Great Lakes - Chicago to Chain O' Lakes, Possible Routes

Thinking of scrapping my direct north route to WI. After looking at a trail map, a route up to the Chain O' Lakes might be somewhat interesting. I'm thinking of going west a bit and then up, using roads and available trails along the fox river. Hoping to get a route 125 miles (double-metric) or more (round trip).

Does anyone have any suggestions, or places to avoid? Any bikely maps out there to suggest?

And, is crushed gravel OK for 23's? Do I risk flats, or will it seriously degrade my speed (18-22mph)?

Most of the roads West of Waukegan Rd are not bike friendly until you reach Northbrook.

Some of the roads west and north of Rolling Meadows are good to travel depending on the day of the week and hour.

Almost any road within 7 miles of O'Hare is trouble, IMO.

What day of the week are you considering?

Michael

I went bike camping at Chain O Lakes State Park a few weeks ago. If you're just riding to ride, you might be able to put together an ok route, but there is a lot of traffic on weekends. Good hills though. Hwy 12 is like an interstate with at-grade interections. It can be a pain in the ass just to cross. Milwaukee Ave is also to be avoided.

23's are going to be rough on crushed gravel.

I just rode from Chicago (Logan Square) all the way past Elkhorn Wisconsin last Friday, passing relatively close to Chain of Lakes.

Getting to Lake Bluff, IL is easy (which is where the map link below starts). I took Elston Avenue north to Devon and then onto the North Branch Bike Path (paved). Took the North Branch through the Chicago Botanical Gardens and then rode west a bit on Lake Cook Road and picked up the Skokie Valley Trail at Lake Cook and Skokie Valley Blvd (also paved). Take the Skokie Valley Trail ten miles further north, get off, ride east and take Green Bay Road an additional 2+ miles north to 176 and Green Bay Road. From there, you can view my the rest of my route on mapmyride.com (which doesn't do trails):

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/il/-lake-bluff/64012481855224824

Note that 176 is a big bad road to ride on. There's a trail that runs alongside a lot of it though (The North Shore Trail). I rode on that on my road bike. It's paved for a bit then turns into crushed limestone. I had no trouble riding it on my 23c tires.

It was a fun ride but it doesnt start to get 'rural' until you're out of Wauconda. Love the roads up in WI though.

NOTE: My friends took the Metra from Chicago to Elgin to start their ride to WI along the Fox River the same day I did. I spent a LONG time trying to piece together a route from Chicago to the Fox River Trail so I could meet and ride with them. I came up with nothing good. Here's the route I considered (again first going up Elston and part of the North Branch Trail)

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/il/-elgin/152124716026183477

I used various routes on mapmyride and the Chicagoland Bicycle Map to put this together. I decided against riding it. The area around O'hare is just too darn busy. I ended up just riding solo and meeting my friends up there. They did enjoy the Fox River Trail a lot though.

Good luck

Hey Johnknappcc or anyone else who knows these roads, any updates on your rides? I'm still looking for better routes around the Chain O' Lakes/Fox Lake area than the one I posted above. I've only ridden west and then south of the lakes through Johnsburg and am wondering about heading north out of the Libertyville area and continuing north of the lakes through Antioch (or that general area). However, it seems folks in other posts haven't had much good to say about riding in the Gurnee/Antioch area.

Has anyone tried this route:
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3071548

that was posted in another thread?

There's also this route:
http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/il/lake%20county%2c%20illinois/673125069231322115

from Barrettscv's Gurnee sucks thread that I was going to try but it just goes north and doesn't get me west.

I'm planning on riding a double century on the weekend of september 12/13 (day depends on weather), using a route up to Elkhorn WI, where I'll then do a 30 mile loop up in the great hilly roads near there. Then I'll head home by going south and picking up the Prairie/Fox River Trail all the way to Elgin where I'll train back to the city.

My goal is to just do a 200 mile ride. I'm just choosing these routes because I'm familiar with them but haven't linked them all together in one trip before. If anyone has any better routes or suggestions for getting a lot of miles in, I'd be all ears. I'm worried about having enough daylight so I'm hoping to not have to first drive several hours in the dark to get somewhere but would consider it.

Also any comments on the best day to ride (Saturday or Sunday vs. a weekday such as Friday). When I did a 130 mile ride along the route I listed in the previous post I did it on a Friday to avoid weekend traffic. Still had some morning rush hour stuff but it wasn't bad. I'm running out of days off so I'm thinking of just doing it on the weekend.

