I and M Canal Trail--Safe Route in to Downtown - The Chainlink2024-03-28T09:24:40Zhttps://thechainlink.org/forum/topics/i-and-m-canal-trailsafe-route?feed=yes&xn_auth=noI live near the Hennepin Cana…tag:thechainlink.org,2012-04-10:2211490:Comment:5330972012-04-10T21:08:06.451Zmark stetsonhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/markstetson
<p>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…</p>
<p>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:</p>
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<p> <a href="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/hennepin-canal-trail">http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/hennepin-canal-trail</a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/35241923?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="721" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/35241923?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721"/></a></p> I've gotten an inquiry from a…tag:thechainlink.org,2012-04-10:2211490:Comment:5328062012-04-10T17:05:01.791ZAnne Althttps://thechainlink.org/profile/Anne91
<p>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. </p>
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<p>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.<br></br><br></br><br></br> <br></br> <cite>Dave Brew said:…</cite></p>
<p>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. </p>
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<p>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.<br/><br/><br/> <br/> <cite>Dave Brew said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/i-and-m-canal-trailsafe-route?id=2211490%3ATopic%3A162664&page=2#2211490Comment164003"><div><div class="xg_user_generated">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!).<br/> <br/> 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.</div>
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</blockquote> I haven't found any existing…tag:thechainlink.org,2010-03-09:2211490:Comment:1640542010-03-09T15:28:03.432ZAnne Althttps://thechainlink.org/profile/Anne91
I haven't found any existing book with on-street routes for this area, just lots of trail books.<br />
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<cite>Curt H Moore said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/i-and-m-canal-trailsafe-route?page=2&commentId=2211490%3AComment%3A164006&x=1#2211490Comment164006"><div>thanks, I was hoping there was a book out there...curt</div>
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I haven't found any existing book with on-street routes for this area, just lots of trail books.<br />
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<cite>Curt H Moore said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/i-and-m-canal-trailsafe-route?page=2&commentId=2211490%3AComment%3A164006&x=1#2211490Comment164006"><div>thanks, I was hoping there was a book out there...curt</div>
</blockquote> thanks, I was hoping there wa…tag:thechainlink.org,2010-03-09:2211490:Comment:1640062010-03-09T11:46:16.798ZCurt H Moorehttps://thechainlink.org/profile/CurtHMoore
thanks, I was hoping there was a book out there...curt
thanks, I was hoping there was a book out there...curt I've ridden this several time…tag:thechainlink.org,2010-03-09:2211490:Comment:1640052010-03-09T11:45:16.251ZBob Kastigarhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/BobKastigar
I've ridden this several times - in the opposite direction!<br />
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<a href="http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=RrzKj&page_id=36880&v=2n" target="_blank">http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=RrzKj&page_id=36880&...</a> (This is backwards, since I'm going east-to-west)<br />
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The <a href="http://www.traillink.com/ViewTrailMap.aspx?AcctID=6015781" target="_blank">Old Plank Road Trail</a> takes you east from Joliet all the way to Western Avenue;<br />
<br />
Here's a…
I've ridden this several times - in the opposite direction!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=RrzKj&page_id=36880&v=2n" target="_blank">http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=RrzKj&page_id=36880&...</a> (This is backwards, since I'm going east-to-west)<br />
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The <a href="http://www.traillink.com/ViewTrailMap.aspx?AcctID=6015781" target="_blank">Old Plank Road Trail</a> takes you east from Joliet all the way to Western Avenue;<br />
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Here's a <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Chicago,+Cook,+Illinois&msa=0&msid=107769023605596399400.00047582dda7133102373&ll=41.48029,-87.95311&spn=0.334888,0.617294&z=11" target="_blank">Google Map</a> to get you from Chanahonn to the Plank Road Train to Western.<br />
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The next route is the Burnham Greenway - but there's no easy or reliable way to get between these two. And the Burnham Greenway is split into two parts.<br />
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Here's a <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=107769023605596399400.0004767469eca5c46209b&z=12" target="_blank">Google Map</a> of that part, but getting between the two is a minor problem. There really isn't any very scenic route.<br />
