The North Loop Ride

Open in the App

Chicago, IL, US

Show 15 more photos

Route Overview

Out Our Front Door

Bike Camping Chicago & The Lower Lake Rim

177 mi.

2,865 ft.

Bike Packing loop from Chicago to Chain O'Lakes and The Lost Valley.

Send to Device Advanced Export View Standard Route (with cuesheet)

Route Details

# Bike Camping Route: Chicago to Chain O'Lakes State Park & The Lost Valley
___
**25% Crushed Limestone | 75% Paved**  
Starts and returns to [Buckingham Fountain](https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/clarence-f-buckingham-memorial-fountain) Chicago, Illinois.  
**Difficulty Level:** Moderate to Difficult.   
**Best Time to go:** April through October.

___

## Park & Trip Description:
Pedal along ancient shorelines where woolly mammoths once trekked and American Indians footed through native lands. Meander and traverse through prairies and oak savannas, under leafy green canopies and wide eyed vistas. Witness the brilliance of engineering architects as you roll through canyoning towers of stone and steel marvels built by the mighty hands of men from around the world. This well deserved bike adventure is as bright as the gleaming blue waters of Lake Michigan coupled with rural farmland roads, historic towns, and rolling rivers. It will refresh the needed adventure.

The North Loop Ride takes you through 6 counties, 2 states, 1 large city, and many towns. The route has been meticulously laid to provide riders with an easy to follow, challenging yet very doable weekend bike journey, with each segment of the day taking you into different arrays of unique spaces and environments. About 70% of the ride takes place on paved or crushed limestone bicycle paths completely removed from car traffic. We're talking bike only paths. The small portions on the road are scenic back country roads in Wisconsin, small town streets and Chicago bicycle lanes.

# The Route
**Day One:** | @slice[Lake Bluffs & Continental Divide to Camp; a 95 mile Route](d,0,141955.18) | This Branch takes you through the North Shore Communities and beyond and into Wisconsin. Discover the stunning architecture and distinctive homes styles of the late 1800's and 1900's and modern day Estates cast in Italianate and Second Empire styles. The magnificent Bahai's Temple with its intricate designs and patterns will surely dazzle any eye. Find little coves, dunes, beaches and even a historic lighthouse while you explore. Eventually it will lead you into Historic Fort Sheridan, with peculiar beginnings but now a retired military base converted into a town. This route also boosts an impressive piece of nature just past the mid-point of the route, Illinois Beach State Park. The habitats and the amount of natural diversity is uncanny. Did you know we have cactus here in Illinois?!

**Day Two:** | @slice[The Lost Valley from Country to City: 95 mile Route](d,141955.18,284520.59) | Ride along rolling prairies, delta kames, oak savannas and the tranquil presence of the meandering Nippersink Creek as you enter Glacier Park the Lost Valley, in McHenry County. With breathtaking 3,400 acre views you can fascinate migratory wetland birds in the region and wide eyed vistas. This conservation district is also part of a larger natural network called the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge. Moving along you'll get a little farm land, a little small town charm, and a bunch of The Fox River. Try to catch the castle with a real draw bridge on the way. There is so much more along this leg of the trail you really just need to see it for yourself.

**Optional Train Stations:** [Metra Trains website](https://metrarail.com/) for schedule and stops. You are never far from a train station during the entire course of the route. You and your bike can always hop on the bike friendly @poi[Metra train in Zion, Illinois](6211384) or hop on the @poi[Crystal Lake Metra Train Station](8738444) if you need to travel to or from Chicago or your bottom side/legs have given up on you and want to return by train. Please visit

# Trip Highlights

* @point[14,000 Year Old Trail](d,73707.56)
* @point[Cross the Midwestern Continental Divide](d,95670.4)
* @point[Lake Bluffs](d,46396.42)
* @point[Illinois Beach State Park](d,87388.44)
* @point[Wisconsin Back Counrty Roads](d,110858.76)
* @point[Distinct Illinois Landscapes](d,139490.01)
* @point[Chain O'Lakes State Park](d,138737.88)
* @poi[Hiking Trails](8738933)
* @point[The Lost Valley](d,163552.1)

# At The State Parks
[Chain O'Lakes State Park](https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/Parks/Pages/ChainOLakes.aspx) is the heart of Illinois' largest concentration of natural lakes.

[The Lost Valley in Glacial Park](http://www.mccdistrict.org/rccms/glacial-park/) offers breathtaking 3,400 acre views where you can fascinate rolling prairies, delta kames, oak savannas and the tranquil presence of the meandering Nippersink Creek, migratory wetland birds in the region and wide eyed vistas. This conservation district is also part of a larger natural network called the [Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackmatack_National_Wildlife_Refuge).

# Lodging Accomodations
There are several ways you can stay overnight on the North Loop Ride. The detailed map marks key locations on where to rest for the night.

* [Hotel Near Glacial Park:](https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/super-8/richmond-illinois/super-8-richmond-il/overview?brand_id=SE&adults=1&rooms=1&children=0&latitude=42.4758522&longitude=-88.30592509999997&useWRPoints=false&checkin_date=11/6/2018&checkout_date=11/7/2018&radius=25&brand_code=BH,DI,RA,BU,HJ,KG,MT,SE,TL,WG,WY,WT,WP,VO,DX,TM,CE,AA&PriceFilter=0-2147483647) Super 8 Hotel located near Glacial Park/Lost Valley in Richmond, IL. Grab your snacks, water and your bike and just go. Stay the night a cozy bed with free breakfast. Visit link above for more info, reservations, and pricing.

* [Camping & Cabins at Chain O'Lakes State Park](https://www.reserveamerica.com/camping/chain-o-lakes-state-park/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=IL&parkId=453025) provides an assortment of amenities and puts you at the heart of hill prairie landscapes and hiking trails. Visit link for more info, reservations, pricing & availbilty.
 
* [Primitive Camping at Glacial Park/Lost Valley:](http://www.mccdistrict.org/rccms/individual-campsite-reservations/) There is primitive camping at North Branch Conservation Area, the north end of Glacial Park. (No showers or bathrooms) Reservations must be made by phone and and least 7 days before hand.  Visit link for more info, reservations, pricing & availbilty.

# Trail Notes

We have done this trip in 2 days and in 3 days. If you really want to hike and see these amazing landscapes then do a 3 day trip and spend a full day/night hiking the Chain O'lakes State Park and Glacial Park area. You won't regret it. 
#
@photo[View Photos from the trip here](3433400)

# Important Reminders

Take care to ensure whatever you bring onto the trails is taken out. Be sure to stay on the established trails to not disturb the fragile ecosystems and cause damage. Be a part of legacy created by conservationists and protect this natural treasure.

Enjoy your trip!

To learn more about the Out Our Front Door Organization and what we do please visit [www.outourfrontdoor.org](http://www.outourfrontdoor.org)

The North Loop Ride

Route Overview

Route Details

Other routes by Out Our Front Door

Illinois Beach State Park Loop

Waterways To The West: Starved Rock

Battle To The Dunes - Full route

Sign Up

Share link

Share via email

Embedded widget

Get the Ride with GPS mobile app!