North Branch Bicycle Trail

08/25/03

Glide from the city through north suburban greenways on this pleasant Chicago River trail.

by Contributor at Citysearch

The Route
Starting in Bunker Hill Woods on Devon Avenue in the city, the 10-foot-wide paved trail traces the river's North Branch for 17 easy miles to the Chicago Botanic Gardens in Glencoe. Though it winds through public parks, golf courses, and leafy forest preserves, there are a number of river and street crossings, both on bridges and at grade. If some are less than obvious, the directions are fairly well marked, and traffic signals get you across safely.

The Challenge
This is a true flatlander's route with very little resembling hills--a gentle ride even for the most casual cyclist. The even, crushed-gravel surface is easy on the tires, and pretty much any road or mountain bike should be up to the task. This is definite leisure-biking territory--those expecting a technical challenge will be disappointed, although there are a few opportunities for some rougher riding in the woods surrounding the trail.