Posted in Illinois Hiking, Nature August 02, 2022 by

Hike Through An Abandoned Railway In Illinois For An Incredible Terrestrial Adventure

If you are into history and some peace and quiet, the Great Western Trail in Illinois will take you on a hike through an abandoned railway into the lush land of terrestrial plants and wildlife. It is divided into sections of the abandoned Chicago Great Western Railway corridor, and its history is fascinating. The Railway was founded in 1885 linking Chicago, Omaha, Minneapolis, and Kansas City. The regional line called the Minnesota and Northwestern Railroad, between St. Paul and the Iowa state line, merged with the Chicago and North Western Railway in 1968.

Through this process, most of the Chicago Great Western Railway’s trackage was abandoned. At the time of the merger, the 1,411 mile-railway system transported 2,452 million ton-miles of freight, mostly comprised of agricultural products, chemicals, and lumber. What is left are beautiful trails for biking, walking, and running, full of wetlands, streams, and remnants of pastoral prairies. In its heyday, as an important part of the economy, the railroad brought in $28.7 million of revenue in 1967, just one year before the merger.

The Western Section of The Great Western Trail In Illinois is the oldest section, located between eastern Sycamore in DeKalb County and western St. Charles in Kane County. In 1977, this right-of-way was abandoned.
V SIP/AllTrails
The trailhead is located on Dean Street in St. Charles, offering restrooms and water. There is also a connector here to Randall Road Bike Trail, an option to extend your trip.
The trail guides you through streams, wetlands, farms, and original prairie remnants. Also passing through Virgil and Lily Lake, it parallels Illinois State Route 64.
Tom K/AllTrails
Watch out ahead for the interesting structures you will run into on this scenic hike.
Take photos of the clouds through this artistic web.
Katie Wadington/AllTrails
After about 4.5 miles, the trail turns from small, packed gravel to pavement.
Tom K/AllTrails
The long hike is a great way to let go of the stressors the day might bring and reflect on what might have been.
LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve, 37W700 Dean St, St. Charles, IL 60175, USA
Tom K/AllTrails
Parking is available in Saint Charles at the trailhead in the LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve. If you are near Sycamore, parking is located off Old State Road.
The Eastern Section of The Great Western Trail in Illinois is located between Villa Park and West Chicago in DuPage County, near Lombard. It was created from a right-of-way that was abandoned throughout the 1980s and early 1990s.
Deanna Minkler/AllTrails
This 12.7-mile crushed-stone path crosses suburban areas and farmland.
During the summer, water and restrooms are available in many areas along the way. But in other months, be sure to pack plenty of water.
Tom K/AllTrails
Peaceful scenes like this one are plentiful along the way, no matter the season.
The trail is almost flat the entire way, with the exception of some bridges and overpasses.
Sallie Carter/AllTrails
These transmission towers flank the trail in certain areas, making for an interesting landscape.
The walk provides a variety of scenery with some shaded areas along the way.
Hafiz Abdullatheef/AllTrails
Some of the shrubs include blackberry, dogwood, and hazelnut.
Keep your eyes peeled for Mother Nature and her ample offerings.
Led Stafford/AllTrails
Some of the birds the area boasts include coot and duck -- and the Great Blue Heron are known to nest and raise their baby chicks here.

Hopefully you are getting a plan together to hike through this interesting, abandoned railway in Illinois.

For a similar adventure, check out the amazing Tunnel Hill Rail Trail in Illinois that takes you through an abandoned train tunnel. Have a great time and let us know how it goes!

Address: Illinois Caverns State Natural Area, 4369 G Rd, Waterloo, IL 62298, USA
Address: LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve, 37W700 Dean St, St. Charles, IL 60175, USA