Prairie Path

About the Trail

The Illinois Prairie Path is a multi-use nature trail for non-motorized public use.  It spans approximately 61 miles in Cook, DuPage and Kane Counties in  northeasten Illinois. A former right-of-way for the old Chicago Aurora & Elgin electric railroad, it was the first U.S. rail-to-trail conversion in the nation in the 1960’s.  The emblem shown on signs, road crossings, and even our custom  trash containers, provides several clues to the Path’s origin and uses.  They include railroad spikes arranged in an inverted Y and three circles.

Railroad Spikes

Indicate that the trail follows the right-of-way of the former Chicago, Aurora & Elgin Railway, an electric line which carried commuters and  freight between Chicago and the western suburbs as far as the towns along the  Fox River from Elgin to Aurora. The CA&E suspended commuter operations in 1957 and freight operations in 1959. The right-of-way was finally abandoned in 1961.

Inverted Y

Forms a rough map of the Path route: from First Avenue, Maywood, to Wheaton; then branching to Elgin and Aurora (with additional spurs to Geneva and Batavia).

Symbols in the circles

Suggest just some of the many ways to enjoy the Path – on foot, bicycle or horseback.  Users of the Path enjoy the scenic 61 miles,  which includes many Illinois recreated praire restorations. The Path is surfaced  primarily with a crushed limestone surface, which is easy on feet and bike tires alike, and sheds water quickly following rainfall.

Timeline of the Prairie Path

1963

Volunteers secured a lease to develop a public path. The Illinois Prairie Path (IPP) began on Monday, September 30, 1963 when the Chicago Tribune published a letter to the editor from May Theilgaard  Watts advocating for a public path on the abandoned route of the Chicago, Aurora and Elgin Electric (CA&E) rail line. Public response to her letter was  immediate and enthusiastic. However, the complexities and challenges  involved in developing a public path on the CA&E land were monumental.

1966

Many volunteers donated their time and talents to secure a public path  especially the 14 founders: Mrs. Watts, Helen Turner, Lillian Lasch, Elizabeth  and Samuel Holmes, Phoebe and George Ryerson, Jane and August Sindt,  Dr. Warren Keck, Bill and Betty Nemec,  John Heddens and advisor Gunnar  Peterson of Openlands. They organized a board, developed an organization, developed communications, recruited members and volunteers, conducted  an intensive grass roots campaign to rally support for a public path, and  met with local, county, state and national government officials. In just 953 days or 2.6 years, they secured a 12-year lease from the largest owner of the right- of-way land – DuPage County – to develop 27 miles into a public path. The founders didn’t have the money, materials, or government assistance to build a path. They signed the lease, determined to proceed. Volunteers cleared the  land, laid trails, built bridges and expanded the Path (1966-1986).

1970-1971

Mile by mile, individuals, families, neighbors, organizations, businesses, schools  and scout troops volunteered to remove tons of rubbish along the 27 miles of  Path in DuPage County. Volunteers and public works departments in a number  of communities donated limestone screenings – and donated their time to  spread the screenings on the path. In 1970, the IPP board – the Illinois Prairie  Path not-for-profit corporation (IPPc) – was granted space for an office in Rathje  Park in Wheaton. By 1971, 19 of the 27 miles (70%) of the IPP were “adopted”  and maintained by volunteers. In June 1971, the U.S. Department of Interior, after many inspections,

1972-1979

In 1972, Path expansion was underway. A 20-year lease was signed between  the Illinois Department of Conservation and the Kane County Forest Preserve and approved in Springfield, IL – extending the Path to the Fox River via Elgin Branch, Aurora Branch and Batavia Spur, with the exception of privately owned  areas. In 1979, expansion of the Path eastward was approved in four  communities in Cook County – Berkeley, Bellwood, Hillside and Maywood.

1982-1983

In 1982 and 1983, volunteers mounted their most challenging project – building  a bridge in Wheaton. Bids for the project were over $250,000. Volunteers built  the bridge for $25,000 with significant material donations from local businesses,  and with welding provided by high school students from DuPage Area Vocational  Education Association (DAVEA). In 1986 during the national liability insurance  crisis, the IPPc lost its coverage. That year, DuPage County agreed to take over  the maintenance of the Path and the IPPc agreed to continue its focus on  recreation, prairie restoration, land preservation and conservation, and  interpretation of historic sites.

1986-Present

Today, the IPP is maintained by productive public and private partnerships (1986- present). Segments of the Path are maintained by DuPage County, Kane County  Forest Preserve District, Fox Valley  Park District, Elmhurst Park District, Wheaton  Park District, Villa Park, Glen Ellyn, Warrenville, Berkeley, Hillside, Lombard,  Maywood, with support from the volunteer board of the Illinois Prairie Path (IPPc).  Once the Illinois Prairie Path was developed, it became the hub for the regional development of greenways.

