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Print Friendly MapAbout an hour northwest of Chicago, the beautiful Grant Woods Forest Preserve spans more than 1,000 acres, offering an outdoor respite of prairie, woodlands and marshes. The crushed limestone pathway runs north-south through the park, providing an opportunity to experience these landscapes by bike, foot or ski. At the southern end of the trail, cross W. Rollins Road to venture onto the Chain O' Lakes Bike Path, a 3-mile rail-trail heading west to Fox Lake.
Grant Woods Forest Preserve is located in Lake Villa, bordered by State Route 59 on the west and by Fairfield Road on the east. Within the preserve, there is parking in three areas (north to south): on the south side of Grand Avenue (SR 132), on the south side of Monaville Road, and south of W. Rollins Road.
I went on a walk/roll with my husband on this beautiful trail. The Fall colors were enchanting. He was able to get my wheelchair through the path without a problem. I love the wooded pathway and all of the beautiful trees and scenery.
Started at Rollins Rd and headed North. It is a nice trail that has some hills that can be challenging for novice riders like me lol. Look out for snakes on the trail, but it is some good scenery and a nice mix of sun and shade.
Following the path north is great. I've never taken it heading west so I can't comment on that section. North is crushed stone. Equal parts of prairie and woods. Quite a few inclines and a couple of hills really get you going. There are a few small bridges to go over, I really love that. I wouldn't recommend it for a family with small kids, as the hills and inclines may be to much for them to handle otherwise it's a great path. I can almost guarantee any time you're on this path you will see wildlife.
This trail is great for running. The majority of the trail is crushed rock that is solid and drains well when it is wet. While there are residences surrounding the park and trails, the foliage keeps most the residences out of sight. There are several well-constructed and solid bridges that allow you to see small creeks and streams.
We live in Chicago and wanted nice protected trail within 1 hour or so drive.Great parking. Surface is crushed limestone. I ride street bike but had little or no trouble with the riding surface. Terrain was up and down. Not really hard exertion. Very lovely . Large trees and great sight lines made us think we were entirely away from suburban intrusions.
Great bike trail and walking trail. Up hills and down hills, but not steep. Through woods and prairie. good combination of sun and shade. Just the right amount of benches
Have lived here for 10 years and finally decided to try this trail. Great for a 2+ hour hike if you also explore the trails south of Monaville Rd. I must admit, walking through a little forest like this made me think I wasn't in Illinois for a bit. Very beautiful. Secluded. Not crowded. Minimal to no road noise.
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