Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of stories about things for sports fans to do and see in and around the Pioneer Press coverage area.
For Oswaldo Rojas, biking through the Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in Darien has become a part of his workday routine.
The 38-year-old resident of Westmont arrives around 4 p.m. for his daily, Monday-through-Friday ride through Waterfall Glen, the longest — and one of the most popular — bicycle trails in the DuPage County Forest Preserve District.
He heads there after punching out as a cook at Dunkin’ Donuts in Darien, where he reports at 7 a.m. He returns home to change and pick up his 26-inch Trek mountain bike after his shift. Rojas parks at the trailhead and begins timing his ride through the 9.5-mile loop around the Argonne National Laboratory. On July 2, his stopwatch recorded 36 minutes, a bit longer than his personal-best of 33 minutes.
“It’s my favorite [trail] and the longest,” Rojas said. “The trail is good for everything. What I like first of all, is the hills. Sometimes you have to be careful about the horses.”
At Waterfall Glen, bicyclists can ride clockwise or counterclockwise. The trail attracts riders from a wide area since it is just south of Interstate 55 between Lemont Road and Cass Avenue. An additional entrance off Lemont Road is south of the expressway exit.
Rojas said one of his favorite features is a long, steep climb up Verta Hill between mile markers 4 and 5 while traveling clockwise. The hill comes halfway through the ride starting at the trailhead off Cass Avenue. Because of Verta Hill and the changing grades of the trail, Rojas said he considers the clockwise route the harder of the two directions.
Among the DuPage County Forest Preserve’s 23 bike trails, Waterfall Glen is the longest, followed by the 5.5-mile loop at Springbrook Prairie in Naperville. Fullersburg Woods in nearby Oak Brook has a 2.2-mile trail and features popular landmarks such as the Graue Mill and Museum, Graue House and Fuller House.
According to a DuPage County Forest Preserve District survey released in January, visitors ranked Waterfall Glen as the third most visited forest preserve in the county behind Herrick Lake in Wheaton and Blackwell in Warrenville, which also are popular fishing destinations.
“When asked what people spent the most time doing on the [Waterfall Glen] trail, biking was the No. 1 activity,” spokeswoman Deborah Snow Humiston said.
Charlie Tittelbach, 72, of La Grange, rides Waterfall Glen three times a week and estimated that he had taken nearly 30 trips this year. Tittelbach owns three bikes and when he decides to leave the trail, will use one with fat tires.
“Sometimes I ride at night with a light on my helmet,” Tittelbach said. “It’s great for your heart rate. With the nine miles, the best part is getting your heart rates [up].”
Peter Chiong, 45, of Bolingbrook, rides a Jamis mountain bike, and includes regular visits to Waterfall Glen among trips to other Chicago area bike trails.
“It’s very nice and shaded and there are plenty of terrain changes up and down,” Chiong said. “It’s a nice gravel terrain for turning. That’s better for a cross bike and road bike. It’s also family friendly.”
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Sports writer George Wilcox tested out four area bike trails using his Mongoose 29-inch mountain bike.
BUFFALO CREEK
Location: Buffalo Grove
Surface: Limestone gravel
Distance: 3.6-mile loop
Wildlife: Waterfowl
Did you know? The forest preserve sits on land originally settled by farmer George Popp in 1884.
Summary: The main entrance is on Checker Road just north of Lake-Cook and Arlington Heights roads. The flat trail offers plenty of prairie scenery and is a popular destination for offseason workouts by members of the Hersey boys and girls cross country teams. The trail is split by Schaeffer Road, so beware of crossing automobile traffic.
NORTH BRANCH (NORTH SECTION)
Location: Glencoe
Surface: Asphalt
Distance: 4.4-mile loop (Black Trail)
Wildlife: Waterfowl
Did you know? Canoe and kayak rentals are available on Tower Road.
Summary: The paved path makes for a speedy trip around the Skokie Lagoons. Parking can be tight on Tower Road, so parking along Forest Way Drive near the picnic shelter is an option. The Black Trail connects with the 13-mile Red Trail along the Chicago River and the shorter Blue Trail around the Chicago Botanic Garden.
WATERFALL GLEN
Location: Darien
Surface: Limestone gravel
Distance: 9.5 mile-loop
Wildlife: Frogs, snakes, chipmunks
Did you know? The preserve’s 10-foot waterfall was named in 1973 after Seymour “Bud” Waterfall, an early president of the Board of Commissioners.
Summary: The trail surrounds the campus of Argonne National Laboratory and is used by runners, cross country skiers with wheels and horseback riders. The trailhead is located at Cass Avenue and Northgate Road near the main entrance of Argonne. Waterfall Glen features all levels of terrain from steep hills to flat prairie land and woods. Beware of low-flying model airplanes, but don’t be afraid if you hear gunfire from the nearby shooting range.
WRIGHT WOODS
Location: Mettawa
Surface: Limestone gravel and dirt
Distance: 2.7-mile loop (Yellow Trail)
Wildlife: Mosquitoes, deer
Did you know? Capt. Daniel Wright (1778-1873), who fought in the War of 1812, arrived from Rutland, Vermont, to become Lake County’s first settler in 1833.
Summary: The Yellow Trail is the longest of six at the forest preserve, which is just a long stone’s throw from the historic home of Adlai Stevenson near St. Mary’s and Everett roads. The Yellow Trail is entirely wooded and much of it runs along the banks of the picturesque Des Plaines River. The trails at Wright Woods join with the Des Plaines River Bike Trail. Wright Woods also connects with the Half Day Forest Preserve trail in Lincolnshire.
OTHER AREA TRAILS
COOK COUNTY
fpdcc.com/ (800) 870-3666
Arie Crown, Hodgkins
Des Plaines River
Green Bay Trail, Evanston
North Branch (South section)
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Poplar Creek, Barrington
Salt Creek, La Grange
Skokie Valley
DuPAGE COUNTY
dupageforest.org/ (630) 933-7200
Fullersburg Woods, Oak Brook
LAKE COUNTY
LCFPD.org/ (847) 367-6640
Fort Sheridan, Highland Park
Independence Grove, LIbertyville
Old School, Libertyville
Robert McClory, Lake Bluff
Spring Creek, Barrington Hills
BIKING TIPS
From the DuPage County Forest Preserve:
* Only ride on designated trails, and travel in a controlled, consistent manner. Be especially careful around curves and in parking lots.
* Always ride single file on the right side of the trail. When passing, alert visitors ahead with a polite call of “passing on your left.”
* Be careful around horses, which may startle easily. Give them ample room. Do not pass horses on bridges.
Twitter @geomwilcox