Bike rides in Illinois

Explore 8 rail-trail, greenway and park ride options in Illinois, with route lengths, surfaces, access notes and starting locations. These are selected recreational outings, not an exhaustive trail inventory. Read each guide’s scope and access cautions before choosing a ride.

8 ride guides · alphabetical order

• Ben Butterworth Parkway: 54th/55th Street parking to the 34th Street area and back

  Moline

  About 2.6-mile main-path return plus unmeasured parking walk · Out and back

  Asphalt and concrete main path; bridge decking and wet surfaces need care.

  This riverfront outing uses an eastern park section of the Great River Trail. The City of Moline describes the trail as flat, with asphalt and concrete surfaces. The longer Moline route continues through downtown streets and sidewalks; this outing turns back within the park instead.

• Chicago Lakefront Trail: short return from North Avenue Beach

  Chicago

  Up to 2 miles return · Out and back

  Paved designated bicycle trail

  Walk from designated beach access to the marked bicycle trail. Ride north up to one mile and retrace, turning sooner at construction or a controlled crossing. Use the bike trail, not the parallel pedestrian trail.

  Rolling Lakefront Trail repairs and local closures are ongoing under the September 2026 notice. Obey work-zone signs and shorten or postpone this outing.

• Constitution Trail: short southward return from Underwood Park

  Normal

  Up to 1 mile return · Out-and-back

  Asphalt main multi-use trail

  Join the main trail heading south toward Bloomington, away from Uptown Normal. Turn after half an outward mile or before an earlier road crossing, branch you cannot confidently identify, barrier or uncomfortable grade; retrace exactly. Do not head north into the Uptown underpass works or use their street detour.

• Hennepin Canal — Visitor Center: short bicycle return

  Sheffield

  Up to 2 miles return · Out-and-back

  Improved oil-and-chip / aggregate towpath; not uniform asphalt or grass horse bank

  Follow the signed main path west on the signed improved mainline canal towpath. Turn after 1 outward mile or before the first public-road crossing, work barrier, uncertain continuation or uncomfortable transition, whichever comes first; retrace. Walk any initial lot or access-drive interface. Do not use a road or private-property detour.

• MCT Goshen: short return from Kyle Road

  O’Fallon

  Up to 2 miles return · Out-and-back

  Asphalt main trail

  Follow the main Goshen Trail north toward Troy. Turn at one outward mile or before the first street crossing, uncomfortable tunnel ramp, barrier or uncertain junction; retrace. Omit connecting MCT trails.

• MCT Nickel Plate: short return from Miner Park

  Glen Carbon

  Up to 2 miles return · Out-and-back

  Improved asphalt / limestone; follow signed main trail

  Walk from Miner Park to the signed Nickel Plate Trail and follow it northeast toward Edwardsville. Turn at one outward mile or before the first street, uncertain junction, loose tread or uncomfortable grade; retrace. Do not join Heritage or Nature trails or improvise a through loop.

• Rock Island State Trail: short return from Alta

  Alta / Peoria County

  Up to 4 miles return · Out-and-back

  Improved state rail-trail; historically crushed limestone

  Follow the main state trail north toward Dunlap. Turn after two outward miles or before the first street, barrier or unsuitable loose tread, then retrace. Omit road / sidewalk sections within trail towns and the separate Peoria city continuation south of Alta.

• Tunnel Hill: short northward return from Vienna

  Vienna

  Up to 4 miles return · Out-and-back

  Crushed limestone / fine gravel rail-trail

  Join the main trail north toward Tunnel Hill and turn at two outward miles or before an earlier public-road crossing, work barrier or loose / uncomfortable tread, then retrace. Do not continue to the distant tunnel or trestles, follow River-to-River hiking branches, or cross Highway 146 southward to extend this ride.