chicago botanical gardens?

Has anyone enjoyed this venue via bicycle? I'd love to hear how it was. I have been itching to go and thought a bicycle ride through it would be lovely.

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Permalink Reply by millenial removing Bernie tattoo on August 4, 2008 at 3:59pm

One of the best rides around. Assuming you're in Chicago, take the North Branch trail (start: Devon/Caldwell) right to it. And if you go there by bike, its FREE. I go once a month, and see how the plants change through the seasons (also, its FREE).

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on August 7, 2008 at 10:38am

You can ride to it via the north branch trail, but not really through it. The only places where bikes are aloud is an access road that leads you from the North Branch trail on the south side of the garden to the Visitor's Center entrance on the north of the garden. Its a great place to walk around, and open till 9pm in the summer.

(former employee of the CBG)

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Permalink Reply by amandaland on August 7, 2008 at 11:31am

thanks for all the info! I can't wait!

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Permalink Reply by Chucko on August 8, 2008 at 5:28am

Great ride. Accessible either using the North Branch Trail, or the North Shore Channel Trail to the Green Bay Trail to some side streets through Glencoe. There are a lot of bikers that ride there so go early to get rack space.

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Permalink Reply by M.J. on August 8, 2008 at 10:35am

This is a great ride! I have done it many, many times in diffrent seasons and it is always changing and interesting. The entire path was re-paved last year and is quite nice. Always see a few deer, especially early or late in the day.

Once you get to the Botanic Gardens - entering on the south - there are good toilets, water fountain and pop machines a little ways in. Then you can continue up to the main pavillion and entrance into the gardens. There are a lot of bike racks right there, and picnic tables. In the pavillion is a nice cafe where you can have lunch, either inside or outside. There are also nice toilets here.

You can come back the way you came in, exiting to the south, or you can exit to the north on County Line (Lake/Cook) Road. If you head east here you can connect with the Green Bay Trail, probably about two to three miles down (right by the Braeside train station. Biking on County Line Road is not great - narrow and a LOT of traffic. We usually go on the sidewalk on the north side of the Road. Then you can take the Green Bay Trail back south (sort of making a big circle).

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on August 12, 2008 at 7:10am

I rode up on Sunday with a friend. We had plans to take the Metra back to chicago at the end of the day....But they would only let one of us on, The train was maxed out. This was a total bummer.

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Permalink Reply by Timmy S. (Splinter) on March 16, 2011 at 5:36pm

rehashing an old thread, but are there any other cool bike rides like this that anyone has? I've done this one a few times and it's great! Anything else similar for a group of a few friends looking for a leisurely but fun ride?

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Permalink Reply by millenial removing Bernie tattoo on March 17, 2011 at 4:50am

Tim S. said:

rehashing an old thread, but are there any other cool bike rides like this that anyone has? I've done this one a few times and it's great! Anything else similar for a group of a few friends looking for a leisurely but fun ride?

There is nothing quite like the NBT that is as easily accessable from Chicago, but if you're willing to take the Metra, the Fox River Trail is nice.