The Chainlink

Metra to Harvard, IL then ride the Long Prairie Trail...

I'm thinking about taking Metra out to Harvard, IL then ride the Stone Mill Trail and Long Prairie Trail both west of Harvard.

Has anyone done this? It looks like you have to hop off the Stone Mill Trail and ride along 173 to the Long Prairie Trail. When I view the route on Google Maps satellite and Street View, it appears there is no shoulder along 173. These pictures maybe old and the road could have been updated.

It would be a cheap train ride on the weekends, with the $7 weekend pass.

Thanks,

Tom

 

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Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on October 12, 2013 at 8:21am

Tom, it's been a couple years since I was out there, but Rt 173 is probably still 2 lanes with no shoulder.  I rode along the fog line to the Long Prairie Trail and had no problem with cars or trucks passing too closely on my trip out or returning.

Both trails were blacktop at the time, probably still are.  It's about 1.25 miles to the start of the Stone Mill Trail from the Metra (you'll have to cross Ramer Rd at Lawrence Rd for the trail) and about 3 miles from the end of Stone Mill to Boone McHenry County Line Rd where you turn right for the Long Prairie Trail (about a half mile up the road on your left, I remember a small parking lot at the trailhead).

Have a good ride.

Permalink Reply by Tom Z on October 13, 2013 at 9:43pm

Thanks...

Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:

Have a good ride.

Permalink Reply by djm on October 13, 2013 at 11:21pm

Tom — I rode that way last fall on a Friday and there wasnt much traffic on 173 for the couple miles you need for the connection.  Long Prairie Trail was very nice.  Have fun.

Permalink Reply by millenial removing Bernie tattoo on October 14, 2013 at 8:07am

Here's the route we took on a Harvard-Rockford CBES ride earlier this year.  If you have the time check out the Rockford lakefront path and Rock Cut State Park.

 

Map

 

Permalink Reply by Tom Z on October 14, 2013 at 12:08pm

Thank you for the great suggestions...


envane (69 furlongs) said:

Here's the route we took on a Harvard-Rockford CBES ride earlier this year.  If you have the time check out the Rockford lakefront path and Rock Cut State Park.

 

Map

 

Permalink Reply by David Fiedler on October 15, 2013 at 9:15am

Please let us know if/when you make this trip. Sounds cool and I'd love to hear how it was.

Permalink Reply by James Knell on October 13, 2014 at 7:27pm

I did this ride in May and September of 2012 as part of a longer trip to Madison, WI.  That half mile stretch on Hwy 173 totally sucks.  Trucks and cars coming both ways at 60 mph frequently.  I'm not very brave so I walked on the side of the ditch and leapfrogged my way to the County Line Road.  It's doable but I wouldn't bring kids.  Once you get to the trail, it's all worth it because it's a pretty nice ride.

Harvard to Madison

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