North Branch Trail: Chicago to the Botanic Garden by Bike
The North Branch Trail runs about 20 miles from Chicago's Foster Avenue to the Chicago Botanic Garden. Length, access points, best segments and the Garden link.
The North Branch Trail follows the North Branch of the Chicago River for about 20 miles, from Foster Avenue in Chicago to Glencoe4. The main route is paved4 and open sunrise to sunset1. The classic ride starts at Bunker Hill and runs north to the Chicago Botanic Garden, more than 15 miles1.
- At a glance
- Hours
- Year-round, sunrise to sunset1
- Classic ride
- Bunker Hill to the Chicago Botanic Garden, 15+ miles one way1
- Dogs
- On leash only1
On this page
The North Branch Trail is a long ride that begins inside the city limits. It leaves Chicago’s Northwest Side, runs through forest preserve woods and prairie, and connects to the Chicago Botanic Garden1. It is one of Chicago’s premier paved bike trails4. More routes are listed under Routes & Trails.
The route
The trail runs parallel to the North Branch of the Chicago River, from LaBagh Woods in Chicago to Turnbull Woods in Glencoe4. It also follows the Skokie River and the Skokie Lagoons2. At Tower Road the trail divides and loops around the lagoons2.
The main route covers 20 miles4. The Forest Preserves of Cook County count 36.7 miles for the whole system, paved and unpaved1.
Where to start
Access points sit at forest preserve sites, ordered south to north. The southern end is the Irene C. Hernandez Family Picnic Grove, part of LaBagh Woods, on West Foster Avenue east of North Cicero Avenue1. Others include Forest Glen Woods, Caldwell Woods, Bunker Hill, Miami Woods and Linne Woods1. Metra’s Morton Grove, Edgebrook and Forest Glen stations lie near the southern end2.
Start at Bunker Hill for the long ride. It is a preserve with plenty of parking1.
Three ways to ride it
| Ride | Length | Terrain |
|---|---|---|
| Bunker Hill to Linne Woods | 8 miles1 | Paved, mostly flat1 |
| Bunker Hill to the Chicago Botanic Garden | 15+ miles one way1 | Paved, rolling1 |
| Foster Avenue to Turnbull Woods | About 20 miles4 | Paved4 |
The short ride is easy. Bunker Hill and Linne Woods have indoor bathrooms and picnic areas1. Bunker Hill and Miami Woods are good birding sites, where the trail alternates between woods and sunny prairie1.
The long ride is the classic. Many cyclists know the trail as “the bike path to the Botanic Garden”1. From Bunker Hill the route passes Miami Woods, Linne Woods and Harms Woods, then continues through Skokie Lagoons to the Garden1.
The Botanic Garden link
A multiuse path along Lake Cook Road connects the North Branch Trail to the Green Bay Trail at the Braeside Metra station in Highland Park3. The asphalt path is 10 feet wide, with a 2-foot gravel shoulder on both sides3. Before it, cyclists had to ride the very steep incline of Lake Cook Road on the busy roadway3. Braeside’s platform is .98 miles from the end of the extension and 1.17 miles from the Garden’s Visitor Center3. Bicycle racks stand near the Visitor Center3. The Green Bay Trail extension opened in August 20142.
For a route that continues east and south toward the lake, see the Green Bay Trail. For other long forest preserve rides, see the Des Plaines River Trail.
How the trail grew
The trail began after World War II as disconnected, unpaved equestrian trails2. A construction push in 1976 completed a paved trail from Devon Avenue to Winnetka Avenue2. The entire paved length was torn up and repaved in 20072. The southern extension to Forest Glen Woods opened on September 20, 2016, and a second stage added 1.2 miles to Gompers Park2.
Rules and conditions
The trail is open year-round from sunrise to sunset1. Dogs must stay on a leash1. For other regional options, see best bike rides in Chicago.
Read next
Best Bike Rides in Chicago: Trails Ranked by Type of Ride
The best bike rides in Chicago: the Lakefront Trail, The 606, North Branch Trail, North Shore Channel and the forest preserves, with lengths and surfaces.
routesDes Plaines River Trail: Length, Surface, Access and Rides
The Des Plaines River Trail runs 31.4 miles through Lake County and 28.4 miles through Cook County. Surface, hours, access points and flood closures.
routesGreen Bay Trail: Route, Surface and Metra Access on the North Shore
The Green Bay Trail runs beside the Metra Union Pacific North line from Wilmette to Highland Park. Surface, Winnetka's 2.24 miles, Metra stops, connections.
Questions people ask
How long is the North Branch Trail?
The main route runs 20 miles from the Irene C. Hernandez Family Picnic Grove to Turnbull Woods4. The whole North Branch trail system, including loops and unpaved paths, totals 36.7 miles1.
Where does the North Branch Trail start?
The southern access is the Irene C. Hernandez Family Picnic Grove, part of LaBagh Woods, on West Foster Avenue east of North Cicero Avenue1. The trail ends at Turnbull Woods in Glencoe4.
Is the North Branch Trail paved?
The main route is paved4. The trail system also includes unpaved trails1. The paved Bunker Hill to Linne Woods segment is mostly flat, and the longer Bunker Hill to Botanic Garden ride is rolling1.
Sources
- North Branch Trail System (via Wayback)GOV
Forest Preserves of Cook County · fpdcc.com · checked 2026-10-19 - North Branch TrailREFERENCE
Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · checked 2026-10-19 - North Branch Trail AdditionNONPROFIT
Chicago Botanic Garden · chicagobotanic.org · checked 2026-10-19 - Chicago's Best Bike Trails: 13 Spots To Explore The City And Beyond By BicyclePRESS
Block Club Chicago · blockclubchicago.org · checked 2026-10-19
Photo credits (1)
- Theemausoliam / Wikimedia Commons · CC0 · source
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