Fox Valley Bike Trails

There is something for every cyclist, including urban routes, city getaways, rail trails, and singletrack. Fox Valley Bike Trails area is a cyclist’s paradise with over 340 miles of trails and bicycle-friendly paths. There is something for every biker, from urban rides and city escapes to rail trails and singletrack. The routes and paths snake through downtowns, along picturesque waterfronts, circle around and over lakes, through wooded regions, and even to the Fox Cities Stadium for family-friendly with an eye toward connectedness and natural and historical aspects.

Local communities and organizations contributed to this linkage via their efforts, passion, and shared goals. Those seeking additional recreational possibilities as well as travel paths to their destinations are drawn to these bicycle and pedestrian links. They also provide users with a taste of the history and scenic splendor of northeast Wisconsin’s Fox Valley.

Biking Along The Fox Valley Bike Trails

There are more than 40 miles of guaranteed pleasure on the Fox River Bike Trail. In Northern Illinois, it travels across the picturesque Fox River, alongside old railroad tracks, over six bridges, and past attractive communities and natural preserves. For enthusiastic cyclists, hikers, families, and nature enthusiasts, the path is the ideal outing. No weather condition is too severe to benefit from the trail. Bring out the cross-country skis or snowshoes if your bike does not have snow tires. You can stop for meals along the way at one of the numerous nearby eateries, or you can pack a lunch and stop at one of the many picnic areas.

How to reach Fox River Bike Trail
Northwest of Chicago’s city center, the Northern Fox River Valley is about 45 minutes away. The Depot is found at 319 N. River St., East Dundee, IL 60118, and is the most convenient location to reach the Fox River Bike Trail once you’ve arrived. Downtown Elgin is an excellent place to start the trail as well. Park on the Riverside Drive Promenade, then choose between seeing South Elgin or traveling north to East Dundee and Carpentersville.

Fox Valley Bike Trails in Illinois

On portions of three old railroads—Chicago, Aurora & Elgin; Aurora, Elgin & Fox River Electric; and Chicago & North Western—was erected the Fox River Trail (FRT). In the present, it is home to a wide variety of diverse birds, trees, and animals, such as bald eagles, herons, and woodpeckers. The rail trail begins at its southern terminus in the quaint community of Oswego, which is situated 50 miles west of Chicago. The walk starts in Hudson Crossing Park, which contains a playground, picnic spots, chairs, a bathroom, and a water fountain and overlooks the Fox River. The route splits at the park’s northernmost point; bear left to stay on the FRT. The right branch goes downtown after a brief pathway along Waubonsie Creek that passes through a tiny, peaceful park.

After leaving Hudson Crossing Park, proceed parallel to the Fox River by crossing Waubonsie Creek. The trail briefly becomes an on-road route after passing through another small park. Turn left onto North Adams Street, and follow the road for 0.5 miles through a peaceful neighborhood with little vehicular activity. Keep to the left and avoid crossing the railroad tracks at the following road bend. Righting onto Second Street will bring you back to the FRT’s off-road section.

What to do

Looking for a close-by getaway that combines both fun and relaxation? The Fox River Valley Bike Trail is here. This beautiful bike path is about 45 minutes west of Chicago and is ideal for adventurous cyclists interested in discovering the local way of life.

Plan a long weekend to travel the 65 miles of the trail, where you’ll stroll through peaceful woodland preserves and pause to experience lively, beautiful downtowns in five different locations. By the conclusion of your trip, you’ll fall in love with Aurora, Geneva, St. Charles, Elgin Area, and McHenry County, Illinois, especially if you take our advice on some of the best things to do along the Fox River Valley Bike Trail in each of these picturesque and breathtaking locations. In other words, simply sit back and take it all in—we’ve taken care of the planning for you!

NEED TO KNOW: Advice Prior to Spinning
There is no need for a vehicle at all to complete a bicycle tour of the Fox River Valley. Any of these locations are accessible via the Metra system in Chicago (bikes are allowed on Metra). Here you may view Metra schedules and maps.

Fun fact: Because the route stretches on both sides of the river, it is feasible to switch back and forth across it. It is not only conceivable but also encouraged. The best course of action is to thoroughly plan your route before you start and be on the lookout for bridges and signs that point to auxiliary routes and detours through homes. To help plan your excursion as simply as possible, we’ve specified which side of the river each stop is located on. Are you prepared to start now?

