Explore the best rated trails in Rockford, IL. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Badger State Trail and Peace Trail. With more than 77 trails covering 777 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
Enjoyed our ride both east and west from Sheffield from a beauty and historic standpoint but the state of IL does not maintain the trail at all. East of Sheffield there are lots of locks but the trail goes from fair to poor, to decent. Lots of branches and debris on the trail so need a mountain type bike. About 6 miles west of Sheffield the trail turns into a field with overgrown trees and then you are making your own trail. Too bad the state of IL doesn't believe in maintaining its infrastructure that could attract tourism. Didn't see hardly anyone on the trail during a June weekend.
Thank you to all involved in the creation of this trail! A beautiful ride with open country/shaded paved paths with some road driving but it’s a very nice ride!
This is well worth riding off the trail with true home made baked goods. I had the best sugar donut in years. Monticello and New Glarus make this trail one to visit.
I've contacted the Wisconsin DNR and received this update on the Monroe closure:
"Tracy – Thank you for your interest in the Badger State Trail. The Badger State Trail is fully open from north of Monroe, with only one detour around the tunnel near Belleville.
Last year a bridge was damaged and we were forced to close a section of the Badger State Trail due to this. This bridge has been removed and an at grade crossing installed. This was likely the area they were mentioning in the trail review."
If you ride on skinny high pressure tires and wear a lot of lycra, this trail may not be for you as other reviews indicate. However if you ride a mountain bike with good suspension and are reasonably fit, (I'm 63) it's a nice ride. There are always one or two jerks on ATVs but the vast majority slow down and give a friendly wave as they go past. I recommend weekday travel.
I run/walk/ride it weekly! Peaceful, beautiful and flat!
Nice relaxing ride but there were a lot of areas that were washed out. The trail isn’t super exciting kind of flat but the bridges were nice.
I frequently am on the GNW Trail between Gary Avenue and County Farm Road. The location is beautiful but the surface has become very uneven for bicyclists as well as for runners. It is so uneven that runners risk sprained ankles. Is there a way you could even it out? Thank you.
The path is now paved from Big Hill Park, which is just North of Beloit WI off of Afton Road, and goes to Janesville WI. In Janesville there are several paved paths which directly connect. There is plenty of parking at Big Hill Park, along with water, and bathrooms. A good portion of the trail runs along the scenic Rock River. I’ve seen many native species as I road. Enjoy your ride!
This path runs from Big Hill Park, just North of Beloit WI., off of Afton Road, to several paved paths in Janesville WI. There is plenty of parking at Big Hills Park, along with bathrooms and water. The entire trail is on a paved path or on low volume paved roads. It’s a wonderful ride! The ride from Big Hill Par to Janesville is about 11 miles. Hope you enjoy your ride as much as I do ¿¿
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