I and M Canal Trail--Safe Route in to Downtown

I am planning on riding from Iowa City to Chicago using existing trails where possible.  After leaving Iowa will ride the Henneppin Canal Trail and then hooking up with the I and M Canal Trail. After figuring out how to get thru Joliet continue on I and M to the end ,which looks like Archer Avenue..  Ideally I would head east to the Trail along Lake Michigan some where north of Jackson Park. Looking for directions for a safe route from I and M to downtown or to the trail along the lake...

There will be two of us self contained..... Any info on the trail or route will be helpful   curt  (i did try the search)

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Permalink Reply by Curt H Moore on March 9, 2010 at 12:46am
thanks, I was hoping there was a book out there...curt
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on March 9, 2010 at 4:28am
I haven't found any existing book with on-street routes for this area, just lots of trail books.

Curt H Moore said:
thanks, I was hoping there was a book out there...curt
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on April 10, 2012 at 6:05am

I've gotten an inquiry from a guy in Boston planning a cross country ride who wants to use the I&M Canal trail and is asking about camping in June. 

Does anyone have current info on trail conditions?  He's also asking whether camp sites tend to fill up early.  If you'd like to share info here, that would be great.



Dave Brew said:

The I & M Canal is closed just east of Utica until west of Buffalo Rock. You'll need to jump on the road (go south then east to near Buffalo Rock) for a bit unless the 3 washed out bridges are fixed (Work in Progress). Yes, DNR is ticketing riders who attempt it (and get caught!).

Also, Todd Volker's book "The Complete Grand Illinois Trail Guidebook" details the whole route and would be a good investment. The Joliet jump sounds like a headache but is detailed here. Also, how to get to the Lakefront Path is covered in detail, too.
Permalink Reply by mark stetson on April 10, 2012 at 10:08am

I live near the Hennepin Canal, can help out with anything you want to know between  IA City and Peru, IL.  I think the best place to cross the Mississippi is at Muscatine.  I believe that's where the Adventure Cycling north transcontinental route crosses, the QC area bridges are all heavier traffic.  I think I have that map somewhere, which I can map on MapMyRide so you can view it.  I can also check out a route up to the canal path from Muscatine if you want to cross there.  More pics of the canal here:

 

 http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/hennepin-canal-trail

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