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.

Hey Johnknappcc or anyone else who knows these roads, any updates on your rides? I'm still looking for better routes around the Chain O' Lakes/Fox Lake area than the one I posted above. I've only ridden west and then south of the lakes through Johnsburg and am wondering about heading north out of the Libertyville area and continuing north of the lakes through Antioch (or that general area). However, it seems folks in other posts haven't had much good to say about riding in the Gurnee/Antioch area.

Has anyone tried this route:
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3071548

that was posted in another thread?

There's also this route:
http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/il/lake%20county%2c%20illinois/673125069231322115

from Barrettscv's Gurnee sucks thread that I was going to try but it just goes north and doesn't get me west.

I'm planning on riding a double century on the weekend of september 12/13 (day depends on weather), using a route up to Elkhorn WI, where I'll then do a 30 mile loop up in the great hilly roads near there. Then I'll head home by going south and picking up the Prairie/Fox River Trail all the way to Elgin where I'll train back to the city.

My goal is to just do a 200 mile ride. I'm just choosing these routes because I'm familiar with them but haven't linked them all together in one trip before. If anyone has any better routes or suggestions for getting a lot of miles in, I'd be all ears. I'm worried about having enough daylight so I'm hoping to not have to first drive several hours in the dark to get somewhere but would consider it.

Also any comments on the best day to ride (Saturday or Sunday vs. a weekday such as Friday). When I did a 130 mile ride along the route I listed in the previous post I did it on a Friday to avoid weekend traffic. Still had some morning rush hour stuff but it wasn't bad. I'm running out of days off so I'm thinking of just doing it on the weekend.

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.

I have a few in mind, but I won't be able to get them down until later this week, I'll keep you posted. Saturday is a good day to ride, because you have Sunday to recover. But I'm somewhat flexible . . .

Here is a nice route across southern WI from Hunt Club/136th Ave to Fox River/Wilmot/Johnsberg.

North on Hunt Club/136th Ave
West on Horton/CR CJ
Straight across Rt 45 on 121th St
North on 182nd
West on 119th
North on 187th
West on 116th/CR V
South on 224th
West on 122nd/232nd
West on 119th/CR JF
South on 259th
West on 122nd/260th/N Lake
West on Wilmot/304th
West on Wilmot
To Fox River/CR W

TF

Here is a nice route across southern WI from Hunt Club/136th Ave to Fox River/Wilmot/Johnsberg.

North on Hunt Club/136th Ave
West on Horton/CR CJ
Straight across Rt 45 on 121th St
North on 182nd
West on 119th
North on 187th
West on 116th/CR V
South on 224th
West on 122nd/232nd
West on 119th/CR JF
South on 259th
West on 122nd/260th/N Lake
West on Wilmot/304th
West on Wilmot
To Fox River/CR W

TF

Thanks a lot for this route! I'm thinking about getting a long recon ride in this Saturday if I can (although I do have a bachelor party to attend later that night which always throws a monkey wrench in). I think I'll try these routes that go East and then North of the lakes to see if they're better/less car crowded than my previous route which sort of followed 176 west, south of the lakes. I wasn't too thrilled with that portion of the ride, although it began to open up nicely starting around Elizabeth/Lake Mary/Powers Lakes.

For those who find it helpful, here's the above route mapped out in mapmyride.com:
http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/il/antioch/600125129987568620

Did a 150 recon ride yesterday and used many of these route suggestions so thanks. Was particularly happy to find St Mary's Road route as that helped a lot and I enjoyed it. Gotta say that North Hunt Club road is not my favorite. Goes on *forever* with no turns and it's a pretty narrow 55 speed limit. Has anyone ridden on Crawford road that runs parallel to it a bit west? I'm just looking to break it up a bit and maybe find a slower moving road. Good ride but very overcast in the morning and I fought a serious WNW headwind for the first 90 miles, after that it was all East and South cakewalk. Finished on the Prairie/Fox River trail which I had never done before.

Discovered I hate Elgin though. I had about 40 minutes before my train so I rode around and around downtown looking for food. Wasn't wanting much, just some fast food that would allow me to run in, grab something and then go eat near the bike. Turns out there's NOTHING. I couldn't find a single fast food joint in all of downtown Elgin. Oh there was a Quiznos, but it was CLOSED on a saturday in the middle of the day. Go figure. Plenty of empty storefronts though. Aside from the riverwalk and that huge casino, there's not much. Despite being ravenously hungry I ended up on the train with nothing, forced to watch and smell two teenagers eating home made chili across from me. That was a long ride back!

