Illinois Trail Log
List of trails I have ridden. Non exhaustive list of trails in the area.
Favorite Scale: *Good | **Great | ***Fantastic
Click on Underlined area for Trailforks link!
Kickapoo State Recreation Area
They are in the in the process of adding 30 miles of trail and have started to add lots of wooden features that are very fun. They occasionally hold events here.
These are great warm up and beginner friendly trails. There is no tech on these trails and no big climbs. The decline is just sloped enough to go fast if you want but flat enough to maintain as slow as a speed as you want in order to get comfortable. Great trail to learn the basics and just have some fun.
Trail 2 to trail 5:
Lots of roots but flows well. Can go very fast if you wish. Be sure to session the Playground loop located in the middle of Trail 5.
Mild uphill climb with a series of pumps , jumps, drops, and berms. This was just recently built and is in great condition and is a fantastic time. Drops progressively get larger. Can run laps on this for as long as you want then continue straight back onto Trail 5.
Located at the end of Trail 5 and beginning of Trail 6. Is rated as a black diamond but really isn’t anything too crazy. Starts with a fun descent with 2 steep and tight switchbacks that can be loose. Then continues to head down along the side of the hill. Beware of a drop off a fallen tree as it is much larger than it seems and can come out of nowhere if not ready for it. Can send the tree if you really want to. M<ild climb back to start point of loop and can begin Trail 6.
Flowy and fast if you want to make it fast. A few small drops and berms. A couple loose and steep punchy climbs with short steep descents.
A brand new trail as of September 2020. Has a few fast flowy sections leading into short fast downhills. Once at the bottom of the ravine, expect 3 separate climbs up and out until reaching the top. Climbs are not too bad mostly but can be very steep and punchy in spots. After the third climb out of the ravine there will be a fun flowy and downhill section before a long(ish) gravel road ride to one last larger sized climb to get to trail 6 to 9.