Hikers and bikers have headed down the Illinois Prairie Path for decades. This month, it’s also a featured destination for surfers on the Internet.
The path was named June’s rail-trail of the month by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, a non-profit organization in Washington.
The 61-mile trail spans three counties west of Chicago, linking 13 communities, downtown shopping districts, eight forest preserves, commuter rail stations and residential neighborhoods. Established 42 years ago, it was one of the country’s first rail-to-trail conversions.
The main stem runs about 15 miles from Maywood to Wheaton College. It then branches out in four directions to Elgin, Geneva, Batavia and Aurora, connecting in each place to the Fox River Trail.
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For a complete list of Trail of the Month designations, plus a detailed feature on the Illinois Prairie Path, go to www.railtrails.org.