Anyone who knows Elgin have any good easy food recommendations near the Metra stop? I'd like it to be somewhere I can keep an eye on the bike if possible.

Some Hunt Club alternatives:
--------------------------
East on Stearns School
North on Dillys/Mill Creek
West on Rt 173
North on Hunt Club
West on Edwards
North on Crawford
East on 128th/State Line
North on CR MB
East on CR Q
To CR U/Hunt Club
--------------------------
West on Stearns School
Stay right on Hutchins/Sand Lake/Lindenhurst
(Also get to this point by:West in Dada, North on Almond/Hutchins)
North on Beck
West (L) on High Point
West (R) on Beck
West on Grass Lake
North (R) on Auburn
East (R) on Prarie Ridge
Northwest (R) on Greenwood
East (R) on Savage
West (L) on Rt 173
North (R) on Deep Lake/210th/124th/208th
To CR V
--------------------------
TF

Has anyone ridden on Crawford road that runs parallel to it a bit west?

Crawford road is not paved, it's a gravel road... I suggest heading East to Dilley's / MillCreek... Once you get to 173 you can head back to Hunt Club, once in Wisconsin there are many alternates east or west of Hunt Club run that north and south...

Thanks for these latest suggestions, looks like I might take the Dilley's road or some combination. Very helpful.

Crawford road is not paved, it's a gravel road... I suggest heading East to Dilley's / MillCreek... Once you get to 173 you can head back to Hunt Club, once in Wisconsin there are many alternates east or west of Hunt Club run that north and south...

Crawford is paved north of Edwards. You think I would give you a gravel road??? - TF

Thanks for these latest suggestions, looks like I might take the Dilley's road or some combination. Very helpful.

Hey,

How was the trip through Gurnee? What route did you take?

Michael

Crawford is paved north of Edwards. You think I would give you a gravel road??? - TF

Actually, I didn't even see your suggested use of Crawford, but you are correct. Crawford north of 173 is paved, but it is a gravel road between Millburn and 173. One other gravel road ( that isn't too terrible) is when heading north on Dilley/ MillCreek , north of 173 it turns to gravel for about 3/4 mile before merging into Old Rt 41. The bridge over 94 on 173 has been under construction all summer, it's had various lane closures but it's been okay on the bike.

That's the problem with google maps it doesn't show gravel roads, but as far as I know, those are the only 2 in the immediate area...

In my mind, once you are north of 173, just about every WI county highway heading North and West is bike friendly, including Hwy C - which has a nice 3ft wide paved shoulder.

I live in Antioch and find my way up into WI often and there are some nice routes taking you by Camp Lake, Silver Lake, Twin Lakes, Powers Lake, Wilmot, etc..

Or take the Fox River Trail from Aurora to McHenry, and you are there. I think you can take the BN to Aurora, with a bike, during off hours, cross the street, and start pedalling north.

Hey,

How was the trip through Gurnee? What route did you take?

Michael

The trip went well, aside from fighting headwinds for the first 90, but I learned a lot. Here are the routes I used (well parts of them, tweaked them to reduce by 50 miles, which I'll explain):

Going North:
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/il/chicago/546125140488079347

This is the route I had been thinking of using to head north for the 200 ride. I followed it until I reached Twin Lakes where I veered off it west and followed this next route to add miles and check out roads:

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/wi/twin-lakes/678125152049551209

From here I got on the Prairie/Fox River paved trails in Ringwood and followed that south all the way to Elgin Metra. Somehow my mileage was short by seven miles so I had to ride around South Elgin to make up the difference.

What I learned from this ride is that I personally think it's better to head North through Gurnee area and then head west into Wilmot rather than heading west along roads following/near 176 and then up through Johnsburg south of the Chain o' Lakes. I've done both, including the southern/western route a couple of times, and think the roads are less populated heading north into WI via Gurnee. That said, I'll be making some tweaks to the routes I posted above, following suggestions from TurboTurtle and Wallybrau, most notably integrating Dilley into the mix rather than staying so long on Hunt Club rd. During my ride I saw a lot of cyclists in both the Wilmot area (lots of nice bikes outside one restaurant) and a big club ride happening along Oplaine rd (I think). So that's always a good sign.

