www.outdoors.chicago.il.us >> The Unofficial Cook County Forest Preserve District Page >>

The maps on this page show various types of trails, and in some cases, areas not shown on one of the color Picnic Maps. Most of these maps have a brief description of the area plus a few rules and guidelines for the activity in question.

Bicycle Trails

Arie Crown | I & M Canal | North Branch | Salt Creek | Thorn Creek | Tinley Creek

Arie Crown Forest Preserve bike trail map (23KB), no text

I & M Canal bike trail map (100KB)

The I & M Canal Bicycle Trail is a Class I bicycle trail located in southwestern Cook County, Illinois. The paved bicycle trail is within the I & M Canal National Heritage Corridor, the first national park of its kind. The 8.9 mile trail consists of three sections; two (2) 3.3 mile loops and a 2.3 mile section that connects the two.

For those driving to the area, parking is available in the Forest Preserve District parking lot below Willow Springs Road. This parking area as well as the bicycle trail are shown on the accompanying map.

North Branch bike trail map (49KB)

The North Branch Bicycle Trail is a Class I bicycle trail located in northeastern Cook County, Ill. The trail starts at Caldwell and Devon Avenues in Chicago, and continues north approximately twenty (20) miles to Lake County, Illinois.

The trail winds along the North Branch of the Chicago River and the Skokie Lagoons, providing access to various picnic groves, golf courses and also the Chicago Botanic Garden. This trail will eventually connect the Green Bay Bicycle Trail as shown on the map.

The North Branch Trail offers bicycle riders many opportunities for fun, exercise and relaxation. You may want to pack a lunch and ride to the Chicago Botanic Garden or to one of the picnic groves along the trail. If you're trying to get back into shape, determine a specific course from this map, and ride it regularly. There are plenty of places to stop and rest along the way, where you can get a drink of cold water from one of the convenient wells. Whether it's the whole day or just an hour, plan a time right now to get out and enjoy the beauty nature offers right in your own back yard.

Salt Creek bike trail map (88KB)

The Salt Creek Bicycle Trail is a Class I bicycle trail located in west central Cook County, Illinois. The trail starts in Bemis Woods South and continues east 6.6 miles to Brookfield Woods, directly across from the Brookfield Zoo.

The trail winds through the wooded Forest Preserves as it follows Salt Creek, providing access to various picnic groves and other points of interest. This trail offers bicycle riders a scenic and relaxing route to the Brookfield Zoo.

The Salt Creek Trail follows the banks of Salt Creek, offering bicycle riders a variety of ways to enjoy the Forest Preserve. Pack your bicycle and a picnic lunch in your car and drive to Bemis Woods South. Then park your car and pedal your way east to Brezina Woods for a quiet picnic. You may want to get an earlier start and ride to the Brookfield Zoo for a full afternoon of enjoyment. If you're looking for some exercise, determine a specific course using this map and ride it regularly. Whether it's for exercise or relaxation, plan a time now to get out and enjoy beautiful Cook County.

Thorn Creek bike trail map (59KB)

The Thorn Creek Bicycle Trail is a Class I bicycle trail located in southern Cook County, Illinois. One section of the trail consists of 4.7 miles in the Sauk Trail lake area and another winds through Lansing Woods and North Creek Meadow for 4.6 miles. A future extension of the trail will link these two sections bringing the overall trail length to 17.5 miles.

For those driving to the area, ample parking is available near the trail in both Lansing Woods and Sauk Trail Woods. These parking areas as well as bicycle trail are shown on the accompanying map.

Tinley Creek bike trail map (92KB)

The Tinley Creek Bicycle Trail is a Class I bicycle trail located in southern Cook County, Illinois. It is currently 21.77 miles long. For those driving to the northern portions of the trail, Yankee Woods and Midlothian Reservoir provide parking and access to 18.60 miles of trial, including 1 3.17 mile loop around the George W. Dunne National Golf Course. For those driving to the southern portion of the trail, parking and access to a 3.6 mile loop is available off both Vollmer and Flossmoor Roads. The 21.77 mile trail is part of a proposed bicycle trail system which will ultimately extend over 33 miles, linking northern and southern trail sectoins as shown on the accompanying map.

