Area trails provide respite for nature-loving hikers

Friday, April 25, 1997 Sun Publications

by Jeff Rugg
Greener View

April is a heart breaker of a month. First it is warm and sunny, then it turns around and snows.

It feels so good to get outside on the warm days. You do not have to go anywhere special, but it is fun to follow a trail to see what is around the next bend. On the cold days we can sit back and enjoy the new book on Hiking and Biking in the Fox River Valley by Jim Hochgesang.

His previous books on the trail systems in Cook, DuPage and Lake counties have been well received by all kinds of outdoor park users. The new book follows the same comprehensive system as the others. It has county maps of Kane and McHenry counties and site maps of 36 sites and 275 miles of off-road hiking and biking trails. Anyone interested in prairie, wetland or forest plants or animals will find the books useful. Each book covers the geology and natural and man-made history of the various sites and trail systems. Also covered are the connections to other trails and what facilities are available at each site.

In our harried suburban lives we often miss the small natural sites that are interwoven around us. The Illinois Prairie Path is a 55 mile-long trail that runs through DuPage County to connect Kane and Cook counties. It was one of the first trails in the country to be made from an abandoned railroad. It interconnects with several other trails and connects several forest preserves.

It starts on the east end at the town of Maywood and runs west to Wheaton, where it splits. The northwestern split heads toward Elgin. The southwestern trail angles down through Naperville to Aurora. Both of these western ends of the Prairie Path meet the north-south running trail called the Fox River Trail.

The Fox River Trail runs parallel to the Fox River for 41 miles. It starts in Aurora in the south and ends in Algonquin. Many other trails connect to this trail, such as the Great Western trail that has about 18 miles in Kane County and over 11 miles in DuPage County.

Many of these trails run through forest preserves that offer many miles of trails within their boundaries. Some forest preserves with trails are not yet connected to the system, but are listed in the books for each county.

The Oakhurst Forest Preserve is on the border between Kane and DuPage counties, just a few miles west of the Fox Valley Mall. Take McCoy Drive west from Route 59 along the south side of the mall. The road changes from a four lane boulevard into a two lane road at the park boundary. There are gravel, asphalt and bark mulch trails. There is a 55-acre lake, wetlands, woodlands and grasslands. All of these habitats near each other make it a great spot for wild flower or bird lovers. A huge hill from the lake excavation gives a great view of the surrounding countryside.

Other locations with trails that are not in the forest preserve system are also in the book. Fermi Lab, Argonne (surrounded by Water Fall Glen Forest Preserve) and the Morton Arboretum are all detailed.

When you are on the trails you should remember some of the rules. Many miles of the trails pass along private property, so stay on the trail. That is a good rule in the parks as well. Since the people ahead of you stayed on the trail, you have some nice things to look at, Do not pick flowers, feed wildlife or litter. Do not use the trails after hours to prevent disturbing wildlife and trail neighbors.

If you are walking, do not wear headphones. Not only do you miss the natural sounds, you miss the voice of the biker who is trying to get past you. If you are a biker, wear a helmet and count on all walkers to be listening to the birds, so go by them slowly. Follow the rules of the road. Many of the trails do cross city streets, so you must stop and look out for traffic. Some trails allow horses, so be quiet and do not make fast motions as they go by. Cross-country skiing is allowed on some trails, but the rest of us won't be there to bother them.

Follow common sense rules of outdoor living. Take insect repellent, sunscreen, water, a first aid kit and food, even on short hikes. It would probably be a good idea to check for ticks when you get back.

Trails are still catching on in many parts of the country, but they are losing a money battle at both the federal and state levels. There are some grand plans being worked on. The Grand Illinois Trail is being developed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and many other organizations. It would run 475 miles from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River and come back in a large loop. Several sections, totaling about 200 miles, already exist.

On an even larger scale is the American Discovery trail. About 3,500 of a possible 6,300 miles are complete on a trail that will cross through Illinois on its way from Delaware to California.

No matter which trail you want to take in the local area, it will be in the books by Jim Hochgesang. They are easy to read and follow whether you are sitting in your easy chair or on your bicycle seat.

Jeff Rugg, owner of Nature's Corner in Naperville, has bachelor's degrees in zoology and in plant and soil science and a master's degree in landscape architecture. Rugg is also an Illinois Certified Nurseryman and full member of the American Society of Landscape Architects. Address questions to:

Jeff Rugg
Nature's Corner
566 S. Route 59
Naperville, IL 60540