Hike Through An Abandoned Railway In Illinois For An Incredible Terrestrial Adventure
By Carolyn Harmon|Published August 02, 2022
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Carolyn Harmon
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Under Brown Mountain Lights the Beast of Blandenboro wanders this magical land where lighthouses shine on kingdoms only accessible by ferries. A Lost Colony of legends and pirates revealed in historical sites and majestic mountains with views that make us weep. The home of handmade sculptures and scrumptious cuisine. North Carolina leaves this long-time writer and artist breathless with endless surprises, including the unlikely warmth a winter walk on the beach can bring.
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.
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.
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.
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.
These transmission towers flank the trail in certain areas, making for an interesting landscape.
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!
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