail with a few small single track off shoots. We must have seen at least 50 deer or more, and this is no exageration. We took a single track off the main trail and it took us to a break in the fence where the landfill is. So we left our bikes at the bottom and hiked to the top to check it out. At the top of the huge hill there was at least 15 deer just standing around hanging out, it was pretty cool. I have never seen so many deer in day before, they were everywhere. Anyways, just wanted to see who else is riding the trail in this area.
laryanshabaz
05-01-08, 06:40 PM
Can't talk about that section, but I can say that if you're remotely in the area and are okay with limestone—ride this trail once. I know from Russel Rd to Rt22 and it is great stuff. Watch out for horses and flooding though.
ilmooz
05-01-08, 07:52 PM
I've never been on that trail, but I can agree with you that there seems to be an unusually high number of deer roaming around these days. I've ridden the North Branch Trail regularly for more than 20 years and I can't recall ever seeing as many deer along the way as I do now.
liv_rong
05-01-08, 08:39 PM
Yeah, at least we know there are not families of cougars living in the woods with all the deer running around hahaha:D
The section we rode was crushed limestone, its a nice easy ride and good times. The good single track is between Algonquin and Oakton. I looked up a map and saw that where we turned around, if we would have jumped on the road for a minute the trail continues through wheeling and goes over Palatine rd(turns into WIllow rd) and continues North for a long time.
no motor?
05-02-08, 06:21 AM
Yeah, at least we know there are not families of cougars living in the woods with all the deer running around hahaha:D
The section we rode was crushed limestone, its a nice easy ride and good times. The good single track is between Algonquin and Oakton. I looked up a map and saw that where we turned around, if we would have jumped on the road for a minute the trail continues through wheeling and goes over Palatine rd(turns into WIllow rd) and continues North for a long time.
There's a big gap right in Des Plaines. I've only been on the south section once, but it was well packed dirt and pretty smooth.
TurboTurtle
05-02-08, 07:16 AM
There is a huge difference between the DPRT in Cook Co. and the in Lake Co.
Cook is hard packed dirt that just follows wherever it was convenient for whatever first made it (deer? cow?). It also tends to be full of glass, etc. and you better know where you’re going. A blast to ride (though I've cut a tire every time I've ridden it).
Lake is laid out like they were building a road and is easily 4-bikes wide the entire length. It is topped with crushed granite (no longer use limestone because of the environmental consequences). It is much more 'civilized' with signs to keep you on the right path. Technically, it opens at 6:30am and closes at sundown. Fun and wide enough for a good group ride. It goes from Russell Rd (1 mile south of WI) to Cook Co. There is still a gap where you would have to go on Milwaukee Rd for about a mile from River Rd to the 'Estonia House' Rd (don't know if it has a name). There is a great group ride out of Wright Woods that starts in the fall after the ground freezes and goes all winter if the trail allows. On nice fall days it starts with as many as 60 riders for the 62 mile out-and-back north.
The DPRT also connects with many other local trails.
TF
DougG
05-02-08, 12:05 PM
If I can round up the deer that are chowing down on our garden, I'll be sure to ship them out your way. :D
Bodeen
05-02-08, 07:14 PM
Liv Rong I ride that trail almost every nite from Wheeling to Beck lake round trip about 24 miles if you cross over Milwaukee Ave by Algauers go down about 1 tenth of a mile the trail is on the left side coming from Des plaines you can go all the way to cheeseland, the Lake Co. trail is 100% better than crook counties you can also go south all the way to Maywood the only problem is you have to know how to cross the tracks to come out by the Methodist camp on Algoingin east of River Rd.
I think they are building the trail to connect the two right now.
Good luck see ya on the trail
no motor?
05-04-08, 07:31 AM
There's a big gap right in Des Plaines. I've only been on the south section once, but it was well packed dirt and pretty smooth.
According to this (http://www.pioneerlocal.com/desplaines/news/922355,dp-riverwalk-050108-s1.article), they've connected those parts.I haven't seen it yet, but that should be nice if theydid.
BikingGrad80
05-04-08, 10:27 PM
I did it last year. The Lake county sections are really nice. The c(r)ook county sections were mediocre. Then last year they put some new limestone on the trial between Golf Rd and Euclid Ave. It is not the smooth well compacted limestone you get on the prairie trail It was big loose and chunky and made me nervous even on my Mountain Bike. Don't know who's idea it was to do that, one of Stroger's retarded relatives perhaps.
BikingGrad80
05-04-08, 10:31 PM
Just read the article. I was wondering if they would ever put some crossing on the tracks. You have to carry your bike up an embankment to the tracks and cross them. To the west the tracks curve so it can be a danger.
The gap in Desplaines is also a pain as there are few good biking routes in downtown desplaines.
Riotgeer
05-04-08, 10:31 PM
Can anyone recommend public transportation to this trail from Downtown Chicago? I think I'd be toast to ride to it and I'd like to check it out.
Riotgeer
ilmooz
05-05-08, 06:24 AM
On the Blue Line you can get off at Cumberland and take Bryn Mawr west to East River Road where I believe you can pick up the trail there at that intersection.
Riotgeer
05-05-08, 06:31 AM
Ilmooz,
Awesome, thanks.
Bodeen
05-05-08, 08:20 PM
They covered the big rocks with limestone in dam 2 they are attemping to limestone the whole trail to lake cook road they are doing bit and pieces though out the trail but you know how things get done in cook county plus there doing a half ass job which is common for the forest preserves.
liv_rong
05-11-08, 07:48 PM
Liv Rong I ride that trail almost every nite from Wheeling to Beck lake round trip about 24 miles if you cross over Milwaukee Ave by Algauers go down about 1 tenth of a mile the trail is on the left side coming from Des plaines you can go all the way to cheeseland, the Lake Co. trail is 100% better than crook counties you can also go south all the way to Maywood the only problem is you have to know how to cross the tracks to come out by the Methodist camp on Algoingin east of River Rd.
I think they are building the trail to connect the two right now.
Good luck see ya on the trail
Interesting, maybe one night we can meet up by Cebtral RD and I can go back North with you and you can show me how it connects after Milwaulee? Be advised, I am not all that fast for long stretches.
no motor?
05-28-08, 03:15 PM
According to this (http://www.pioneerlocal.com/desplaines/news/922355,dp-riverwalk-050108-s1.article), they've connected those parts.I haven't seen it yet, but that should be nice if theydid.
I checked out part of the area in Des Plaines today, and it's still not complete. There is a freshly paved road with bike lanes that I had to myself between Algonquin and Miner, but the trail stops where the river goes under Miner street. There is a nice new ramp up to the roadway, but you're on a sidewalk once you get up there and there's no sight of the rest of the path at the nearest intersection. The north south road at that intersection is under construction to the north of Miner too, adding to the excitement of trying to ride through there.
We went past the north end of the new part connection the north and south segments, and saw graded gravel that looked like a base for pavement a few weeks ago. That stops just the other side of the end of Ballard road, and leaves about a half mile gap between there and the southern end of the north section of the trail with gravel shoulders and a 40 mph speed limit.