-
Gems of the…
These are the places that make living in my…
I & M Canal Trail
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
3 reviews for I & M Canal Trail
This place might be one of the best kept secrets for recreation in the Chicago area. It is only about 15 minutes by car from my neighborhood in the city (it helps if you live on the south side right by an entrance to I-55), and on the day I went (Friday late morning), I crossed paths with fewer than a dozen other bicyclists as I rode along for about 25 miles altogether.
I will have to look into the RTA to Willow Springs Road option, but the way we did it, with bike racks in a car, worked out well. There is a parking lot off Willow Springs Road in a place called Columbia Woods. From there you can take the Centennial trail, which is 4 miles (and now paved). Across a bridge, there is a 5.4 mile trail, all mostly shaded and green. No kids, no dogs, no rollerbladers or traffic zooming by-- just butterflies, birds, bushes and trees. We did not try the Black trail north of Willow Springs road, but will try that next time. There is also a parking lot on the other side of the river just off Archer past the intersection with Willow Springs road. This is the side near the Metra stop (the south side of the river along the canal). And from the parking lot, one has access to either the Red "lolipop" trail, or the Black trail that runs northeast along the canal.
After this experience, it is hard to justify going anywhere else.
People thought this was:
- Cool (1)
It's a trail. Meh.
It's surrounded by greenery, but for the most part, it's that urban regrowth stuff with very few areas wooded with nice trees. The 5k loop that goes south from the parking lot goes under several freeway overpasses and is covered in litter and smells odd. It's barely shaded and completely flat. Not a fan. The 8mi "lollipop" loop North from the parking lot is much nicer, but still flat. The first part, before the railroad crossing and the loop, is more shaded.
The parking lot has some creepy bathrooms and a working water fountain, and the whole thing is paved. But overall, this place makes me feel like someone's probably living in the bushes.
Okay, this isn't a business but your tax dollars fund it so enjoy!
If you bike, roller-blade or just walk, this is a great place get away for a quick break or a leisurely afternoon. Hard to find: Get directions to the Willow Springs CTA Train stop and look right behind it. After you get there, everything else is fun, fun, fun! I bike and the shade and the ambiance and the lack of motorist trying to buzz you off the road is just heaven. The trail runs some 12 and 1/2 miles (more if you do not mind unpaved) and the tree-lined corridor gives just the right mixture of sun and shade.
If you are lucky, you are very likely to see deer who come to drink around dusk. Word of caution: Bucks are often accompanied by doe of whom they are very protective. If one stares at you and snorts, he is no longer Bambi and may mean to do you harm if he feels provoked. Give wildlife the right of way and enjoy their beauty from a safe distance.
That said, parking is free, there are rarely crowds and no drink minimum (yuck) or admission. Come to Archer Rd in Willow SPrings and try out this hidden treasure from the Illinois Parks Department
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Cool (1)