Chicago to Madison on Trails?

"Chuck Anderson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:tSzdc.108840$JO3.77794@attbi_s04...

Quoted message said:

A visitor to my web site asked if I knew of such a route.

I don't.

Is there a way to do this on trails?

This can be largely, but not entirely, done.

You can go from downtown Chicago to Kenosha, Wisconsin via
the Lakefront bike path (guess where that is), following the
bike route signs up to Evanston to the Evanston bike path,
go west a mile or so to the Green Bay bike trail, which
becomes the McClory bike trail and then the Kenosha trail.
After perhaps 5 miles not on paths, you will be in Kenosha,
Wisconsin. There's then a gap, then a bike path through
parts of Racine, then a gap, then a path along the lake
shore in Milwaukee.

There's an entire book on the Chicago to Milwaukee route,
'Biking on Bike Trails between Chicago and Milwaukee' by
Peter Blommer. An entire book's a bit of overkill, since a
cue sheet is enough for the route itself.

There's a bike path west from Milwaukee to Madison. The
Wisconsin state bike maps are on-line, and you can probably
find the connection there.

Going by way of Milwaukee and trying to use the maximum
number of paths isn't particularly efficient. Bob Kastigar
posted a better route here some time ago, and has updated it
on his website. Just stay on the trail into Madison instead
of continuing to Wisconsin Dells.
neiu.educhi2wisc.htmOpen ↗

Mike Kruger said:

"Chuck Anderson" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message news:tSzdc.108840$JO3.77794@attbi_s04...

Quoted message said:

A visitor to my web site asked if I knew of such a route.

I don't.

Is there a way to do this on trails?

This can be largely, but not entirely, done.

Going by way of Milwaukee and trying to use the maximum
number of paths isn't particularly efficient.

True. There's a better way to get to the Wisconsin border
that's more in the direction of Madison. Take the Illinois
Prairie Path west to Founders's Park (Mile 0) in Wheaton. Go
right, up the hill and across the RR bridge onto the Elgin
Spur. The Elgin Spur ends at the Fox River Trail. Take a
right and follow it all the way to Genoa City, Wisconsin.
This is fairly close to Lake Geneva.

There are places where following the Fox River Trail can
prove problematic, particularly through Elgin and Crystal
Lake where the trail diverts to roads. Just keep an eye out
for directional signs.

Perhaps someone from southern Wisconsin can provide a trail
route from Genoa City to Madison.

jeverett3<AT>earthlink<DOT>net
home.earthlink.net~jeverett3Open ↗

"John Everett" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Sat, 10 Apr 2004 01:18:43 GMT, "Mike Kruger" <MikeKr@mouse-

potato.com said:

Going by way of Milwaukee and trying to use the maximum
number of paths isn't particularly efficient.

True. There's a better way to get to the Wisconsin border
that's more in the direction of Madison. Take the Illinois
Prairie Path west to Founders's Park (Mile 0) in Wheaton.
Go right, up the hill and across the RR bridge onto the
Elgin Spur. The Elgin Spur ends at the Fox River Trail.
Take a right and follow it all the way to Genoa City,
Wisconsin. This is fairly close to Lake Geneva.

There are places where following the Fox River Trail can
prove problematic, particularly through Elgin and Crystal
Lake where the trail diverts to roads. Just keep an eye
out for directional signs.

Perhaps someone from southern Wisconsin can provide a
trail route from Genoa City to Madison.

Doubtful. There don't seem to be any trails nearby.

Nevertheless, your route might be a nice way to get out of
the Chicago metro area.

From Genoa City, you could take H up to LaGrange, stop in
the LaGrange general store and bike shop at H and US 12, and
then continue on via a number of lettered-road options to
the Glacial Drumlin trail, probably picking it up near
Sullivan. This trail runs due west to Madison. I found H to
be a little traffic heavy from Elkhorn to Genoa City, but
not bad; however somebody who's really trying to stay on
trails away from traffic might find the traffic too much.

Rural Wisconsin is generally composed of good, low traffic
roads and nice people. There are a lot of nice rides in
this area.

