"Safe" path/route to get to I&M canal trail

I've been pouring over Google Map the past few months looking for a route that will go from the lake to the Mississippi River. Most of this can be done using the I&M Canal trail but the one thing I'm not 100% sure about is finding a "safe" route that starts from the lake. Looks like most of it might be cutting through some no-so-great neighborhoods and/or busy not-so-safe streets. Same thing appears the same even if you attempt to go the way of hooking up with the IL prairie path.

Anyone ever attempted to try to get to the I&M canal trail or the IL prairie path from the Lake?

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Permalink Reply by TonyP on April 4, 2018 at 11:29am

83rd street west past Harlem to Oketo south to 87th street.

87th street west to Roberts Road south to 89th street.  This section, from 87th & Oketo to 89th & Roberts Road is the busiest traffic but I haven't had much trouble with it.

89th west to Kean  and then back north to 87th west past Rte 45 to Nolton ave. From Kean to 45 stay in the middle lane because the right 2 lanes are right turn only. Past rte 45 to Nolton is easy sailing.

Nolton will take you to a traffic light on Archer ave where you have a choice of either Archer west to Willow Blvd north or across Archer to the 1st street west, thru a small park to Cliff street which is a Tee intersection. south maybe a block back to Archer west to Willow Blvd. You can ride this short stretch of Archer(1 block) on sidewalk if nervous about Archer. I've never seen foot traffic here.

Willow will take you north and west thru the neighborhood past the Police dept under Willow Springs Road turn right to I&M trail head. 

This route can be traced on Anne Alt's map link. It reads a bit convoluted but is mostly light traffic and easy riding.

Permalink Reply by djm on April 5, 2018 at 6:41am

I often take Ogden to 26th...Willow Springs to the Centennial / I & M Trail.  I do some zigzagging to avoid the busiest stretches in the suburbs.  It look something like this:

Permalink Reply by Larry Mysz on April 6, 2018 at 4:44am

If you don't mind going a few miles south first, the Grand Illinois Trail is a good route all the way to the Mississippi. Maps and cue sheets are available from RideIllinois.  Paper maps and cue sheets can be downloaded and RideWithGPS maps can be previewed at:

http://rideillinois.org/maps/grand-illinois-trail-guide/

Take the Lake Front Trail and south shore drive south to Burnham Greenway.  Take the Greenway to Lansing.  Hop on the Thorn Creek Trail west to Chicago Heights, Then, Old Plank Road trail to Joliet, where you can pick up the I&M.  That's about 80% on trails.

Last time I went that way there were I&M trail closures near Morris and Ottawa, but easy road routes around them.  

Permalink Reply by Scott Dunham on April 11, 2018 at 12:36am

Thanks for the input everyone! I'll have to check all of this info out for sure.

Now that I've seen some of the GIT info, I also might try to ride from my house to Illinois State Beach as well. Thanks!

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