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Veteran Acres Park – The Prairie Trail loop from McHenry

Veteran Acres Park – The Prairie Trail loop from McHenry

Easy

4.7

(1659)

17,730

riders

Veteran Acres Park – The Prairie Trail loop from McHenry

01:46

35.4km

120m

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: August 18, 2026

Tips

Temporary access restrictions

Includes segments with temporary access restrictions.

After 593 m for 11.4 km

Open: • sunrise-sunset (otherwise closed)

After 21.0 km for 5.93 km

Open: • sunrise-sunset (otherwise closed)

After 28.4 km for 1.45 km

Open: • sunrise-sunset (otherwise closed)

After 30.8 km for 468 m

Open: • sunrise-sunset (otherwise closed)

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

2.49 km

McHenry / Illinois Prairie Rail Trail

Highlight • Cycleway

The section of McHenry / Illinois Prairie Rail Trail from Ringwood to McHenry is all asphalted, sometimes smooth, sometimes rough but all in all a decent trail. Suitable for all bicycles but recommend with tyres => 28mm. The trail rolls up and down the countryside, passing McCollum Lake, giving one the opportunity for a quick swim in hot weather. McHenry itself offers many opportunities to eat and drink. The village is very nice clean and many outdoor possibilities to eat and keep an eye on your bike.

Tip by

6.40 km

Cold Springs Park

Nature Reserve

9.61 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 of trees and shrubs have pushed up the surface creating a bit of a rough ride.

Tip by

16.4 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 the trail which usually has long drawn out grades of max 2%, here there are 4 short but steep climbs hitting 16% in a very dense Forrest spending a bit of shade on very hot Midwest summers. The trail twists and turns through the forest which does not give one a notice that the climbs are going to be steep.

Tip by

16.5 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 stars, and sunflowers. You'll also find prairies with plants that thrive in drier conditions, along with scattered pine woods, adding to the park's natural charm.

Tip by

16.6 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 farmlands and woodlands before reaching the suburban landscapes of southern Chicago. Along its path, the trail shifts from gravel to asphalt and passes through eight communities, including those overseen by the McHenry County Conservation District.

Tip by

18.8 km

Sterne’s Fen Nature Preserve

Highlight • Forest

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

35.3 km

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. The City of McHenry also has a wide variety of restaurants and bars with outdoor dining facilities to relax, quench a thirsty throat or satisfy a hungry stomach.

Tip by

35.4 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

28.2 km

3.46 km

3.17 km

396 m

158 m

Surfaces

28.1 km

6.98 km

207 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Today

Sunday 23 August

23°C

14°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 19.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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Veteran Acres Park – The Prairie Trail loop from McHenry

McHenry / Illinois Prairie Rail Trail

Rough surface between McHenry and Edgewood Road

Veteran Acres Park: Short, Steep Climbs

Veteran Acres Park

The Prairie Trail

Sterne’s Fen Nature Preserve

Metra station near the bike path

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