Bike Camping Trip Chicago To Chain-O'-Lakes State Park
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- 2 or 3 Day Weekend Trip -
The North Loop Ride is a great way to see the immediate surrounding Chicago area on a weekend bike trip. A mixture of big city and nature. Difficulty: Challenging | Day One 95 miles | Day Two 95 miles | Round-trip 190
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Route/Trip Highlights
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THE ROUTE
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50%
of Crushed Limestone |
50%
of paved routes |
Trail Route Description:
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The North Loop Ride takes you through 6 counties, 2 states, 1 large city, and many towns. The route has been meticulously laid to provide riders with an easy to follow, challenging yet very doable weekend bike journey, with each segment of the day taking you into different arrays of unique spaces and natural environments.
You are never far from a train station during the entire course of the route. So if you are running behind schedule and need to make it back home in time, or your bottom side/legs have given up on you. . .you and your bike can always hop on the bike friendly Metra train which brings you back to Downtown Chicago. The detailed map we offer provides train station locations, highlights, and much much more. About 70% of the ride takes place on paved or crushed limestone bicycle paths completely removed from car traffic. We're talking bike only paths. The small portions on the road are scenic back country roads in Wisconsin, small town streets and Chicago bicycle lanes. |
Things to do and see
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Lost Valley Visitor Center: The visitor center offers both self guided tours of the exhibits and staff led programming. Snow shoe rentals are available during winter months if weather permits
Hiking Trails: Glacial Park contains over 8 miles of trails for hiking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, and snow snowmobiling, visitors have plenty of space to explore. Visitors can follow a two mile long interpretive nature trail loop exploring plant communities, wildlife, history of the land, and the geology of the park. Small Towns: Stop in Antioch and ride through main street. Richmond near Glacier park has a variety of charming shops and restaurants. Elgin has a variety of food options. Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge: Southeastern Wisconsin and northeastern Illinois, eventually providing up to 11,200 acres of habitat for wildlife as well as outdoor recreational opportunities . |
Blarney's Island: "Babes. Bikinis. Bands. Boats. Beer." Take a boat ferry to the island and have a drink.
Kayak, Canoe, Paddling & Fishing: The Nippersink creek offers people to experience the park from the river. There are rentals available and maps. Glacial Park: A one hour (9.1 mile) bike ride from Chain O' Lakes State Park camp. Glacial park offers 3,400 acres of restored open space including prairie, wetlands, oak savanna, and delta kames. The Nippersink Creek also runs through Glacial Park, providing excellent opportunities for both fishing and paddling. Illinois Beach State Park: Offers camping, hiking, and swimming. A great place to camp if you starting from the south west corner of the loop/Elgin region Chain O' Lakes State Park: 6,023 acres to experience rolling moraine hill topography. An entrance leading you into wild flower prairies, wide eyed views and rich regional wetlands. Plus peaceful lakes and hiking trails too' makes Chain-O-Lakes State Park of North Eastern Illinois a great bike camping trip. |
Camping, Hotel, Lodging
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There are several ways you can stay overnight on the North Loop Ride. The detailed map marks key locations on where to rest for the night.
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Explore Discover and Connect with the North Loop Ride...
The official start of the ride begins at Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park but you can start wherever the loop is conveniently located near you. The ride is intuitive, so the only way to get lost is within your own sense of wonderment . So gear up, and get ready to explore what's outside our front door.
The Trail MapThe Loop is composed of 4 main legs. The East Leg of the loop branches into two separate routes, as well as the North Leg, choose one route from each leg depending on what you want to see and do.
Be sure to start your first day early so as to have longer breaks and lunches throughout your day. All routes provide history, architecture, and nature but some offer it a little more than others. Find the route that fits you down below.
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Click to Enlarge & Zoom in
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East Leg - Nature's Path
Nature's Path brings you in even deeper as you explore the natural wonders along the entire loop. Where Savannas, wild oaks, wetlands, dunes, and beaches collide to form an unprecedented amount of natural diversity that is one of a kind. The Northeastern Illinois region is a conundrum of all that is great and oddities that converge at the southern tip of Lake Michigan. Bringing together rich regional habitats into one place, from the Rockies to the Appalachian Mountains, from Canada to the Caribbean, wild life flocks in and distant seeds are sown. Ecosystems developed by the remnants of ancient Glaciers and fires give a rebirth to the land that tell a great story. Where a transformation once happened when the plowed arrived till the preservation and re-emergence of the native landscape. One of the greatest assets the Chicago area has is the Prairie, in all its types. Colors blossom throughout the year here, allowing a different robust show of life throughout each season so be sure to check out the Natural Event Calendar.
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East Leg - Sheridan Hills
Ferris Bueller's Day Off was filmed here, Home Alone too. This Branch takes you through the North Shore Communities and beyond and into Wisconsin. Discover the stunning architecture and distinctive homes styles of the late 1800's and 1900's and modern day Estates cast in Italianate and Second Empire styles. The magnificent Bahai's Temple with it's intricate designs and patterns will surely dazzle any eye. Find little coves, dunes, beaches and even a historic lighthouse while you explore. Eventually it will lead you into Historic Fort Sheridan , with peculiar beginnings but now a retired military base converted into a town. This route also boosts an impressive piece of nature at the end of the route, Illinois Beach State Park. The habitats and the amount of natural diversity is uncanny. Did you know we have cactus here in Illinois?!
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North Leg - Route 173
A straight shot west, this route will get you where you need to go. A Wide 5 ft. bike shoulder is like your own personal bicycle highway as you ride past farms, development, and wetlands. Local Farm Stands replenish well needed breaks. Ride through the Chain-O-Lakes area and the historic town of Antioch. Chain-O-Lakes State Park... Kc's Cabin... once renowned flowering lotus beds... Al Capone and mobsters had summer homes in the area... Architecture styles in Richmond are built with the greek revival style, as well as Italianate, and Second Empire styles etc..
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North Leg - Wisconsin Back Roads
Sit back and relax as you cross the state line and enter Kenosha County Wisconsin. You'll experience less traffic and peaceful roadside views. As you ride west you will catch the harvest of the day as the sun sets before you... Glimpses of the sky as as you roll over gentle hills with great views as you finish out your day....
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West Leg - Glacial Park
Ride along rolling prairies, delta kames, oak savannas and the tranquil presence of the meandering Nippersink Creek as you enter Glacial Park the Lost Valley, in McHenry County. With breathtaking 3,400 acre views you can fascinate migratory wetland birds in the region and wide eyed vistas. This conservation district is also part of a larger natural network called the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge. Moving along you'll get a little farm land, a little small town charm, and a bunch of Fox river. Try to catch the castle with a real draw bridge on the way. There is so much more along this leg of the trail you really just need to see it for yourself.
South Leg - Chicago
The City of Chicago. Dare we say more? Experience the culture of Chicago neighborhoods, dazzle the world's first skyscrapers, and ride along bridges. Discover where Chicago originally started, and pedal next to the renowned Chicago River. Riding along the newly safe bicycle lanes of Chicago. This leg also boasts the Illinois Prairie Path. The First Rail to trail conversion in the Country! This path has a story all on its own.
