Trail Website: none
Trail Distance: 26 Miles
Trail Surface: Paved to Ringwood.  Plans are in the works to pave the path to Richmond.
Type of Use: Tour/Leisure and Fat Tire/Mountain
Towns: Ringwood, Crystal Lake, Algonquin, and Richmond, Illinois; Genoa City, Wisconsin
County: McHenry
Intensity of Use: Unknown
Setting: Wooded areas, open spaces, and small communities.
Connecting Trails: 1/2 mile from Glacial Park
Maintained By:  McHenry County Conservation District
Directions for parking: I-90 to Rt. 31 North to Ringwood. Trail begins south of Ringwood Road and Barnard Mill Road intersection.  This is a great place to park.
In Crystal Lake:
1. I-90 west (Northwest Tollway) to Rt. 31 North. Turn northwest on Rt. 14 (Virginia Cut-Off Rd.) and Pyott Road intersects from the south. Park in southeast segment where Pyott Rd. and Rt. 14 intersect.
 
2. Rt. 31 south (Northwest Hwy.) to Rt. 14 west. Pass Pingree Rd., turn south on Pyott Rd. Where Pyott Rd. and Rt. 14 intersect, park in southeast segment. Algonquin: I-90 west to Rt. 31 north to Rt. 62 west about a mile. Park alongside road east of Pyott Rd.
Trail Maps:

Rider's Comments: A converted C&NW RR track, this is a recent addition to the Fox River Trail from Algonquin to Crystal Lake. One portion goes through and around a large sand and gravel mining area. There are also some pleasant miles through quiet residential areas and lots of open areas. If you are pushing for miles, the surface is good and there are few cross streets to slow you down.

You could start at Crystal Lake and go as far as south Aurora (see Fox River Trail) or as far east as Hillside (see Prairie Path NW and E) and spend the whole time on improved paths, except for short detours in Elgin and Batavia. McHenry County will be making a connection between this trail and the Prairie Trail North within the next few years. In the meantime, if you ride a mountain bike, try the Prairie Trail North.

This trail runs along a converted C&NW RR track and ends on the Wisconsin line. The surface is what is left of the old road bed and is pretty rough. This part of the state is rolling pasture land and wooded. A quick side trip to McHenry County's Glacial Park Woods is well worth the short 1/2 mile ride. The park has about 8 miles of hiking trails (closed to mountain bikes), picnic and rest room facilities and a barn exhibit. The town of Richmond is full of antique shops and has some nice old Victorian homes. The trail is quite a distance from most of Chicago and its suburbs but might be worth the trip if you want to make a day excursion into the country to enjoy the outdoors.

For Detailed Information Contact:
Steve Weller, Manager
Planning and Development
McHenry County Conservation District
6512 Harts Rd.
Ringwood, IL 60072
815-678-4431

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