Fox River Bike Trail suggestions for a ride this Sunday?

The Air & Water Show is this weekend which means that any bike riding on the lakefront trail south of Fullerton means navigating visitors walking 7-abreast along the path or just standing on the path and gawking skyward. Time to get out of Dodge for a Sunday bike ride.

Anyone have a suggested 20-30 mile bike loop along the Fox River Bike Trail? Scenic (photogenic), staying along the river and asphalt are good considerations. Start in Aurora near Interstate 88? Interstate 90 near West Dundee?

I promise to share photos.

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Permalink Reply by Jared on August 16, 2012 at 7:19am

Your planning on driving right?  I think this is a Metra blackout weekend.

Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on August 16, 2012 at 7:47am

Yup. Throwing the trike on a car rack - not an easy proposition - and driving out.

Jared said:

Your planning on driving right?  I think this is a Metra blackout weekend.

Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on August 16, 2012 at 8:11am

Thanks a bunch, Chris. Where would you suggest starting to go up one side and down another and get in 20 to 30 miles?

Chris C said:

The FRT is entirely paved. It hugs the river the until you get north of Dundee.  The Bicycle overlay in Google Maps is very accurate for this path.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on August 16, 2012 at 8:34am

Fox River or other fully-paved trails are a good idea this weekend.  

As of yesterday some of the crushed lime paths were getting pretty ugly with the recent rains.  The Green Bay Trail had some bad sections just South of Highland Park yesterday -and I'm sure it's only gotten worse after the rains last night and this morning.    Fortunately St. John's Ave is a good detour as it parallels the path next to these bad spots all the way between Ravinia and Highland Park and the area South of Ravinia doesn't have so much unpaved trail to worry about.  

Maybe it will dry up some today and tomorrow.   I bet other unpaved trails are having similar issues.

I like taking the Channel Trail to the Green Bay trail and riding up to Highland Park.  From my place in Logan Square to HP and back it is 42.5 miles.  If you turn around earlier you can cut that down to 30 miles round trip and avoid almost all of the crushed lime crap except for a mile or two at the end of the channel trail right before it hits the Green Bay in Evanston.  If you want to get a full 50 in a loop around Ft. Sheridan makes a half-century.  I plan on working up to that 3x a week in preparation for some Centuries later this fall and getting in better shape for CX season.

Permalink Reply by bk (aka: Dr. Mambohead) on August 16, 2012 at 11:18am
Tri-County Park on Stearns Rd, Barlett, offers a good base-camp, additional trails, parking, water and is centrally located smack-dab at the end of the Prairie-Path.

If you go that route, I might be in the 'hood.. let me know if you want one more bike!

ps... air show weekend is a metra bike-ban weekend
Permalink Reply by MagMileMarauder on August 16, 2012 at 3:22pm

If you go to St. Charles, make sure to check out the "Fox Cycle".

It's a fox sculpture made entirely of mostly vintage bike parts. I thought it was really cool.

Permalink Reply by Mike Bullis 5.5-6.5 miles on August 16, 2012 at 3:22pm

Part of the FRT is closed just north of the E. Dundee Depot for bridge replacement. Easy work around is to first stop at the Measuring Cup for coffee, then south one block on Barrington Ave, turn right and, boom, yer back on the trail.

Lots of folks start in E. Dundee as the town doesn't wake up early on Sunday. Park at the lot by the DQ or anywhere along N. River St. I can recommend Benedicts' on S. River for breakfast if you are going before 9am.

Lots of prairie critters visible west of Algonquin, hills and sharp turns past Crystal Lake, nice views all the way to Richmond.

Permalink Reply by Larry on August 16, 2012 at 5:07pm

I concur on Benedict's....  Also, from Algonquin, you can hit the McHenry County Prairie Trail and go north past McHenry to Ringwood (Or Genoa City, WI if you want to ride the northern section of stones)....  Just north of Crystal Lake, there is a GREAT section through Stearns Woods....  Some nice, short, steep climbs on the trail there....  Also, Between the two trail in Algonquin, there is a GREAT climb up Hintington Road....  About 100 feet of climb in a third of a mile....  At the top of the climb there is neat little park with a GREAT view of the river valley that you just climbed out of....

Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on August 17, 2012 at 5:49am

Thanks Jared Chris, James, bk, MagMileMarauder, Mike and Larry. What extraordinary help. This makes me remember why I check this site out daily. It is chock full of kind, helpful people. More to come on Monday.

Permalink Reply by Jeff Blumenthal on August 17, 2012 at 3:59pm

Take the train to Elgin and ride south to aurora and take the train back.  no loop, just a great ride.

Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on August 19, 2012 at 3:09pm

Thanks, all. Particularly Chris. 'Twas a beautiful ride except for a flat on the way back. I recoomend the Elgin (right at I-90) to Crystal Lake ride to anyone. For more photos from this ride, click here.

Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on August 19, 2012 at 5:05pm

'Twas a mile south of the three fountain spot. Big wide area and really steep inclinebefore going over. Fun churning up and speeding down.

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