The Tinley Creek Bicycle Trail offers bicylists a relaxing ride thorugh gently rolling country. A leisurely ride through the area will take you through forests, prairies and alongside wetlands. With picnic groves, wells, and toilet facilities available along the trail route, you can plan an outing, be it only an hour long or all day.

At present, the paved trail exists in two sections. However, in the future these portions will be joined together, as well as having the entire trail linked to others trails in the area.

Bicycle Trail Rules

BICYCLE USERS:

1) Ride single file -- keeping to the right side of the trail.

2) Stay in your own lane.

3) Give warning before passing other trail users.

4) Obey all stop signs.

5) WALK all bicycles down overpasses where designated.

6) The trail is designed for a moderate recreational speed of 8 m.p.h.

NO SPEED TRAINING OR
RACING
PERMITTED

(Speed radar monitored)

Violators will be
ticketed

FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT
OF COOK COUNTY
536 N. Harlem Avenue
River Forest, IL.
60305
(708) 366-9420

Cross-country Ski Trails

Arie Crown | Bemis Woods | Beverly Lake | Camp Sagawau | Deer Grove | Swallow Cliff

Arie Crown Ski Trails map (85KB)

[The] trail located in the Arie Crown Forest [...] is especially suited to the beginner and the intermediate skier. The majority of the trail is wooded, with gentle sloping to flat terrain. For access to the Arie Crown Cross Country Ski Trail, you may use the Sundown Meadow parking lot located on the West Side of Mannheim Road (Route 45) North of 67th Street. Lake Ida, located north of the Sundown Meadow parking lot is open for Ice Skating as soon as safe ice conditions exist.

Bemis Woods Ski Trails map (56KB)

The gently rolling terrain at Bemis Woods offers excellent skiing for beginners and advanced skiers alike.

For the non-skiers Bemis Woods also offers sledding, coasting and tobogganing.

Bemis Woods is located on the North side of Ogden Avenue -- West of Wolf Road.

Beverly Lake Area Ski Trails map (32KB)

These trails begin at Beverly Lake and travel north. The terrain is hilly and suitable for intermediate skiers. The trails pass through mature oak forests and open savannas with superb vistas.

The Beverly Lake area is located on Higgins Road about one mile west of Sutton Road (Illinois Route 59).

Camp Sagawau Area Ski Trails map (109KB)

A complete Nordic Ski Program, including lessons for all ability levels, nature ski tours, school group programs, and ski rentals is available at Camp Sagawau. The Camp is open when snow conditions are adequate. Call 257-2045 for a complete ski program brochure.

The trails traverse a scenic area of forest and prairie. The Sag Trail is gentle and well suited to the beginner while the Ridge Run is more rolling, appropriate to intermediate or advanced level skiers. Ski information and a warmup area is available.

The trails are groomed and tracked as snow conditions warrant. Skiers must obtain a free trail pass in the Farmhouse before skiing.

Camp Sagawau is on Route 83 east of Archer Avenue or four miles west of the Swallow Cliff Winter Sports Area.

Deer Grove Ski Trails map (141KB)

The mature oak and maple forests and hilly terrain at Deer Grove offers excellent skiing and the wooded areas provide protection from the severe winds on cold days.

For the non-skiers Deer Grove also offers sledding, ice skating, coasting, tubing and toboggan slides. Deer Grove is located on the west side of Quentin Road just north of Dundee Road.

Swallow Cliff Ski Trails map (106KB)

The rolling terrain of the Swallow Cliff area offers excellent skiing for beginners and advanced skiers alike.

Swallow Cliff provides a warming shelter and heated rest rooms. This area is located near the intersection of Illinois Route 83 and U.S. Highway 45, just west of Palos Park.

Cross-country Ski Trail Rules

Cross Country skiing is fast becoming the most popular winter pastime in the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. Persons may cross country ski in all areas of the District, (except certain Special Use Areas), from sunrise to sunset.

RULES OF THE TRAIL

Following these rules for cross country conduct will make your skiing safer and more fun.

