You’ve Never Experienced Anything Like This Epic Abandoned Railroad Hike In Illinois

Rails to trails is a great program where abandoned railroads are turned into hiking paths. Not only are the tracks given a new purpose, but the resulting hikes are awesome. This is because they often head through incredibly scenic parts of countryside. Such is the case along the Illinois Prairie Path. The Illinois Prairie Path is a network of 61 miles of biking and hiking trails. It is mostly in DuPage County, with some spilling out to Kane County and Cook County. Here's why you should explore it.

The Illinois Prairie Path has been around since 1963.

It used to be the Chicago, Aurora and Elgin Electric (CA&E) rail line.

It was developed with the help of multiple volunteers, and it is now maintained by DuPage County and numerous townships.

There is a 17 mile main branch of the trail that begins in Wheaton.

There are numerous bridges across this path, many of them providing nice water views.

Some of the trails even take you over the old train tracks, making you feel like you are on a train.

Whether you walk or hike, this is one of the most unique trails in all of Illinois.

Looking to explore some other awesome Illinois trails? Check these out.