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Where the Burnham Greenway ends on the north you can cross under the Chicago Skyway and follow the city's bike route signs back to the trail along the lakefront. The I & M Canal is closed…tag:thechainlink.org,2010-03-09:2211490:Comment:1640032010-03-09T11:43:45.576ZDave Brewhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/DaveBrew
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!).<br />
<br />
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…
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!).<br />
<br />
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. would love to have the route…tag:thechainlink.org,2010-03-09:2211490:Comment:1638302010-03-09T00:15:57.248ZCurt H Moorehttps://thechainlink.org/profile/CurtHMoore
would love to have the route you used and thanks again<br />
curtmoore@msn.com<br />
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<cite>Larry Mysz said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/i-and-m-canal-trailsafe-route?commentId=2211490%3AComment%3A163724&xg_source=msg_com_forum#2211490Comment163724"><div><cite>Larry Mysz said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/i-and-m-canal-trailsafe-route#2211490Comment163706"><div>I should add that last June my wife and I rode the GIT from Chicago…</div>
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would love to have the route you used and thanks again<br />
curtmoore@msn.com<br />
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<cite>Larry Mysz said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/i-and-m-canal-trailsafe-route?commentId=2211490%3AComment%3A163724&xg_source=msg_com_forum#2211490Comment163724"><div><cite>Larry Mysz said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/i-and-m-canal-trailsafe-route#2211490Comment163706"><div>I should add that last June my wife and I rode the GIT from Chicago Heights to Moline, then on into Des Moines. It was a great ride except for some rain softened trail on the I&M between Ottawa and Seneca. Let me know if you want our route.</div>
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</blockquote> Larry Mysz said:I should add…tag:thechainlink.org,2010-03-08:2211490:Comment:1637242010-03-08T20:00:39.339ZLarry Myszhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/LarryMysz
<cite>Larry Mysz said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/i-and-m-canal-trailsafe-route#2211490Comment163706"><div>I should add that last June my wife and I rode the GIT from Chicago Heights to Moline, then on into Des Moines. It was a great ride except for some rain softened trail on the I&M between Ottawa and Seneca. Let me know if you want our route.</div>
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<cite>Larry Mysz said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/i-and-m-canal-trailsafe-route#2211490Comment163706"><div>I should add that last June my wife and I rode the GIT from Chicago Heights to Moline, then on into Des Moines. It was a great ride except for some rain softened trail on the I&M between Ottawa and Seneca. Let me know if you want our route.</div>
</blockquote> Check the League of Illinois…tag:thechainlink.org,2010-03-08:2211490:Comment:1637062010-03-08T19:33:29.967ZLarry Myszhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/LarryMysz
Check the League of Illinois Bicyclists website <a href="http://bikelib.org" target="_blank">http://bikelib.org</a> for maps and turn by turn directions for both the Route 66 Trail and Grand Illinois Trail. Free trail guides can be downloaded from the LIB site.<br />
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Curt already gave you the info on the IL Route 66 Trail.<br />
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The Grand Illinois Trail Guide is at…
Check the League of Illinois Bicyclists website <a href="http://bikelib.org" target="_blank">http://bikelib.org</a> for maps and turn by turn directions for both the Route 66 Trail and Grand Illinois Trail. Free trail guides can be downloaded from the LIB site.<br />
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Curt already gave you the info on the IL Route 66 Trail.<br />
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The Grand Illinois Trail Guide is at<br />
<a href="http://www.bikelib.org/maps-and-rides/route-guides/grand-illinois-trail/" target="_blank">http://www.bikelib.org/maps-and-rides/route-guides/grand-illinois-t...</a><br />
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The Grand Illinois Trail will take you 70 miles from Joliet, to Chicago Heights, Glenwood, Lansing, and on to Navy Pier, mostly on trails, including the Lake Shore Path. Curt-
Don't know of a route…tag:thechainlink.org,2010-03-08:2211490:Comment:1632582010-03-08T03:45:43.591ZJim Adgatehttps://thechainlink.org/profile/JimAdgate
Curt-<br />
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Don't know of a route other than what you have suggested. However, I have taken Metra from downtown Joliet into downtown Chicago to get to the I&M Canal trail. Just an alternative to consider..<br />
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Jim
Curt-<br />
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Don't know of a route other than what you have suggested. However, I have taken Metra from downtown Joliet into downtown Chicago to get to the I&M Canal trail. Just an alternative to consider..<br />
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Jim