I'll be piecing the final 200 mile ride route together and will post it here when I get finished. I wish I had more time to stop along the way and take notes on specific roads but I'm trying to keep up a good pace (only so much daylight) and just simply can't remember all the roads. They all start to blend after a certain amount of miles!

Thanks to everyone for the help.

I don't know where the east end of the Prairie Path is, but I do know it goes thru Elmhurst (I think). I believe it actually starts in Maywood.

http://www.iit.edu/~belldeb/design/trails.html

You could take that to Aurora or Batavia, and hook onto the Fox River Trail.

I don't know where the east end of the Prairie Path is, but I do know it goes thru Elmhurst (I think). I believe it actually starts in Maywood.

http://www.iit.edu/~belldeb/design/trails.html

You could take that to Aurora or Batavia, and hook onto the Fox River Trail.

Wanderer, is the PP still crushed gravel, or has it been paved? I used to take it when I was a kid (I lived in Naperville) but I had fatter, tougher tires.

It's still AGlime, but really hard. I was just on it a few days ago (on 35s) to Wheaton (from Aurora) and it was in nice shape. Shouldn't be a problem, even on 23s. If you choose to go thru FermiLab, it's downhill almost all the way to the river.

I put together a return route from Elkhorn, WI.

This provides a 100 mile return trip to Chicago. The first 40 miles I have not seen, except for a few miles near Lake Geneva. The last 60 miles, starting in Round lake, I have ridden on my bike.

http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/il/southern%20wisconsin%20%26amp%3b%20northeastern%20illinois/173125185228050873

What do you guys think?

Michael

It bears a few similarities to a route I've ridden (goes through Johnsburg, etc.) but I like how you avoid 176, think it might be better than how I did it. The route below starts at 176 in Lake Bluff but that's after I rode up Elston to North Branch path to Skokie Valley path which it also looks like you're using. I just didn't bother marking them in mapmyride because it's a pain to trace paths. I didn't use those paths on the 150 because I was starting in the dark and even with lights it would be too dark in the trees to ride North Branch which is why I went Sheridan.

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/il/-lake-bluff/640124818552248246

I've ridden the whole route shown here and I've also done a lot of the roads around Lake Geneva on other rides, such as Hillside, O'Brien, Vanderkarr, and they're all good. I'll be going up to the Elkhorn area for Labor day festivities and I'm hoping to sneak a ride or two in, checking out the roads west of Elkhorn a bit more. I'm familiar with all the roads East of it (they're great). More comments later as it's late and I've got to get some sleep!

One option to shorten the ride to Elkhorn and back is to use Metra. One could take Metra from Ravenswood to Lake Forest or from Fox Lake to Edgebrook or anywhere in Chicago. This would reduce the 200 mile round trip to 80, 120, 140 or 160 miles.

One option to shorten the ride to Elkhorn and back is to use Metra. One could take Metra from Ravenswood to Lake Forest or from Fox Lake to Edgebrook or anywhere in Chicago. This would reduce the 200 mile round trip to 80, 120, 140 or 160 miles.

Yeah, I've done that a couple of times from Fox Lake, works great and there are restaurant options near the station where you could eat outside near your bike if you got there early. Personally, I'm just looking to do one 200 mile ride this season, sort of as the peak/longest ride I'll do. I've just never ridden that far and have a desire to get that distance done.

Yeah, I've done that a couple of times from Fox Lake, works great and there are restaurant options near the station where you could eat outside near your bike if you got there early. Personally, I'm just looking to do one 200 mile ride this season, sort of as the peak/longest ride I'll do. I've just never ridden that far and have a desire to get that distance done.

Will this be a one-day ride?

Will this be a one-day ride?

Yes. Did the 150 last Saturday to check routes and to verify I won't have too many riding in the dark issues on the 200.

Yes. Did the 150 last Saturday to check routes and to verify I won't have too many riding in the dark issues on the 200.


Cool, let me know when you go again. I have 5 hours of lights and have completed two 110+ mile long rides in August.

Michael

I was on the Fox River Trail today, north of StCharles, and it's closed near South Elgin for the work on the Stearns road bridge. It's not hard to go around, up Silver Creek Trail to Rt31, and back down to the river in South Elgin, but it will be closed until Dec 2010...... Sheesh , they should provide an alternative like they are down in North Aurora, for the Tollway Bridge construction.

I drew this route. It allows travel from The North Shore to Wilmont, WI to Chicago: http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/il/lake%20county.%20il/514125224060065358

It does a circle around the Chain-of-lakes.
Michael