GITAP
TOUR
2003
the Inaugural
Grand
Illinois
Trail
And
Parks
Tour
Tour Dates:
2003/06/15 (Sunday) - 2003/06/21 (Saturday)
Route Summary:
GITAP makes a clockwise circle of about 445 miles starting in
the western Chicago suburb of Oswego. From there it heads west, using the I
& M and Hennepin Canal State Trails to the Quad Cities, where it turns
north and follows the Great River Trail along the Mississippi River. Then
heading northeast, it follows country roads to Rockford. Further east it
uses the Long Prairie Trail before turning south at Richmond and heading
back to the start, using the Prairie Trail and the Fox River Trail. The
terrain utilized is, for the most part, relatively flat with some rolling
hills.
Day One - Sunday
Location: Oswego to Starved Rock
Mileage: 66.9 miles
From Fox Chase Elementary School we head south mostly on Grove road until we
hit the I & M Canal trail. Then it's "on the trail" all the way to Utica and
Hwy 178 over the Illinois river and into the park. Oh, almost forgot -there'
s a very healthy hill in the park. Total mileage: 66.9
For the road riders, at the I & M Canal we use local roads to Seneca, then
cross the river on Hwy 170, and pick up Dupont Road. We continue on Dupont
through Ottawa, then Hwy 171 all the way to the campground turnoff. And, of
course, road riders get a healthy hill also - in fact, a couple of them.
Total mileage: 69.8
Day Two - Monday
Location: Starved Rock to Geneseo
Mileage: 76.1 miles
After breakfast at the Lodge, we go over the river on 178 to Utica, where we
pick up the I & M for about 4.5 miles. At its end, we meander through
LaSalle eventually using Hwy 6 through Peru and Spring Valley. Then we
basically follow Hwy 29 to Bureau Junction (at the 28 mile mark) and the
start of the Hennepin Canal Trail. Now it's about 47 miles on the trail,
leaving it at Geneseo's Chicago Street and a quick right to the high school.
Total mileage: 76.1.
The roadies use the same route as above to Bureau Junction where they pick
up CR 23 and head west to Tiskilwa. Then it's county roads through Buda and
Sheffield, where we pick up Hwy 6 to Annawan. Then we head north across I-80
and use county roads west through Atkinson to Geneseo. Total mileage: 79.8
Day Three - Tuesday
Location: Geneseo to Morrison/Rockwood
Mileage: 72.0 miles
Today's route picks up the Hennepin trail where we left off on Monday and
uses it for about 15 miles to Colona. Then it's through town streets, across
a busy bridge over the Rock River, and more town streets to the mighty
Mississippi at Campbell's Island. (23 miles) Then for 35 miles we follow
The Great River Trail (mostly trail, some roads) past a series of small
river towns to Fulton with its windmill. Just north of Fulton we head east
for about 14 miles to the park and the campground. Total mileage: 72
Alternative road route (but you miss the Mississippi!): County roads take
you north from Geneseo to Erie (17.5 miles). Then it's more lonely and
lovely county roads to Fenton, Unionville, and the park. Total mileage: 41.3
Day Four - Wednesday
Location: Morrison/Rockwood to White Pines
Mileage: 58.3 miles
We head back to the Mississippi on the same route as yesterday, but at
Fulton, we head north and bike through a very unique sand prairie just south
of Thompson. From there we head east on the Faye-Argo Road and the Ideal
Road until Milledgeville. Then it's east on Eagle Point Road to Polo and
Pine Road to the White Pines State Park. Total mileage: 58.3
Alternative road route (but you miss the sand prairie!): County roads,
including about 6 miles on Pilgrim Road, take us to Milledgeville where we
join the main route into the park. Total mileage: 42.5
Day Five - Thursday
Location: White Pines to Rock Cut
Mileage: 54.3 miles
From the park we go east to Ridge Road, then north on Leaf River Road to -
you guessed it - Leaf River. Then its north some more on Pecatonica Road to
Seward. At that small town we turn east and head into Rockford, using the
GIT Guide route. It leads us to the Rock River crossing on State Street.
Then its north along Rockford's great riverfront path to the Bauer
Pkwy/Harlem bridge, where through some city streets we meet the Willow Creek
trail at Harlem High School. It leads us right into Rock Cut State Park.
Total mileage: 54.3
Day Six - Friday
Location: Rock Cut to Chain O' Lakes
Mileage: 62.3 miles
County roads carry us out of the park and to the Long Prairie Path at
Caledonia, which we follow for about 8 miles to Capron. (Hwy 173 is close-by
for the road riders) We turn north on Capron Road, which takes us to State
Line Road and Hebron Road into Hebron. Then it's those great county roads
into Richmond. We circle around a bit to get to State Line Road and (shh,
don't tell anyone, but we go into Wisconsin for a tiny bit) Wilmont Road,
which leads us to the park. Total mileage: 62.3
Day Seven - Saturday
Location: Chain O' Lakes to Oswego
Mileage: 70.0 miles
Leaving the park, we use a series of county roads to get to the Prairie
Trail at Ringwood. We take this trail to McHenry, Crystal Lake, and
Algonquin. Right about there it becomes the Fox River Trail, and it goes
through a whole series of towns, including Elgin and Aurora, as it takes us
home to Oswego. Total mileage: about 70 miles
