Veteran Acres Park – The Prairie Trail loop from McHenry

Veteran Acres Park – The Prairie Trail loop from McHenry

Easy

2.9

(26)

riders

Veteran Acres Park – The Prairie Trail loop from McHenry

01:57

38.2km

140m

Road cycling

Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: September 10, 2026

Tips

Temporary access restrictions

Includes segments with temporary access restrictions.

After 326 m for 7.17 km

Open: • sunrise-sunset (otherwise closed)

After 30.7 km for 7.17 km

Open: • sunrise-sunset (otherwise closed)

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

50 m

Metra station near the bike path

Highlight • Rest Area

For those riding out from the City of Chicago to the countryside of McHenry County, the Metra Rail Service offers regular and convenient service to Union Station in downtown Chicago. …

Tip by

1.86 km

Cold Springs Park

Nature Reserve

5.07 km

Rough surface between McHenry and Edgewood Road

Highlight • Cycleway

The section of trail between McHenry and Edgewood Road is a part of the trail that needs to be resurfaces. It is rideable but there are places where the roots …

Tip by

11.9 km

Veteran Acres Park: Short, Steep Climbs

Highlight • Cycleway

Who said the Illinois is flat, well it is flat, however the section of McHenry / Illinois Prairie Rail Trail ad add a bit of variety to the rest of …

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12.0 km

Veteran Acres Park

Highlight • Forest

Veteran Acres Park is a gem with its wooded areas and the lovely Wingate Prairie spanning about 30 acres. This vibrant space is home to beautiful flowers like asters, blazing …

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15.9 km

Three Oaks Recreation Area

Highlight • Lake

This area was once an abandoned quarry. In the late 90s, Crystal Lake city began transforming it into a natural area. The revived habitats are now home to an array …

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16.9 km

McHenry County Prairie Trail (Grand Illinois Trail Section)

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

The Grand Illinois Trail (GIT) is a multi use hiking and biking trail that is nearly 500-miles long. Initiated in the mid-1990s, the Grand Illinois Trail is now a high …

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26.3 km

The Prairie Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

The Prairie Trail, spanning McHenry County, is a key component of the broader Grand Illinois Trail. Covering just over 26 miles, it starts at the Wisconsin border, weaving through northern …

Tip by

28.5 km

Enjoy cycling through the beautiful Sterne’s Fen Nature Preserve. This place became an Illinois Nature Preserve in 1994 and offers rugged tree lined paths for biking. It's a perfect spot for a ride not too far from Chicago!

Tip by

38.2 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

35.1 km

2.61 km

438 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

34.2 km