Map of the trail

The Prairie Path spans from Elgin, Geneva, Batavia and Aurora to Maywood 

Main Branch

Maywood Trailhead
Berkeley Town Park
Wild Meadow Trace Park
Spring Rd
Villa Park Historical Society 
Ardmore Ave
Harvard Ave
Westmore Ave
Grace St
Main St
Walnut 
Glen Park
Prairie Path Park
Hoffman Park
Wheaton College
Founders Park

Elgin Branch

Volunteer Park
Lincoln Marsh Wetlands
Geneva & County Farm Rd
Kline Creek Farm
St. Andrews Country Club
Army Trail Rd
Valley Model Railroad HQ
South Elgin Trailhead

Aurora Branch

Aurora Branch
Prairie Path Park
St. James Farm
Warrenville
Town Park
Diehl & Shore Rd
Fox River Path

Batavia Spur

Glenwood Park
Geneva
SpurReed Keppler Park

Geneva Spur

Reed Keppler Park

Amenities

The 61 miles of the Illinois Prairie Path is many things to different folks. To some it may just be a convenient route to work, instead of the hassle of autos and stoplights. To others it may be a favorite place to exercise Rover or Fido. It could be the perfect mileage for a high school cross-country running team to work out their strategy for next weekend’s meet.  Perhaps its the only spot one has ever spotted that strange little finch with the purple throat and silvery-yellow wings that brings them back every afternoon. A place to run with the little one in the jogging cart. Everyone seems to be doing their own thing. And loving it. To most, its a bike path that goes somewhere. Or part of their weekly equestrian adventure. Whatever you use the Prairie Path for, we are out there too. That’s why we have amenities along the trail to help make it a more pleasant trip

Along the Path You’ll Find

Comfort Stations

Drinking Fountains

Benches

Prairie Restorations

Forest Preserve trails

Signs at points of interest

Information Showcases

Parks, playgrounds and gazebos

Many downtowns have an ice-cream store nearby

Trash containers
(please use them!)

Parking

There is public parking near the PATH in all villages and cities along the Main Stem. Most of it is metered parking or leased parking for commuters, but some free parking exists. In Cook County the PATH runs generally through residential areas where one can find free parking along adjacent or cross streets. On weekends most leased parking spaces are available to PATH users and metered parking spaces can almost always be used on Sundays without feeding the meters.

Parking is free at the following listed sites:

Villa Park: (l) Parking lot west of Villa Avenue on Central Boulevard. (2) West of Ardmore Avenue on Central and Park Boulevards.

Lombard: (1) Parking lot west of Westmore Avenue. (2) Along Broadway on both sides of the PATH.

Elmhurst: (l) Parking lot east of York Road between Vallette Street and the PATH. Enter from Vallette. (2) Pioneer Park at the east end of Prairie Path Lane where the Path crosses the Canadian National Railroad. (3) West of Spring Road north of PATH. (4) Prairie Path Lane south of the PATH and west of Berkley.

Glen Ellyn: (1) Hill Avenue near the Glen Oak County Club between Glen Ellyn and Lombard. (2) Along Walnut Street from Lowell to Taylor. (3) The western end of Duane Street. Enter the PATH from Danby Park.

Wheaton: (l) Elmer J. Hoffman Park. Enter north from Hill Avenue on Prospect Street, one block east of the NorthWestern Railroad Crossing.

Batavia Spur: (1) Bilter Road. (2) Glenwood Park Forest Preserve. The entrance to the preserve is on the east side of Illinois Route 25 just south of the Batavia Spur.

Elgin Branch: (I) In Wheaton along Lincoln and Western Avenues near the PATH. (2) Both sides of Jewell Road. (3) On the northwest corner of County Farm and Geneva Roads. (4) In the Forest Preserve parking lot on the east side of Prince Crossing Road north of the Great Western Trail. (5) Both sides of Army Trail Road, Wayne. (6) Dunham Road. (7) Raymond Street, Elgin.

Aurora Branch: (I) Center Street, Wheaton. (2) New parking lot on the wcst side of Winfield Road. (3) South of the PATH and east of Batavia Rood, Warrenville. (4) Large parking lots south of the PATH near city hall and the public library. Turn west from Batavia Road one block south of the PATH, go one block and then turn right (north) to lots. (5) West side of Farnsworth Avenue in Aurora. (6) McCullough Park east of the Fox River in Aurora. Enter from Illinois Avenue. (7) The Burlington Northern commuter parking lot on the east side of Illinois Route 25 in Aurora.

Geneva Spur: (l) County Farm and Geneva Roads. (2) Reed-Keppler Park, National Street, West Chicago. (3) Bennett Park on the east side of the Fox River in Geneva. Enter from lllinois Route 25.

Trail Etiquette

Regulations to protect people, animals & power lines

Cyclists and equestrians should give an audible warning when overtaking another user by calling out ‘passing on the left’.

Users should make an effort to stay to the right when traveling the Path.

Cyclists should not travel at excessive speeds.

Care should be given when approaching horses to avoid “spooking” them.

Cyclists (really all users) should stay on the surfaced portion of the path and not damage native vegetation and landscaped areas.

Cyclists should wear helmets at all times.

Pets must be leashed and you must clean up after them.

No motorized vehicles are allowed (county law).

Power-assisted wheelchairs are allowed.

No firearms, kites, or model airplanes.

No hunting.

No alcoholic beverages or controlled substances.

We provide trash containers at many intersections – please use them.

Camping is not allowed on the Path. The Path is adjacent to several county forest preserves. 

For camping information call the DuPage County Forest Preserve District, 630-790-4900,
or Kane County Forest Preserve District, 630-232-5980.

Getting Involved: Become a Member

The Illinois Prairie Path (IPP) was the first successful "rails-to-trails" conversion in the United States and inspired a national rail-to-trail movement in the United States in the mid-1960s.There are many reasons why you should join The Illinois Prairie Path not-for-profit corporation. Your tax-deductible contribution will be used for a number of worthwhile projects. To join The Illinois Prairie Path not-for-profit corporation, please use the online form below.
Online Membership Form
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