×
|
Rate it:
Tags:
Level: Intermediate
Length: 7 mi (11.3 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Lariat
Elevation: +266/ -65 ft
Total: 5 riders
Mountain Biking Route 66 Trail
#35 of 128 mountain bike trails in Illinois
The Route 66 Trail was highly enhanced in 2017 and is now 6.6 miles long in a lariat loop configuration. Easy to intermediate trails are located to the South. Intermediate to advanced trails are located to the North, with the Northern "Chicago Loop" containing many uphills and advanced features.
Along the way, you will find flowing singletrack, challenging features, and a number of heart pumping uphills.
You will find many unique log features, a challenging gravel mound, cool bridge, bike moguls, fast downhills, and a woodsy rock garden.
The "Chicago Loop", located to the far North, is mainly for stronger riders and can be ridden in either direction.
There are multiple trailheads along the way but starting at picnic area 3 on Park Road puts you right in the middle. Go North for really cool features and "Chicago Loop" and head South for an easier ride.
First added by DLC on Mar 31, 2017. Last updated Apr 21, 2020. → add an update
Before you go
- Drinking water: unknown
- Lift service: unknown
- Night riding: unknown
- Pump track: unknown
- Restrooms: unknown
- Fat bike grooming: yes
- E-bikes allowed: unknown
- Fee required: unknown
This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.
From Interstate 55 Take the Litchfield Exit (Exit 52)
Go West 2.5 miles and turn Left on Yaeger Lake Trail
Follow Yaeger Lake Trail around a bend to the right
Continue West for another 1.4 miles and turn left on Park Rd.
Go 0.5 miles until reaching a large parking lot on the right (PAST Marina Rd.). This is the middle trail head.
This is a re-review due to the fact there's a whole new trail section. It's nit marked yet but it splits off from the main trail mid-point. There's a downhill section with a log jump that has bucking potential. I think this new section is more difficult than the Chicago loop because it needs broken in. And there are a couple of hard climbs on curves that are fairly difficult.
Awesome addition! And considering the rough winter and spring, the trail is in great shape.
| ThankGreat ride. New trail markers. New maps. Very well maintained. Almost entire trail is bench cut. Great flow. Nice features. Definitely a central Illinois must ride destination.
| ThankThis is a nicely maintained and signed trail. The main trail and the Santa Monica loop don't have a lot of weeds so the trail is clear. You ride and do switchbacks along side the ravines that feed Yeager Lake. You're about 25' to 35' above the lake until you get to the furthest edge of the Santa Monuca loop, where you're close to lake level. Except for some bigger log jumps, I would say this an easy trail section. The Chicago Loop however, isn't as weed free and that makes all of the technical sections a bit more difficult. I hit several jumps and creek drops nearly blind because the weeds obscured the view. This is a much more intermediate skill section. Going fast, I would up the rating further. Beautiful views of the lake as you traverse the trail and I image this is spectacular during fall. This is Illinois so while I know we don't have the awesome terrain of the west, much less the east, but for flat Central Illinois, it's a nice change.
| ThankThis winter (2017) the Santa Monica Loop was added to far southern side. It's a 0.5 mile loop that goes right down to the waters edge at a fast pace & then rejoins the main trail or heads back to the trailhead depending on which way you go. Very cool terrain and views! Nice addition!
| ThankWe rode the north half and was a great workout, however the ride was a little nutty for the fact of all the acorns and the Singletracks trail was washed out/slanted made for some challenging cornering. Just needs some more riders to flatten the trail. So go ride!
| ThankJust got a nice summer cleanup. Chicago (northern) loop has 3 tough uphill sections and a lot of really cool features.
| ThankGreat, fun, challenging trail. About 7 miles if you start at the Southern end and do the tough, northern loop. About 3 miles of it is bench cut. If the rest gets bench cut, this will easily be a 5/5 trail
| Thank