RESPECT OTHERS: Ski so that you don't endanger or offend others.

SKI RIGHT: Ski the right- hand track. Groups should ski single file on the right side of the trail.

MEETING: Keep to the right when meeting. On hills, downhill skiers have the right of way.

POLES IN: Keep your poles close to your body when near other skiiers.

KEEP TRAILS CLEAR: If you stop, get out of the track. If you fall, get up and out of the track quickly.

WATCH YOUR SPEED: Suit your skiing speed to your personal ability, the terrain, visibility - especially on hills. Keep a safe distance from skiiers ahead. As a last resort, fall intentionally to avoid a collision.

DON'T LITTER: Don't carry in what you cannot carry out. Carrying litter is easy - it's light.

Canoe Trails

Chicago Portage canoe trail map (77KB)

The Chicago Portage Canoe Trail is located in western Cook County on the Des Plaines River. The 14.4 mile trail begins at Stony Ford and heads downstream, past the historic Chicago Portage to Lemont.

After its discovery in 1673 by Father Jacques Marque and Louis Jolliet, the Chicago Portage became an important connecting link between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. The portage and adjoining Des Plaines River quickly became one of the major waterways to the West, establishing Chicago as an important transportation center in the United States.

Today you can paddle along this same historic route that was taken by Marquette and Jolliet over three centuries ago.

The Chicago Portage Canoe Trail is part of the I & M National Heritage Corridor. This corridor is a 100 mile long recreational system that runs from the Chicago Portage to LaSalle, Illinois. By putting in at Stony Ford, you can canoe the first 14 miles of this historic corridor, which will take you downstream to Lemont. If you would like to take a shorter trip, you can disembark at Columbia Woods or use Columbia Woods as your starting point and canoe to the Lemont Landing. Whichever route you choose, plan a time now to get out and enjoy the beauty of this historic trail.

Points of Interest

(A) Stony Ford

At one time a strategic and widely used crossing, Stony Ford today marks the beginning of the canoe trail. This area has picnic facilities and drinking water available for canoeists beginning their journey downstream. (See inset map)

(B) Laughton Ford

It was at this ford that the Ottawa Trail crossed the Des Plaines River. In the early 1800's David and Bernardus Laughton established a small trading post along the trail, just east of the ford. Now owned by the Forest Preserve, this area is known today as the Ottawa Trail Woods.

(C) Chicago Portage^*

This historic site was the major connecting link between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. Discovered in 1673 by Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet, this portage became an important point from which to control fur trade and travel throughout the area. Today the Chicago Portage, now owned by the Forest Preserve District, is a National Historic Site.

(D) Columbia Woods

This area can be the final destination For a 7.5 mile canoe trio or the half way point for a longer trip. Columbia Woods also has picnic facilities and drinking water available for canoeists. (See inset map.)

(E) Palos Preserve^*

These preserves make-up the Forest Preserve District's largest and most diverse holding. Mostly hilly and forested, this scenic area contains over 32 miles of land trails for the enjoyment of hikers, bicyclists and horseback riders.

(F) Lemont Landing

This is the disembarking point for the 14.4 mile canoe trail. After passing under the Lemont Road and Stephen Street bridges, paddle along the north bank of the river and disembark where shown on the inset map.>

^{*Not accessible by canoe}

Canoe Trail Rules

Safety First

Canoe Trail Courtesy

Before Planning a Special Event

Permission is required for all special events held at District facilities involving more than 25 persons. For further information contact:

FOREST PRESERVE
DISTRICT
OF COOK COUNTY
536 N. Harlem Avenue
River Forest, IL 60305
(312) 261-8400 Ext.48

About this page...

This page is based on publications of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Illinois, adapted for the web as a public service by CLONK. This web site is unofficial, and not associated in any way with the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. CLONK is not responsible for any errors, either in the original publication or in this web version. The information presented here follows the original Forest Preserve District publications as closely as possible, with minor variations such as choice of typeface and added web links. CLONK cautions that items such as names of public servants and telephone numbers are subject to change!

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Last updated 7/7/00.