Preserve Website: http://www.fpdcc.com/
Trail Distance: 18.5 miles
Trail Surface: Paved
Type of Use: Fat tire/mountain, Leisure/touring
Towns:  Palos Heights, Crestwood, Orland Park, Oak Forest Country Club Hills, Tinley Park, Flossmoor
County: Cook
Intensity of Use: Heavy
Setting: Wooded area
Connecting Trails: Lake Katherine
This trail is part of a proposed bicycle trail system of over 33 miles, linking the northern section of the trail with the southern, which is currently only a 3.6 mile loop south east of Flossmoor Road and Cicero Avenue.
Maintained by:  Forest Preserve District of Cook County
Directions for parking: Yankee Woods - Cicero to 167th west to Central Ave. north, 1/4 mile. Arrowhead Lake - Harlem to 135th Street east to entrance.
Hours of Operation: Sunrise to Sunset
Trail Map:


Tinley Creek Division:

Rider's Comments: This trail has recently been extended on the north end and continues through Palos Hills on a village trail. It is very popular with in-line skaters, wheelchair users, and strollers as well as bikers. It is relatively flat and winds through woods and prairies. Much of the trail north of 127th Street follows the path of high tension electric towers. Obey the lights and use caution when making the diagonal crossing at 143rd and Harlem Streets.

Tinley Creek area has over 20 miles of trails including the 2 mile Palos Heights trail leading to Lake Katherine Nature Preserve.  All of the pathways are laid out with bike friendly planning.   Kudos to Palos Heights!

You can take the path and see the Midlothian Reservoir Preserve, Yankee Woods Preserve, and ride along the George W. Dunne National Golf Course.  Keep an eye out for the oak forests, lakes, and marshes which adorn the trail.  Currently the trail makes a brief hiatus between Ridgeland Avenue and Oak Park Avenue, so you need to use the sidewalks, but construction is continuing.  The trail ends at 82nd Avenue next to the Silver Lake Country Club.  The last half mile actually is residential driveways.

When you reach the trail intersection east of the Harlem Avenue underpass, head up north.  Passing over Tinley Creek, you have a huge 285-foot long bridge to enjoy the view.  Seeing huge oaks, ravines, and gullies increases the paths enjoyment.   Once you cross the Harlem Avenue and 143rd Street, you start heading northwest.   North of the ComEd lines you have a rather confusing four way intersection.   Choices:  Head left to cross 131st street.  North from 131st street to Lake Katherine, or right (North Easterly) to Arrowhead Lake.   Crossing Harlem Avenue, you can head around the lake and reach the end of the trail at a beautiful picnic area.

Now head straight back to Midlothian Reservoir on the main trail (stay off the side trails), and you hit about forty miles on your odometer (which includes the new Midlothian Meadows trail addition).  Amazing!

For Detailed Information Contact:
Forest Preserve District of Cook County
536 N Harlem Av
River Forest, IL 60305
708-366-9420 or 773-261-8400

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