Illinois Prairie Path: Length, Surface, Branches, Parking and Rules

The Prairie Path is a former rail corridor that now carries riders through the western suburbs to the Fox River. Its Main Stem starts at a CTA station. More rides are in Routes & Trails.

What it is

The Illinois Prairie Path is a multi-use nature trail for non-motorized traffic, spanning about 61 miles across Cook, DuPage and Kane Counties¹. It follows the right-of-way of the former Chicago, Aurora & Elgin electric railroad, which carried commuters and freight between Chicago and the western suburbs¹. It was the first rail-to-trail conversion in the United States¹. The surface is primarily crushed limestone¹.

The route includes many recreated prairie restorations¹. The Path’s emblem shows railroad spikes arranged in an inverted Y¹; the Y forms a rough map of the route¹.

The three branches

All three branches start at one point just west of downtown Wheaton². Concrete mile markers name the branch and count the miles from Wheaton².

Branch	Length	Ends at
Main Stem	15 miles	Forest Park CTA station2
Elgin Branch	About 16 miles	Elgin, at the Fox River Trail2
Aurora Branch	About 14 miles	RiverEdge Park, Aurora2
Geneva Spur	6 miles	Geneva2
Batavia Spur	5 miles	Batavia2

The Elgin Branch is the longest of the three². The path meets Kane County’s Fox River Trail four times². See the Fox River Trail guide for that side. The trail map names stops along the Main Stem such as the Maywood Trailhead, Berkeley Town Park and the Villa Park Historical Society Museum⁶. Along the Elgin Branch it lists Lincoln Marsh Wetlands and Kline Creek Farm⁶.

Riding it from Chicago

The Main Stem ends at the Forest Park CTA station, so the CTA is the way in from the city². A pedestrian bridge over the Des Plaines River between Maywood and Forest Park opened in late October 2006, after lighting and emergency call boxes were installed². For the rules on carrying a bike, read bikes on CTA trains and bikes on Metra.

Wheaton, the hub of all three branches, is 15 miles from Forest Park by the Main Stem². The Main Stem and the Elgin Branch form part of the 575-mile Grand Illinois Trail².

Amenities and parking

The path has comfort stations, drinking fountains or water pumps, and benches⁵. Many downtowns along it have an ice cream store close by⁵.

Every village and city along the Main Stem has public parking near the path⁵. Most of it is metered or leased for commuters, though some is free⁵. In Cook County the path runs through residential areas, where free parking is available on adjacent or cross streets⁵. Named options include a lot east of York Road in Elmhurst and Elmer J. Hoffman Park in Wheaton⁵.

In March 2025 the DuPage County Department of Transportation posted “Not a Parking Lot” signs at gravel lots on County Farm and Geneva Roads⁵. Look for another lot.

Trail rules

The Path posts a speed limit of 15 mph for all users⁴. Keep right, and call out “passing on the left” when you overtake⁴. Cyclists should wear helmets at all times and obey posted signs at crossings⁴. Pets must be leashed⁴. Camping is not allowed⁴.

Class 1, 2 and 3 e-bikes are allowed on DuPage County trails⁴. Other motorized vehicles are not allowed⁴.

How it came about

On September 30, 1963, the Chicago Tribune published a letter from May Theilgaard Watts urging a public path on the abandoned route of the railroad³. The response was immediate and enthusiastic³. The CA&E had ended commuter service in 1957 and freight in 1959, and the right-of-way was abandoned in 1961¹.

Fourteen founders took 953 days to secure a 12-year lease from DuPage County for 27 miles³. In June 1971 the path became the first National Recreation Trail in Illinois³. Volunteers built a bridge in Wheaton in 1982 and 1983 for $25,000, against bids above $250,000³. DuPage County took over maintenance in 1986³. The path was inducted into the Rails-to-Trails hall of fame in August 2008².

Who looks after it

Segments are maintained by DuPage County, the Kane County Forest Preserve District, several park districts and villages³. The Illinois Prairie Path not-for-profit’s all-volunteer board funds projects and trail amenities¹. Pair this ride with the best bike rides in Chicago if you want the lakefront on another day.