With more and more people out on the local bike path I'm looking to find some gravel trails to ride with a little less commotion on them. Anyone have a recommendation for an app or site (currently looking at AllTrails app) that gives reliable recommendations for non-paved bike paths? I'm not looking for super technical mountain bike routes, just want to get out in nature more and off the paved roads/paths. Current location is NW Chicago Suburbs, but open to driving 1-2 hours for a nice long ride on the weekends. Thanks in advance!
Triathlon Forum
Login required to started new threads
Login required to post replies
Re: Where to find good gravel trails? [awobabobob]
[ In reply to ]
Re: Where to find good gravel trails? [awobabobob]
[ In reply to ]
For the chicago area, this map is pretty much the best:
http://ipp.org/trail-map/
Don't just look at the big red lines, 95% of all of those tiny green lines are also gravel. I know because I ride them often!
Advanced Aero TopTube Storage for Road, Gravel, & Tri...ZeroSlip & Direct-mount, made in the USA.
DarkSpeedWorks.com.....Reviews.....Insta.....Facebook
--
http://ipp.org/trail-map/
Don't just look at the big red lines, 95% of all of those tiny green lines are also gravel. I know because I ride them often!
Advanced Aero TopTube Storage for Road, Gravel, & Tri...ZeroSlip & Direct-mount, made in the USA.
DarkSpeedWorks.com.....Reviews.....Insta.....Facebook
--
Last edited by:
DarkSpeedWorks: May 5, 20 7:08
Re: Where to find good gravel trails? [burnthesheep]
[ In reply to ]
I checked a local trail on here which I know is 90% paved and gave up too quickly. I should've gave it more time, found a few that look to be worth the drive. Thanks!
Re: Where to find good gravel trails? [awobabobob]
[ In reply to ]
If you can get out towards Freeport, you will see more dogs than cars for hours. I did a route starting from Pecatonica (tiny town along highway 20) on Sunday that was exactly that for 75 miles. Check out Freeport Bicycle Co for a lot of fun routes and events. https://www.facebook.com/freeportbicyclecompany/. When there's not a global pandemic going on, they host a Memorial Day weekend ride called the Ten Thousand with gravel routes from 50-130 miles. Here's one FBC made starting in Freeport right outside their shop that's almost 80 miles and has a gas station around the halfway mark - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27410558.
If you can get out towards Stockton, that's a gold mine of gravel riding. You're right in the Driftless and it's standard to find 8-10k of gravel climbing in <100 miles. PM me and I can email you about a dozen routes out that way. Here's a 100k route starting in Stockton with a single gas station about 60% of the way into the route for refueling - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/26012092.
If you can get out towards Stockton, that's a gold mine of gravel riding. You're right in the Driftless and it's standard to find 8-10k of gravel climbing in <100 miles. PM me and I can email you about a dozen routes out that way. Here's a 100k route starting in Stockton with a single gas station about 60% of the way into the route for refueling - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/26012092.