TAKE A RIDE.
We start our Fox River Valley Bike Trail excursion in Aurora, the trail’s southernmost destination, but you may start your experience anywhere in between, including McHenry County at the trail’s northern end. Just so you know, it’s called Prairie Trail if you start in McHenry County—some insider information for you.

Pedal & Trails

A 50-mile circular circuit is connecting 20 parks in the area, the Fox Cities Paper Trail. Plan a trip along the new Loop the Lake Trail, a 3.2-mile route that includes a rebuilt railroad trestle and pedestrian bridges, to see Neenah, Menasha, Fox Crossing, and the great Fox River. The 1,600-foot-long, illuminated Trestle Trail pedestrian bridge, which includes fishing platforms, is the longest in Wisconsin. The Loop is totally pet-friendly and has put-ins scattered along the route, making it simple to combine with kayaking. When you’re done, you can quickly have a wonderful latte, burger, or beverage.

For individuals who opt to visit High Cliff State Park on horseback, the Fox Cities provide a lesser-known type of track. Open from May through November are riding trails. The horse trails can only be accessed with a state park sticker.
The region’s well-maintained cross-country ski and snowshoe routes are open when it snows. High Cliff State Park, three local nature centers, and the serenity of the outdoors are all accessible with the swish of skis and snowshoes. Try any of the trails at a few nearby golf courses or nature preserves if you want to stay in the city.

Fox Valley Bike Trails Path

As the Fox River flows through the neighborhood, the Fox River Trail may be found on both sides of the river. In actuality, the route reaches south far beyond the City of Aurora and north all the way to the Illinois/Wisconsin state line. The DuPage County Prairie Path is also connected to the Fox River Trail. The route is available year-round for a variety of recreational activities. Groups who support walkathons, bikeathons, or running competitions can also use it.

State Trail along Fox Valley Bike Trails

The Fox River State Trail begins in downtown Green Bay and meanders alongside the picturesque Fox River before stretching for 25 miles over a former rail line. Beginning with the Native Americans who utilized pathways to move between their settlements situated along the river, the Fox River corridor has a long and illustrious history. Along these paths, early French explorers, missionaries, and traders established their missions and stations.

Trails For Bicycling In The Fox River Valley

The Fox River Valley tucked away in northern Illinois, spans along the Fox River from Antioch to Ottawa. With its abundance of outdoor activities, rural areas, and simplicity, this lovely valley region, which is to the west of the urban Chicago Metropolitan area, stands in stark contrast to the skyscrapers and busy city life. The abundance of public bicycle trails in the area is one of its distinctive characteristics, giving cyclists many opportunities to admire the local State Parks, landmarks, and wildlife preserve areas. Continue reading to learn about five fantastic trail-riding opportunities in the Fox River Valley.

Park at Chain O’ Lake State

The Chain O’Lakes State Park lives up to its name by being situated in the center of Illinois’ biggest collection of natural lakes. It provides stunning scenic views and a diversity of species for all visitors to enjoy. The 6 miles of bike paths are available from any of the park’s picnic spots and border the Grass, Marie, and Nippersink Lakes, as well as the Fox River. The trails are enhanced by views of the water. The paths are excellent for families and offer a wonderful opportunity to take in some of the natural splendor of the Fox River Valley. For those who can’t bring their own, bicycle rentals and safety equipment are also offered at the concession stand inside the park.

Forest Preserve at Grassy Lake

The Grassy Lake Forest Preserve provides a fantastic opportunity to hit the trails and spend some time in nature if you happen to be on the northern side of the Fox River Valley. The Grassy Lake paths are unmatched, especially with the six separate scenic overlooks with a stunning view of the Fox River Valley and Grassy Lake, which feature gently rolling hills, oak woodlands, marshes, and moraines. The four miles of biking trails, free parking, and restrooms make up the Grassy Lake trails. All bikers will enjoy the area because of the well-maintained gravel and mowed grass routes, as well as the numerous options for some of the best access to the Fox River banks.

The Prairie Path in Illinois

The Illinois Prairie Path, which spans 61 miles and is located in Cook, DuPage, and Kane Counties, all of which are in the Fox River Valley, offers one more option for fantastic cycling paths. The Illinois Prairie Path, which was once a right-of-way for the former Chicago Aurora & Elgin electric railroad, was one of the country’s first rail-to-trail conversions in the 1960s and is today one of the region’s busiest trails. The path’s various amenities, including restrooms, drinking fountains, seats, natural Prairie restorations, interpretive signage, parks, playgrounds, and gazebos, are wonderful features that benefit both cyclists and other visitors. With its extensive network of trails and trail facilities, the Illinois Prairie Path is the ideal place to go for some easy cycling. The opportunities for outdoor recreation are virtually unlimited.

