Great Western Trail (Illinois)

The Great Western Trail is a rail trail in Illinois.

It occupies two non-contiguous sections of an abandoned Chicago Great Western Railway corridor in suburban Chicago that have been converted into biking and hiking trails.

Western section

The western-most, and older, section of the Great Western Trail is located between western St. Charles in Kane County and eastern Sycamore in DeKalb County. This section was right-of-way that was abandoned in 1977. The convert|18|mi|adj=on crushed-stone path traverses unincorporated rural townships, natural wetlands, some restored prairies, and farmland. The trail also passes through Virgil and Lily Lake and parallels Illinois Route 64.

Eastern section

The newer of the two sections, between Villa Park and West Chicago in DuPage County, is made up of right-of-way that was abandoned piecemeal throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. As the railway was abandoned, the government of DuPage County made upgrades to the path, and between 1990 through 1992, the trail was converted from a rail grade to a bicycle trail. The convert|12|mi|adj=on crushed stone path crosses some farmland and suburban areas. At the east end of the trail is a restored former CGW depot building. The Great Western trail also was extended to make a connection with the Illinois Prairie Path in 1995. In 1998, a new bridge was built over Interstate 355, while the next year, a new bridge was built over the West Branch of the DuPage River. [cite web |url=http://www.dupageco.org/emplibrary/trailplanfinal2003.pdf |title=Proposed Improvement Plan for the Existing DuPage County Trail System |author=DuPage County Department of Economic Development and Transportation Planning, Tylin International, Bascor et al. |date=2003-07 |accessdate=2005-12-28]

The Great Western Trail is designated as DuPage County Highway 55 for its entire length. [cite web |url=http://www.dupageco.org/dot/generic.cfm?doc_id=99 |title=Listing of DuPage County Highways |accessdate=2006-08-08 |date=2005-03-31 |author=DuPage County]

See also

* Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

References

External links

* [http://www.co.kane.il.us/forestpreserve/greatwestern.asp Kane County Illinois Forest Preserve - Great Western Trail Map]
* [http://hometown.aol.com/frndsgrtwstntrl/myhomepage/business.html Friends of the Great Western Trail]