Green Lake at Cricket Creek County Forest Preserve

The Salt Creek Greenway – Green Lake loop from Elmhurst offers a wonderfully smooth and scenic touring cycling experience. You'll pedal through lush green spaces and alongside the gentle flow of Salt Creek, with pleasant wooded sections providing a sense of natural escape. The route is primarily paved and flat, making it an ideal choice for a relaxed outing where the focus is on enjoying the surroundings rather than tackling challenging terrain. Keep an eye out for the picturesque views around Eldridge Park as you make your way around the loop.

This easy 13.5-mile (21.7 km) ride, with a minimal 151 feet (46 metres) of elevation gain, can be completed in about 1 hour and 18 minutes, making it perfect for a quick, accessible adventure. The trail is popular and well-maintained, suitable for cyclists of all skill levels, including families. While specific parking information isn't detailed, the trail is well-integrated into the Elmhurst area, suggesting convenient access points for starting your ride.

This loop is a segment of the much larger Salt Creek Greenway Trail, which stretches nearly 25 miles and connects to an extensive 210-mile integrated trail network across northeast Illinois. It's a fantastic option if you're looking for family-friendly biking or a beginner cycling route near Elmhurst. The trail's adherence to national bicycle trail standards ensures a high-quality path for your ride, providing a reliable and enjoyable experience within a significant regional greenway system.