What's the Best Place to Ride a Bike in the Southland?
Don't miss the opportunity to nominate what you feel is the BEST place to ride your bike in your community or a surrounding town. It'll face off against others from the area for the title of the most-loved cycling spot in the Southland.
Thanks for participating in Patch's Readers' Choice! Our nomination period is now over. Check back July 23, when live voting for your favorites begins!
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Summer is a great time to hop back on your bike at hit a local trail. But which one do you like best?
There's a lot that goes into finding a favorite spot. Do you want to wind through the woods or cycle in the sun? Do you prefer spots that have an abundance of places to stop and get water? Is a straight path better than a circular one, or do you like ending up where you started?
So tell us—What's your preferred place to cycle in the Southland? There's no doubt that we have a repertoire of options in Orland Park, Tinley Park, Oak Forest, Palos, Chicago Heights, Homewood-Flossmoor, Evergreen Park, Oak Lawn, Frankfort, New Lenox and Mokena.
Nominate your favorite place to bike by telling us in the comments. They MUST BE NOMINATED to be included in the poll! As cycling spots are nominated, they'll be added to a list and bolded.
- Paw Paw Woods Nature Preserve (Palos)
- Old Plank Trail (New Lenox, Frankfort, Chicago Heights)
- Burnham Trail (Hegewisch)
- Bachelor Grove Woods (151st Street, Orland Park/Oak Forest)
- Twin Lakes (Oak Forest)
We will accept nominations through July 9.
phxdr
8:56 pm on Sunday, June 17, 2012
For those who have not traveled to the west to see real mountain biking, the most trails anywhere in the nation, the midwest does not compare. For trail/mountain biking there is one area in the metro area for this kind of biking and that is just west of 104ave on 95st in palos. It has great trails with challenges and great scenery.
Neil Barnish
7:08 am on Monday, June 18, 2012
The Palos/Sag Valley forest preserves. 14,000 acres of forest with a mix of paved trails and off- road trails. I'm not sure how many miles of trails but it must be over fifty. Some decent hills, great scenery, and easily accessible. Bring your own water though.
Robert
5:01 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
The Old Plank Trail is the best by far. Over twenty miles of scenic trail and you can stop in Old Downtown Frankfort for a meal and a beer.
Edward Ronkowski
8:46 am on Sunday, June 24, 2012
I second Bert's nomination of the Old Plank Trail. Here is a short slideshow that shows in pictures why the Old Plank Trail is unique and is a top biking destination:
http://outdoors.webshots.com/slideshow/582967312ilcrVV
John dreznes
4:47 pm on Friday, June 22, 2012
Burnham trail in hegewisch is fun
Sara Waters
7:52 am on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Bike trails along 151st, through palos, oak forest, orland park
brights
6:15 pm on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
orland park
Jeff
1:05 pm on Thursday, June 28, 2012
I am partial to the Plank Road Trail. But then I live within one-half mile and often take in 15-20 miles before work. Cannot beat activities in downtown Frankfort including "Crusin' Frankfort (free vintage car shows) on Thursday nights and Farmer's Markets on Sundays.
Ed Schenkenfelder
10:39 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
If you start at twin lakes in Oak Forest the ride through the forest preserves the loop is 20 miles of changing landscapes and elevations, meadows and forest.
Russ
11:18 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
Edward ,thanks for the reference to the pictorial for old plank road trail,it looks very nice.
Gerald Smith
3:59 pm on Saturday, July 7, 2012
It's got to be the palos area, due to the sheer variety if trails and ease of access.
Tomi Petersen
10:45 am on Sunday, July 8, 2012
Old plank trail :)