Trail Distance: 18.5 miles
Trail Surface: Paved
Type of Use: Fat tire/mountain, Leisure/touring
Towns:  Palos Heights, Crestwood, Orland Park, Oak Fores CountryClub Hills, Tinley Park, Flossmor
County: Cook
Intensity of Use: Heavy
Setting: Wooded area
Connecting Trails: Lake Katherine
This trail is part of a proposed bicycle trail system of over 33 miles, linking thenorthern section of the trail with the southern, which is currently only a 3.6 mile loopsouth east of Flossmoor Road and Cicero Avenue.
Directions for parking: Yankee Woods - Cicero to 167th west to CentralAve. north, 1/4 mile. Arrowhead Lake - Harlem to 135th Street east to entrance.
Trail Map:

Rider's Comments: This trail has recently been extended on the northend and continues through Palos Hills on a village trail. It is very popular with in-lineskaters, wheelchair users, and strollers as well as bikers. It is relatively flat andwinds through woods and prairies. Much of the trail north of 127th Street follows the pathof high tension electric towers. Obey the lights and use caution when making the diagonalcrossing at 143rd and Harlem Streets.

Tinley Creek area has over 20miles of trails including the 2 mile Palos Heights trail leading to Lake Katherine NaturePreserve.  All of the pathways are laid out with bike friendly planning.  Kudos to Palos Heights!

albergo di qualita ZakopaneYou can take the path and see the Midlothian Reservoir Preserve, Yankee Woods Preserve,and ride along the George W. Dunne National Golf Course.  Keep an eye out for the oakforests, lakes, and marshes which adorn the trail.  Currently the trail makes a briefhiatus between Ridgeland Avenue and Oak Park Avenue, so you need to use the sidewalks, butconstruction is continuing.  The trail ends at 82nd Avenue next to the Silver LakeCountry Club.  The last half mile actually is residential driveways.

When you reach the trail intersection east of the Harlem Avenue underpass, head upnorth.  Passing over Tinley Creek, you have a huge 285-foot long bridge to enjoy theview.  Seeing huge oaks, ravines, and gullies increases the paths enjoyment.  Once you cross the Harlem Avenue and 143rd Street, you start heading northwest.  North of the ComEd lines you have a rather confusing four way intersection.  Choices:  Head left to cross 131st street.  North from 131st street to Lake Katherine, or right (North Easterly) to Arrowhead Lake.  Crossing Harlem Avenue, you can head around the lake and reach the end of the trailat a beautiful picnic area.

Now head straight back to Midlothian Reservoir on the main trail (stay off the sidetrails), and you hit about forty miles on your odometer (which includes the new MidlothianMeadows trail addition).  Amazing!

For Detailed Information Contact:
Forest Preserve District of Cook County
536 N Harlem Av
River Forest, IL 60305
708-366-9420 or 773-261-8400

Do you have rider comments or new trails?  If so, email bikeillinois@jawa.org
This page was last revised at: Thursday, December 02, 1999 10:58:26 AM

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