ENJOY SOME BEAUTIFUL SITES WHILE BIKE RIDING IN DUPAGE DuPage County is home to one of the first successful rail-to-trail conversions in the United States - the Illinois Prairie Path. Spanning 52 miles of recreational trails, the Illinois Prairie Path and the Great Western Trail are considered the "spine" of the County's trail network. Both trails are surfaced with fine, crushed limestone, so for any scenic ride, try the DuPage Trails app or checkout the suggested rides at www.dupageco.org/EDP/Bikeways_and_Trails/41740/.
Some highlight rides include up close wildlife viewing while riding the 8 miles at Springbrook Forest Preserve in Naperville which is one of three regionally significant grassland bird communities in the state and home to species like meadowlarks, dickcissels, grasshopper sparrows, woodcocks, and bobolinks as well as state-endangered northern harriers, short-eared owls, and Henslow's sparrows.
Tandems, electric bikes, trailers and even Radio Flyer Wagons can be rented at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle to explore nine miles of paved roads that wind through the magnificent tree collection. Even better, no cars will be allowed on the East Side on select days and times from May through August.
Two of DuPage County's forest preserves are connected via the Lake Regional Trail - Herrick Lake and Danada—nearly 6 miles long. Together, the preserves cover more than 1,600 acres of scenic terrain, including woodlands, prairie, and wetlands, as well as two large lakes, Rice Lake and Herrick Lake, where fishing is permitted. In addition to walking and biking, the trail is suitable for horseback riding and an equestrian center is available in Danada.
Last but not least, the DuPage River Trail spans nearly 30 miles across DuPage and Will counties. Beginning in Warrenville and traveling south through Naperville, Bolingbrook, Plainfield, and Shorewood - along the way, there’s a trail spur with a decorative waterfall and a small rest area with river overview. -Kristen Kucharski