Mike Kruger said:

"John Everett" <[email hidden]>
wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Sat, 10 Apr 2004 01:18:43 GMT, "Mike Kruger" <MikeKr@mouse-

potato.com said:

Going by way of Milwaukee and trying to use the maximum
number of paths isn't particularly efficient.

True. There's a better way to get to the Wisconsin border
that's more in the direction of Madison. Take the
Illinois Prairie Path west to Founders's Park (Mile 0) in
Wheaton. Go right, up the hill and across the RR bridge
onto the Elgin Spur. The Elgin Spur ends at the Fox River
Trail. Take a right and follow it all the way to Genoa
City, Wisconsin. This is fairly close to Lake Geneva.

There are places where following the Fox River Trail can
prove problematic, particularly through Elgin and Crystal
Lake where the trail diverts to roads. Just keep an eye
out for directional signs.

Perhaps someone from southern Wisconsin can provide a
trail route from Genoa City to Madison.

Doubtful. There don't seem to be any trails nearby.

Nevertheless, your route might be a nice way to get out of
the Chicago metro area.

From Genoa City, you could take H up to LaGrange, stop in
the LaGrange general store and bike shop at H and US 12,
and then continue on via a number of lettered-road
options to the Glacial Drumlin trail, probably picking it
up near Sullivan. This trail runs due west to Madison. I
found H to be a little traffic heavy from Elkhorn to
Genoa City, but not bad; however somebody who's really
trying to stay on trails away from traffic might find the
traffic too much.

Rural Wisconsin is generally composed of good, low traffic
roads and nice people. There are a lot of nice rides in
this area.

WisDOT has some good county maps online showing cycling
suitability on state and county highways. Check it out here:
dot.wisconsin.govbike fooOpen ↗
t/countymaps.htm

--
Craig Holl
Mechanical Engineer; New Berlin, WI
midwestroads.combikeOpen ↗
*remove all numbers and caps to reply*

County Trunk Highways in Wisconsin (those designated by
letters as opposed to numbers) are almost always bike
friendly, IMHO.

"Craig Holl" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Mike Kruger said:

"John Everett" <[email hidden]>
wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Sat, 10 Apr 2004 01:18:43 GMT, "Mike Kruger" <MikeKr@mouse-
potato.com> wrote:

>
> Going by way of Milwaukee and trying to use the
> maximum number of paths isn't particularly efficient.

True. There's a better way to get to the Wisconsin
border that's more in the direction of Madison. Take
the Illinois Prairie Path west to Founders's Park (Mile
0) in Wheaton. Go right, up the hill and across the RR
bridge onto the Elgin Spur. The Elgin Spur ends at the
Fox River Trail. Take a right and follow it all the way
to Genoa City, Wisconsin. This is fairly close to Lake
Geneva.

There are places where following the Fox River Trail
can prove problematic, particularly through Elgin and
Crystal Lake where the trail diverts to roads. Just
keep an eye out for directional signs.

Perhaps someone from southern Wisconsin can provide a
trail route from Genoa City to Madison.

Doubtful. There don't seem to be any trails nearby.

Nevertheless, your route might be a nice way to get out
of the Chicago metro area.

From Genoa City, you could take H up to LaGrange, stop
in the LaGrange general store and bike shop at H and US
12, and then continue on via a number of lettered-road
options to the Glacial Drumlin trail, probably picking
it up near Sullivan. This trail runs due west to
Madison. I found H to be a little traffic heavy from
Elkhorn to Genoa City, but not bad; however somebody
who's really trying to stay on trails away from traffic
might find the traffic too much.

Rural Wisconsin is generally composed of good, low
traffic roads and nice people. There are a lot of nice
rides in this area.

WisDOT has some good county maps online showing cycling
suitability on

state and

Quoted message said:

county highways. Check it out here:

dot.wisconsin.govbike fooOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

t/countymaps.htm

--
Craig Holl Mechanical Engineer; New Berlin, WI
midwestroads.combikeOpen ↗ *remove all
numbers and caps to reply*