Harter MS-Newark Breakfast Ride Metric

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Kane County, IL, US

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Route Overview

BetweenRides

Midwest Routemeister

62 mi.

1,290 ft.

Beautiful ride through the farm fields West of Chicago and through the lower Fox River Valley with a breakfast stop near midpoint of the ride. Flat to rolling terrain.

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Route Details

This ride begins at @poi[Harter Middle School](2407182) in Sugar Grove, Illinois, at the corner of Harter Rd and Esker Rd just West of IL Hwy 47. Park in the main lot behind the school off Esker Rd. Portable restroom facilities East of the parking lot by the ball fields, except for Winter time. While most of the roads are rural, this ride is best for an early Sunday start or during the week after morning rush hour.

After departing from North side of the middle school, you will travel through corn and soybean fields on flat country roads. Your first sign of civilization will be the charming town of Big Rock (7 miles). From there, the terrain turns to long rolling hills through the towns of Little Rock (11 miles) and the outskirts of Sandwich, Illinois (18 miles). More flat farm land follows, but at mile 20, you start the descent into the Fox River Valley, crossing the river and passing through the town of Millbrook (22.5 miles). Make sure to stop at the bridge across the @poi[Fox River](2407183) for some beautiful views North and South. Alternating flat and rolling hills follow until you arrive in Newark at around 28 miles.

The breakfast stop is at @poi[Newark's Country Kitchen](2407153), an old fashioned country diner, with some of the best link sausages in the area from a local supplier. The diner can comfortably seat groups up to 10. Breakfast generally takes an hour or less, but if you want to keep the ride time short, there is a BP Convenience store in the same parking lot.

Use caution when you depart the diner, as you will be crossing IL Hwy 71 to continue the ride through alternating flat and long rolling hills. Next you'll pass through Lisbon Center at mile 35, which is just a church and a collection of houses. From there you'll head North back towards the Fox River Valley. Just past 44 miles on Fox Rd, you'll arrive at Silver Springs State Park on your right. The first entrance (out and back) will take you down to the Eastern shore of @poi[Loon Lake](2407189). There are restroom facilities at the parking lot adjacent to the Lake. Continue heading West on Fox Rd to the second entrance to the park, which takes you on a beautiful wooded one way loop around the Western part of Loon Lake and back along the Fox River. Make sure and stop to view the @poi[Farnsworth House](2407190) while you're there. It's a local treasure - the river house was owned by Dr Edith Farnsworth, designed by famed architect Mies van der Rohe. It's worth another trip out by car to tour the Farnsworth House and museum.

From the state park, you will head North on Fox River Dr, again crossing the Fox River on your way to Plano. It can be a busy road, but there is a wide shoulder most of the way. In Plano at around the 50 mile mark, there is a water stop available at Casey's General Store if needed. From there you'll be on beautiful tree lined rolling hills and flat sections up through the Western edge of Sugar Grove, including a pass through Kane County's first roundabout. I think we're now up to 6 of them.

You're almost finished - skirting the edge of the Aurora/Sugar Grove Airport, home to the Air Classics Museum, Chicagoland's only aviation museum. Might be worth a stop after the ride to visit. The ride finishes approaching Harter Middle School from the South. Use caution and avoid the cracks and potholes on Wheeler Rd. I hope you took plenty of pictures - this is one of my favorite areas to ride when the winds are coming from the South (fairly rare in Chicagoland).

# Links to Points of interest

* [Silver Springs State Park](http://www.dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/parks/r2/silversp.htm)
* [The Farnsworth House Museum](http://farnsworthhouse.org/)
* [Air Classics Museum of Aviation](http://www.airclassicsmuseum.org/)

# Important Reminders

The ride down to the Newark breakfast stop is 28 miles. Depending on the weather and your pace, I'd recommend carrying at least two water bottles and perhaps a few gels or snacks.

Harter MS-Newark Breakfast Ride Metric

Route Overview

Route Details

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