State Trail Along Fox River

The 25-mile Fox River State Path connects Ott Road, which is about a mile north of Hilbert, and downtown Green Bay. It is a multipurpose state leisure trail. Horseback riding is allowed on bridle trails that run alongside the trail on the 7.7-mile-long southern section of the trail that is located south of Heritage Road.
Both Holmes Road north of Forest Junction and Heritage Rd off of County Road PP in the vicinity of De Pere provide access to the route. Off Holmes Road, there is a sizable gravel parking area. For a brief period, the horse trail and common limestone trail cross a body of water together, but otherwise, the horse track continues alongside the common trail.
During the deer gun hunting season, the trail between Center Road and Ott Road is shut down. During that time, kindly refrain from using that portion of the route at all.
The trail is accessible for equestrian riding, biking, and hiking. The season for horseback riding, biking, and hiking is the only time when motorized vehicles are not allowed. This track is a part of the Calumet County snowmobile trail network in the winter. The Fox River Trail’s Calumet County section is free to use.

State Recreational Trail along Fox Valley Bike Trails

Along a first rail corridor, The Fox River State Recreational Trail extends 20 miles from downtown Green Bay to the boundary between Brown and Calumet counties. Miles more of the path leads into Calumet County. The urban portion of the path is asphalt-paved for about 10.5 miles from the Trailhead to Lasee Road. The trail is surfaced with limestone screenings from Lasee Road south to the county line.

The Fox River Trail corridor has a long history, dating back to the time when Native Americans used trails to connect their riverside communities. Along these paths, the early French explorers, missionaries, and traders established their outposts and missions. A military road was later constructed along some of the stretches connecting Green Bay and Milwaukee. The Milwaukee and Northern Railway Company bought the corridor in 1873, and the first trains started frequently running between the Milwaukee and Green Bay markets. For the following 116 years, trains would keep running throughout the corridor as ownership changed hands between different railroads. Regular rail service was stopped in 1989, marking.

The Fox River Trail’s Friends

Friends of the Fox River Route is one way to assist Wisconsin’s most popular trail. The purpose and operations of this wildly popular state recreational path are supported by this state-approved Friends of the Fox River Trail organization. The Friends organization voluntarily donates time to help with trail maintenance, invasive species removal, and promoting trail safety through the trail ambassador program, in addition to raising money for trail development projects. This support is essential to the Brown County Parks Department. For the trail’s repaving, the Friends are now gathering money.

Trails

For individuals planning to use the recreational trails in the Fox Cities and nearby areas, this map is offered as a reference. The Parks and Recreation Customer Service Department at 100 N. Appleton Street has additional versions of the map that are more detailed.
The towns of Menasha, Greenville, Clayton, and Grand Chute; the cities of Appleton, Menasha, Neenah, and Kaukauna; Outagamie County; and the Fox Cities Greenways, Inc. have collaborated to provide an extensive network of trails throughout the Fox Cities, with additional trail segments still to be built. These trails connect the various settlements and provide a variety of varied leisure activities. It is possible to walk, ride a bike, or skate on many of the trails indicated on the map because they are paved off-road routes. Some sections connect to the paved, off-road paths through sidewalks along neighborhood streets. On-street routes are other parts that are marked on the map and provide access to various trails and recreational areas.

Commonly Asked Questions

How far does the Illinois Fox River path extend?

The Fox River Bike Trail spans more than 40 miles and passes through numerous communities. The bike trail is open every day from sunrise to sunset. The Fox River Bike Trail connects Algonquin and Aurora.

For the Fox River Trail, where do you park?

The Porlier Street and Adams Street intersection in downtown Green Bay, south of the Mason Street Bridge, is the location of the Fox River State Trail’s north trailhead. On weekends, there is parking under the Mason Street Bridge and on Adams Street close to the trailhead.

Where are the start and end of the Fox River?

The longer of the two rivers, the Fox River (an Illinois tributary), travels an estimated 202 miles from southeast Wisconsin to Ottawa, Illinois, where it meets the Illinois River (325 km).