There’s something magical about cycling along a car-free path that grows sun-dappled as it wanders into a dense woodland or courses beside a placid river where kingfishers dive. Ironically, these bucolic experiences are tied up with the railroad industry — actually their abandoned tracks.
After car and plane travel took precedence over trains, thousands of miles of rail beds stood weed-choked and disused. But the demise of the railways had an upside: Some of these routes took on a new life as multiuse paths — rail-trails — that encourage safe commuting and exercising, while also protecting natural resources, connecting communities and revitalizing local businesses.
These six rail-trails — all within a few hours of Chicago — provide insights into local history, ecology and geology. But, more important, they are a balm for the soul, wrapping visitors in tranquility, something most of us especially crave nowadays. In addition to cyclists, they welcome runners, walkers, parents with strollers, in some cases, equestrians and, when there’s enough snow and if the trail isn’t cleared, cross-country skiers.
The six trails are:
- Illinois Prairie Path
- Fox River Trail
- Virgil Gilman Trail
- Prairie Trail
- Jane Addams Trail
- Great River Trail
Read more about these trails in the Chicago Tribune here.
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