Chicago to Madison on Trails?

Chuck Anderson

A visitor to my web site asked if I knew of such a route.

I don't.

Is there a way to do this on trails?

--
*****************************
Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO
http://www.CycleTourist.com
Integrity is obvious.
The lack of it is common.
*****************************

Mike Kruger

"Chuck Anderson" <websiteaddress@seemy.sig> wrote in message
news:tSzdc.108840$JO3.77794@attbi_s04...
> A visitor to my web site asked if I knew of such a route.
>
> I don't.
>
> Is there a way to do this on trails?

This can be largely, but not entirely, done.

You can go from downtown Chicago to Kenosha, Wisconsin via the Lakefront
bike path (guess where that is), following the bike route signs up to
Evanston to the Evanston bike path, go west a mile or so to the Green Bay
bike trail, which becomes the McClory bike trail and then the Kenosha trail.
After perhaps 5 miles not on paths, you will be in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
There's then a gap, then a bike path through parts of Racine, then a gap,
then a path along the lake shore in Milwaukee.

There's an entire book on the Chicago to Milwaukee route, 'Biking on Bike
Trails between Chicago and Milwaukee' by Peter Blommer. An entire book's a
bit of overkill, since a cue sheet is enough for the route itself.

There's a bike path west from Milwaukee to Madison. The Wisconsin state
bike maps are on-line, and you can probably find the connection there.

Going by way of Milwaukee and trying to use the maximum number of paths
isn't particularly efficient.
Bob Kastigar posted a better route here some time ago, and has updated it on
his website. Just stay on the trail into Madison instead of continuing to
Wisconsin Dells.
http://www.neiu.edu/~rkastiga/bike/chi2wisc.htm

John Everett

On Sat, 10 Apr 2004 01:18:43 GMT, "Mike Kruger"
<MikeKr@mouse-potato.com> wrote:

>"Chuck Anderson" <websiteaddress@seemy.sig> wrote in message
>news:tSzdc.108840$JO3.77794@attbi_s04...
>> A visitor to my web site asked if I knew of such a route.
>>
>> I don't.
>>
>> Is there a way to do this on trails?
>
>This can be largely, but not entirely, done.
>
>Going by way of Milwaukee and trying to use the maximum number of paths
>isn't particularly efficient.

True. There's a better way to get to the Wisconsin border that's more
in the direction of Madison. Take the Illinois Prairie Path west to
Founders's Park (Mile 0) in Wheaton. Go right, up the hill and across
the RR bridge onto the Elgin Spur. The Elgin Spur ends at the Fox
River Trail. Take a right and follow it all the way to Genoa City,
Wisconsin. This is fairly close to Lake Geneva.

There are places where following the Fox River Trail can prove
problematic, particularly through Elgin and Crystal Lake where the
trail diverts to roads. Just keep an eye out for directional signs.

Perhaps someone from southern Wisconsin can provide a trail route from
Genoa City to Madison.


jeverett3<AT>earthlink<DOT>net http://home.earthlink.net/~jeverett3

Mike Kruger

"John Everett" <jeverett3@earthlink.DEFEAT.UCE.BOTS.net> wrote in message
news:0jii70hh618vcp1ranjtduqtbo43rlhg8s@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 10 Apr 2004 01:18:43 GMT, "Mike Kruger"
> <MikeKr@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
>
> >
> >Going by way of Milwaukee and trying to use the maximum number of paths
> >isn't particularly efficient.
>
> True. There's a better way to get to the Wisconsin border that's more
> in the direction of Madison. Take the Illinois Prairie Path west to
> Founders's Park (Mile 0) in Wheaton. Go right, up the hill and across
> the RR bridge onto the Elgin Spur. The Elgin Spur ends at the Fox
> River Trail. Take a right and follow it all the way to Genoa City,
> Wisconsin. This is fairly close to Lake Geneva.
>
> There are places where following the Fox River Trail can prove
> problematic, particularly through Elgin and Crystal Lake where the
> trail diverts to roads. Just keep an eye out for directional signs.
>
> Perhaps someone from southern Wisconsin can provide a trail route from
> Genoa City to Madison.
>
Doubtful. There don't seem to be any trails nearby.

Nevertheless, your route might be a nice way to get out of the Chicago metro
area.

From Genoa City, you could take H up to LaGrange, stop in the LaGrange
general store and bike shop at H and US 12, and then continue on via a
number of lettered-road options to the Glacial Drumlin trail, probably
picking it up near Sullivan. This trail runs due west to Madison. I found H
to be a little traffic heavy from Elkhorn to Genoa City, but not bad;
however somebody who's really trying to stay on trails away from traffic
might find the traffic too much.

Rural Wisconsin is generally composed of good, low traffic roads and nice
people. There are a lot of nice rides in this area.

Craig Holl

Mike Kruger wrote:
> "John Everett" <jeverett3@earthlink.DEFEAT.UCE.BOTS.net> wrote in
> message news:0jii70hh618vcp1ranjtduqtbo43rlhg8s@4ax.com...
>> On Sat, 10 Apr 2004 01:18:43 GMT, "Mike Kruger"
>> <MikeKr@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> Going by way of Milwaukee and trying to use the maximum number of
>>> paths isn't particularly efficient.
>>
>> True. There's a better way to get to the Wisconsin border that's more
>> in the direction of Madison. Take the Illinois Prairie Path west to
>> Founders's Park (Mile 0) in Wheaton. Go right, up the hill and across
>> the RR bridge onto the Elgin Spur. The Elgin Spur ends at the Fox
>> River Trail. Take a right and follow it all the way to Genoa City,
>> Wisconsin. This is fairly close to Lake Geneva.
>>
>> There are places where following the Fox River Trail can prove
>> problematic, particularly through Elgin and Crystal Lake where the
>> trail diverts to roads. Just keep an eye out for directional signs.
>>
>> Perhaps someone from southern Wisconsin can provide a trail route
>> from Genoa City to Madison.
>>
> Doubtful. There don't seem to be any trails nearby.
>
> Nevertheless, your route might be a nice way to get out of the
> Chicago metro area.
>
> From Genoa City, you could take H up to LaGrange, stop in the LaGrange
> general store and bike shop at H and US 12, and then continue on via a
> number of lettered-road options to the Glacial Drumlin trail, probably
> picking it up near Sullivan. This trail runs due west to Madison. I
> found H to be a little traffic heavy from Elkhorn to Genoa City, but
> not bad; however somebody who's really trying to stay on trails away
> from traffic might find the traffic too much.
>
> Rural Wisconsin is generally composed of good, low traffic roads and
> nice people. There are a lot of nice rides in this area.

WisDOT has some good county maps online showing cycling suitability on state and
county highways. Check it out here: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/bike-foo
t/countymaps.htm

--
Craig Holl
Mechanical Engineer; New Berlin, WI
http://www.midwestroads.com/craigholl/bike
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