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North Branch Conservation Area – Village with a European feel loop from McHenry

Routes

North Branch Conservation Area – Village with a European feel loop from McHenry

Moderate

riders

North Branch Conservation Area – Village with a European feel loop from McHenry

03:26

52.8km

200m

Gravel riding

Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 29, 2026

Tips

Temporary access restrictions

Includes segments with temporary access restrictions.

After 326 m for 4.22 km

Open: • sunrise-sunset (otherwise closed)

After 48.4 km for 4.22 km

Open: • sunrise-sunset (otherwise closed)

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

50 m

Metra station near the bike path

Highlight • Rest Area

For those riding out from the City of Chicago to the countryside of McHenry County, the Metra Rail Service offers regular and convenient service to Union Station in downtown Chicago. The City of McHenry also has a wide variety of restaurants and bars with outdoor dining facilities to relax, quench a thirsty throat or satisfy a hungry stomach.

Tip by

6.50 km

Ringwood–Richmond: McHenry/Illinois Prairie Trail

Highlight • Cycleway

The stretch of the McHenry / Illinois Prairie Trail Bergseen Richmond and Ringwood is a ver smooth cycling path on hard packed limestone. It is very suitable for road bikes, as well as gravel and MTB. I would highly recommend tyres with widths of =>28mm. The path is well kept, with the exception of within the city limits of Richmond. The trail is paved south of Ringwood all the way down to Oswego, IL with the exception of one or two small sections of hard packed roadbike suitable gravel. In Ringwood itself is a bar located directly on the trail with an outdoor terrace which makes it easy to for one to dine and drink, while being able to keep an eye on your bike.

Tip by

18.8 km

North Branch Conservation Area

Highlight • Natural

Neatly tucked away in the far northeastern corner of McHenry County is this gem of a 521 acre preservation area. It is a conservation area that has biologically rich ecosystems such as the 125-acre wetland complex, the rather large 282-acre Genoa City Wetlands and the 'Barrens,' which is a Bur oak dominated savanna. It also has the 1.5 mile section of the North Branch of Nippersink Creek. With all these diverse ecosystems it is no surprise that the site is teeming with wildlife and an excellent place to view grassland birds.

Tip by

21.0 km

Hebron Trail (Grand Illinois Trail Section)

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

The Grand Illinois Trail (GIT) is a multi use hiking and biking trail that is nearly 500-miles long. Initiated in the mid-1990s, the Grand Illinois Trail is now a high quality network of locally-managed trails.

The Hebron Trail (HT) is a 7-mile trail section of the GIT that runs from Church St. in Hebron eastward through North Branch Conservation Area and links with the Prairie Trail in Richmond. It is a former railway line.

Tip by

29.3 km

Low-traffic road

Highlight • Cycleway

There is a low traffic road which more or less parallels the busy County Highway H. These roads are all asphalted, mostly smooth surfaced asphalt with the occasional blemish here and there. Rolling hills and country farms dot each side of the road. A very enjoyable route, except the last 2 miles on County Highway H has a lot of vehicle traffic, but the shoulder is wide and clean. For the most part of this section the motorists were very nice, leaving ample room when passing.

Tip by

33.9 km

Village with a European feel

Highlight • Settlement

I love cycling to this village. It has many outdoor cafés and bars which are great when cycling, just park your bike, near your table so you can keep an eye on it. The restaurants serve very good food, If you are an early bird, a very hearty breakfast with real well balanced coffee is made. If you are Italian, German, Swiss or French and looking for a good strong European coffee, stop here. In the evening it is really nice with the bars and their open patios.

Tip by

38.5 km

McHenry County–Illinois Prairie Trail — Richmond, IL Branch

Highlight • Cycleway

This beautiful well packed and smooth cycle path on hard packed gravel is a joy, until one gets into the Richmond City Limits. It seems the city does not take very well care of their trail under their jurisdiction. The crossings are rough with some short cement edges and some metal objects sticking out. Look before you cross, as they can be rough. Richmond it self is a beautiful village with a very European touch to it. Filled with great restaurants and well preserved brick buildings.

Tip by

39.9 km

Continue on Harts Road to the end

Highlight • Cycleway

This stretch of Harts Road in the Wildlife Zone is in much better shape than the rest of the road. The pavement is asphalt with a few blemishes here and there but easily rode with tyres => 28mm.

Tip by

52.8 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

28.0 km

14.0 km

7.00 km

3.85 km

< 100 m

Surfaces

24.7 km

18.5 km

5.94 km

3.27 km

427 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Wednesday 2 September

34°C

22°C

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North Branch Conservation Area – Village with a European feel loop from McHenry

Metra station near the bike path

Ringwood–Richmond: McHenry/Illinois Prairie Trail

North Branch Conservation Area

Hebron Trail (Grand Illinois Trail Section)

Low-traffic road

Village with a European feel

McHenry County–Illinois Prairie Trail — Richmond, IL Branch

Continue on Harts Road to the end

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