Illinois GREAT RIVERS COUNTRY Bicycle ≈∞ails Guide Illinois Welcome GREAT RIVERS COUNTRY Bicycle ≈∞ails Guide Galena/Jo Daviess County 1 Welcome Galena/Jo Daviess 1 Convention and Visitors Bureau Hilly back trails, looming canyon walls, deep shaded forests, amazing County CVB Blackhawk Waterways 2 Convention and Visitors Bureau waterfalls, and awe-inspiring river ways. These are just a few reasons why thousands of people flock to Great Rivers Country’s bicycle trails. Henry County Quad Cities Convention Tourism Bureau and Visitors Bureau 3 4 Leisure and competitive cyclists can enjoy, explore and master varied bike trails crisscrossing rivers, streams, and beautiful Illinois terrain. Choose from picturesque landscapes located in forest preserves, Galesburg Area Convention 2 7 and Visitors Bureau such as Illiniwek Forest Preserve near Hampton, or take a more Blackhawk Waterways CVB Waterways challenging course along mixed surfaces, such as Independence Peoria Area Convention Trail in Peoria. Families can enjoy memorable leisure outings on easy 5 and Visitors Bureau trails, such as Spring Valley Trails in Quincy. Serious cyclists can enter dozens of competitive races, such as the Galena Triathlon and Duathlon, or the Annual Wood River Triathlon located in the Alton Macomb Area Convention 6 and Visitors Bureau region. 3 Schuyler County - SchuylerCountyIllinois.com Quad Cities CVB Brown County - BrownCountyIL.com Whether you want to take a relaxing ride along a short trail, explore Quincy Area Convention a rugged singletrack, or tour along 585 miles of the Mississippi 8 and Visitors Bureau River, it’s all here in the Illinois Great Rivers Country Bicycle Trails Greene County - VisitWestCentralIllinois.com, EldredHouse.com Guide. Simply turn to any of eleven prime areas for recreational and Alton Regional Convention competitive biking information. You’ll find information about the bike and Visitors Bureau 9 trails including area, location, surface, trail length, and degree of 4 difficulty. Happy trails! Henry County Tourism Bureau Tourism The Tourism Bureau 10 ILLINOISouth Southernmost Illinois 5 11 Tourism Bureau Peoria Area CVB Great Rivers Country Regional Tourism Development Office 581 South Deere Road Macomb, Illinois 61455 309-837-7460 or www.GreatRiversCountry.info 12/2013 10,000 2 Galena/Jo Daviess Blackhawk Henry County 6 Macomb Area CVB 1 County CVB 2 Waterways CVB 3 Quad Cities CVB 4 Tourism Bureau 5 Peoria Area CVB . 877-464-2536 and order a free visitors guide, or call the www.galena.org Galena/Jo Daviess County Convention & Visitors Bureau at For those looking to stay the night, Chestnut Mountain Resort and Eagle Ridge Resort & outdoor enthusiasts should visit Fever River Spa have bicycle trails available. Additionally, Outfitters in Galena, which has equipment for rent and sale, as well as suggested trail maps. For more information visit 3 Convention and Visitors Bureau Galena/Jo Daviess County Bicycling in Jo Daviess County is an experience built for the true weekend warrior. Cycling Bicycling in Jo Daviess County is an experience built for the true weekend warrior. the hills and valleys of this unglaciated area can be a challenge for some, but provides more than enough thrills for any experience level. Put the tires down on stretches of Mississippi Notably, River back roads or enjoy a leisurely ride with the family along the Galena River. most cyclists will go directly for the countryside roads that traverse past historic farmsteads and rolling rises that the Galena area is known for. Welcome 6 Macomb Area CVB Galena/Jo Daviess County Convention and Visitors Bureau Welcome 35 84 7 Galesburg Area CVB 20 1 6 Apple 3 7 8 9 Canyon Lake Apple River Canyon State Park The Galena Galena 78 5 Territory County CVB Galena/Jo Daviess Galena River 1 Trail 84 2 20 Country Bicycle Rides Blackhawk 20 5 in the Galena Territory CVB Waterways Chestnut 4 Various Dates Mountain Nestled in the Galena Territory, enjoy Mississippi River 2 Resort, exceptional bike rides on scenic country roads with wonderful panoramic views. Galena Elizabeth Galena.org 84 Fever River Outfitters 6 Organized Rides Various Dates 3 Join Fever River Outfitters for one of their Quad Cities CVB organized bicycle rides, like their 12- mile ride to Galena Cellars Vineyard, or ride, kayak, and more during Mississippi Adventure Day! FeverRiverOutfitters.com 1 2 Chestnut Mountain 3 Galena Triathlon G.O.A.T.S. Cycle Club Galena River Trail Resort and Duathlon 7 Organized Rides Bouthillier Street, Galena 8700 West Chestnut Road, Galena May Multiple rides around Galena and the 4 Length: 6 miles, soon to be 9 miles Length: 2 trails totaling 5 miles The triathlon consists of a 660-yard swim surrounding areas. Henry County Difficulty: Easy Difficulty: Difficult in Apple Canyon Lake, a 16.8-mile bicycle GoatsCycling.com Bureau Tourism ride on the curvaceous country roads of Surface: Crushed