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Biking to Starved Rock this summer. I'm new to this type of tour.

I intend on biking to Starved Rock State Park this summer.   Do you guys just use Google Maps or is there a better resource? I'd swear I saw a thread about this years ago but find nothing on Chainlink currently. I'm new to the world of bicycling overnights but not new to long rides. I've never been on the I&M Trail. Any pointers or advice is welcome. The photo is my bike and trailer, so that is about as much as I can carry.

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Look me up on Facebook. I write the touring and bike packing articles for The Chainlink I can send you all the info you need with routes and where to set up camp and some good restaurants on the way.

Thank you. Done. (I think that's you.)

Hey Eric, We'd love if you could share the routes, camping, etc. here on The Chainlink. 

Yes I will all my routes start from my house I need a few days to redo them. I didn't want to post up my house on a public forum.

There is the group: Pitching a tent.

I've biked the I&M; you should have a nice ride.

I used Google Maps to figure out the best way to get to the I&M. I took Halsted south, headed west through Beverly, through the Hickory Hills, and then met up with the canal path.

Have fun! Ottawa, IL, east of Starved Rock, is a lovely town.

The tornado damage should be cleared up, but not rebuilt.  The park wasn't damaged.

Thank you. Google maps gave a route to the trailhead that was 25 miles and a lot of Archer Avenue. That wouldn't be my first choice. Your way sounds better.

I did this trip back in June, and below is a link to my journal and photos from the weekend.  We headed out to Oak Park before following Google directions SW through Berwyn, Riverside, and then onto Plainfield Rd and Willow Springs Rd to the trailhead. The only bad traffic was the short stretch on East just south of 47th. 

Trail conditions vary wildly, ranging from paved surfaces, rocks and gravel, and sometimes mud mud mud, so be prepared to take your time and get dirty.

We rode one way over two days, and then took the Amtrak back from Princeton after riding a little bit on the Hennepin Canal Trail. Let me know if you have any specific questions. http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/NoboStarvedRock2016

Here is the I&M route from where it starts in Rockdale use the Blackriver app for iPhone or your computer to load it to a Garmin. I put POI's where the campsites are there are 3 I pointed out.You can use any part of the trail to camp they have clearings off to the side of the trail. I also put a great sandwich place in Morris on the map.  https://www.blackriver.cc/rides/8108

https://www.blackriver.cc 

Here is a write up of one of my trips from the I&M up the Hennepin trail to the Badger state trail in Wisconsin.I can post the route up tomorrow to this thread.

 http://www.stayradadventureteam.com/journal/2016/9/6/200tonewglarus 

Great write up on I&M trails Alexander.

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