Page 152 - Chicago's North Shore Visitors Guide 2017-18

2017vg_Body_V4__ 1/15/2018 2:56 PM Page 152
Local
Local

Bike Trails
Bike Trails

Chicago’s North Shore offers a variety of long bike rides which allow active to
leisurely journeys that showcase the best of the area’s lush landscape. For a detailed
Chicagoland bike map or to rent a bike, check out the bike store on page 85. You can also
walk, jog or rollerblade on these pathways.

Going to the Garden – Pedaling the Channel
Chicago Botanic Garden Terrain: Flat
Terrain: Mostly flat, some easy hills. This ride, which begins in Evanston and ends in Lincolnwood,
starts at the Evanston Ecology Center at Bridge Street and
A favorite bike ride of the area is the pleasant ride through
McCormick Boulevard and follows the North Shore Channel,
the woods along the North Branch Trail up to the Chicago
which today has become a habitat for birds, small mammals,
Botanic Garden. As the name suggests, the path roughly par-
and snapping turtles. The trail continues south into Skokie,
allels the North Branch of the Chicago River. The ride begins
where it becomes the Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park, an
in Morton Grove on Dempster Street, easily accessible from
amazing showcase of diverse sculptures along the North Shore
I-94 and I-294. The path is wooded and curvy with gentle
Channel. The path splits and comes back together many times
hills. At the Chicago Botanic Garden, cyclists can slow down
over the next two miles, passing about 70 large sculptures
to smell the roses — and the lilacs, geraniums and other fra-
along the way. The Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park’s website
grant plants. Bicyclists can also stroll through the gardens;
(www.sculpturepark.org) offers self-guided tours, a family
bicycle racks are conveniently located near the parking lots.
guide, and detailed information about each piece.
Green Bay Trail
Terrain: Flat Sheridan Road – Hugging the
The Green Bay Trail begins in Wilmette and is 9 miles long, coast of Lake Michigan
ending in Highland Park. Activities on the trail include: walk- Terrain: Hilly
ing, biking, cross country skiing, and in-line skating. The trail It’s hard to imagine a more ideal road for cycling than Sheridan
is asphalt and crushed stone and runs parallel to the Road, which parallels Lake Michigan’s shoreline. The ride
Chicago and Northwestern rail line. The trail stays within one begins at Sheridan Road at Linden Avenue in Wilmette in front
mile of Lake Michigan and provides ample opportunities to of the Bahá’í House of Worship. At Tower Road, bikes must
enjoy the many eating establishments and beautiful homes turn left and proceed to Old Green Bay Road. Riders can
along the way. reconnect to Sheridan Road again via Scott Avenue and
continue to make several right turns to stay on Sheridan Road,
which stair-steps whenever it gets close to the lakeshore.
There are two homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright along
the way. The first, at 850 Sheridan Road in Glencoe, is the
William A. Glasner House, built in 1905. The other is the
Ward W. Willits House at 1445 Sheridan in Highland Park.
Designed in 1901, this is considered Wright’s first true Prairie-
style house.