Limestone Surface: Natural/Mixed Jo Daviess County to Recreation Park in Tour of Galena The Galena River Trail opened in 2005 and Mountain Bikes are also available for rental Galena and a 4.3-mile run back to the finish 8 Hosted by xXx Racing offers 6 miles of scenic hiking, biking, or at the resort during the summer season, line at Recreation Park. The duathlon starts cross-country skiing for users. The crushed 8:00 am until dusk, seven days a week. Full with a 2-mile run, and then finishes on the June rock trail is open to the public at no cost. day $25 or $10 per hour. same bicycle and final run courses as the Travel to Galena for this omnium stage Originating from the Depot Park just below triathlon. race. This 3-day event hosts 3 or 4 races, the U.S. 20 Highway Bridge, the forested including a circuit race, time trial, road race, Galena.org trail heads north to Buehler Preserve (an and a criterium. 18-acre open space focused on woodland Elizabeth’s TourOfGalena.com 5 and prairie restoration) and winds south 4 Ups and Downs Peoria Area CVB to Galena Junction near the backwaters of Fever River May the Mississippi River. At the junction, it is 9 Adventure Triathlon common to obtain a close view of a passing Travel along the scenic, hilly back roads September train. Parking is available at the trailhead. An around the village of Elizabeth in Jo Daviess additional 2.7-mile expansion south towards County in this one-day tour of beautiful This triathlon consists of a 6-mile paddle, Chestnut Mountain Resort is expected to be northwestern Illinois. 17-mile bike, and a 3.1-mile run. completed in 2014. FeverRiverTri.com 4 Blackhawk Henry County 6 Macomb Area CVB 7 Galesburg Area CVB 2 Waterways CVB 3 Quad Cities CVB 4 Tourism Bureau 5 Peoria Area CVB . 800-678-2108 or call Blackhawk Waterways CVB Photos: Aaron Steinmann Blackhawk Waterways www.visitnorthwestillinois.com Significant historical sites, monuments, museums and points of interest are seemingly the John Deere everywhere retelling stories of our rich heritage and important past. Tour Historic Site, witness the birthplace and the boyhood home of Ronald Reagan and travel stretches of the Lincoln Highway and the Great River Road National Scenic Byways. the ideal destination for a weekend getaway escape, a family vacation, or just a scenic We’re drive-in-the-country daytrip. From downtown Chicago we’re an easy 2-3 hour drive. find out more, visit us at To 5 Convention and Visitors Bureau Blackhawk Waterways Blackhawk Waterways Located in the heart of scenic northwest Illinois, the Blackhawk Waterways region Located in the heart of scenic northwest Illinois, the Blackhawk Waterways encompasses the four counties of Carroll, Lee, Ogle and Whiteside… 2700 square miles of unique experiences, attractions, destinations and adventures that await your personal discovery. The region is an outdoor recreation paradise: 10 state parks, a 2200-acre state forest, great golf, and over 125 miles of superb boating and fishing water courtesy of the scenic Rock boast exciting wildlife viewing, miles of hiking and River and the mighty Mississippi. We biking trails, and unobstructed views that give our pastoral landscape its special flavor. Welcome 1 County CVB County Galena/Jo Daviess Daviess Galena/Jo 6 Macomb Area CVB Blackhawk Waterways Convention and Visitors Bureau Mississippi Palisades Welcome 4 State Park 16327 Illinois Route 84, Savanna Length: 15 miles 7 Difficulty: Easy to Difficult Galesburg Area CVB Surface: Mixed 4 Savanna The park offers 2,500 acres of fantastic scenery and vistas. Amenities include restrooms, parking, a dump station, and 64 52 boat launches. Enjoy biking, camping, fishing, hunting, nature viewing, cross- 84 40 country skiing, and more! The trails in the northern part of the park are usually wider County CVB and less strenuous. The five trails in the Galena/Jo Daviess 1 Mississippi River 5 Thomson south are narrow, extremely close to the 8 edge of the bluffs, and hazardous when wet. Quincy Area CVB Upper Mississippi River Hennepin Canal 5 National Wildlife and 2 Parkway State Park Fish Refuge Great River Trail 3 209 Emmons Avenue, Rock Falls 7071 Riverview Road, Thomson 40 78 The Hennepin Canal Parkway Feeder covers The refuge offers 55,000 total acres for 5,400 acres and extends from Rock Falls fishing, canoeing, hiking, biking, and Waterways CVB Waterways 30 to Sheffield, Illinois. The Hennepin Canal boating. View wildlife and birds at the Blackhawk Feeder opens the door to the parkway with observation area. Don’t miss the Ingersoll 2 6 Morrison miles of bike and hiking paths, canoeing, Wetlands Learning Center, which is open Sterling 1 3 fishing, and historical sites along the way. year round. Quad Cities CVB Spend the day and bring a picnic lunch along. There are plenty of picnic tables at Morrison Rockwood 30 6 110 the 104.5-mile linear park, which spans State Park five counties.