Imagine
...strolling along the Lake Michigan shoreline, biking through classic Chicago neighborhoods...visiting picturesque small towns and vibrant cities...hiking 19^th-century tow paths...savoring the Mississippi River’s majesty.

Imagine ... the Grand Illinois Trail
As it loops 500 miles between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River, the Grand Illinois Trail joins together existing and proposed state and local trails to create the state’s longest continuous trail. It hugs historic canals, crosses unglaciated hills, parallels the Rock and Fox Rivers, and includes one of America’s first rail-trails. There is something for everyone on the Grand Illinois Trail. Become one of the few to complete the entire trail by participating in the Trail Blazer program.

The Idea
In the early 1990s, with the growing network of northern Illinois trails, the DNR suggested a "Grand Illinois Trail" in the Illinois State Trails Plan. The concept was enthusiastically supported by cities and villages; park, forest preserve, and conservation districts; and non-profit organizations; the many local partners involved in the Grand Illinois Trail. An Executive Council was formed, with representatives of state agencies and three regional coalitions—Chicagoland, Canal Country and Northwestern Illinois—serving on the council. Together, local partners and the Executive Council have reached out to link existing trails, develop new trails and establish on-road connections to make traveling the Grand Illinois Trail a continuous, memorable experience.

The Grand Illinois Trail and Parks Ride-GITAP
The Grand Illinois Trail and Parks Ride is a week-long cycling journey in June along the route of the GIT with overnights in Illinois state parks and nearby hotels. For more information, visit our organizing partner, the League of Illinois Bicyclists' GITAP page to learn more about this year's ride and see photos from previous rides.

The Complete Grand Illinois Trail Guidebook by Todd Volker
Published by FirstServe Press, this is the ultimate guide to the Grand Illinois Trail with descriptive text on the history of the trail, places and things to see along the way and route information. The book will soon be available through the DNR gift shop.

The League of Illinois Bicyclists has an extensive Grand Illinois Trail site at http://www.bikelib.org/ Available from their web site is a downloadable version of the GIT User Guide (a detailed, cue-sheet guide for using the route.) The file is 1.67 MB and you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader available at Adobe.com If you are unable to download the guide, email IDNR at for a copy to be mailed to you.

Another one of our partners the Openlands Project also has a very comprehensive Grand Illinois Trail page. Without our partners, trails like this would not be possible. Please visit their sites for more trail information.