Des Plaines River Green Way
The Des Paines River trail has become one of my favorite places along the road. Most of the trails that we us 
on the road are abandoned rail trails. By nature they are flat and straight. The Des Plaines River green way is different. It rolls for 31 miles through 12 forest preserves. It curves. It is not perfectly flat. These slight hills create a little bit more of a challenge to the user. They are not large hills, but they do provide a bit of a change of pace.
The trail itself has a crushed limestone surface. The surface is ideal for running, walking, hybrid, or mountain bikes. I have seen a few road bikes on it. The trail itself is very well maintained. You really do not see holes or ruts on this trail. The biggest hazards along the way come from 
horses and their owner who do not clean up after them. Personally, I feel as though my hybrid is the ideal bike for this trail.
The trail itself starts near the Wisconsin/Illinois state line. It has a trail head with no truck parking just off of Russell Road in the Van Patten forest preserve. That trail head is about 1.1 miles from the TA and the independent truck stop on Russell Road near I94. Inside the preserve there are many loops that you can utilize. One of them circles a lake. If you choose you can get on the main trail and head south. This year they added quarter mile markers.
My favorite access point is a small C store on the southeast corner of US41 and IL173. I used to sleep behind
there all the time. The last time I did I noticed a small no “overnight” parking sign, after I woke up, on the lot. I have not slept there since. You can sleep in either the north or the southbound scale houses. Both of them have easy access to the trails. But, the C store has a Dunkin' Donuts, and I consider that a significant advantage. The trail is just a few yards from the truck parking. There is a small truck stop about 2 miles south of the northbound scale that has and charges for overnight parking.
The trail parallels US 41 and is regularly visible. It passes right behind the northbound scale. Eventually it passes over US 41 and angles toward the tri state toll way. It goes under the interstate. There are a few road 
crossings, but the major roads have either a bridge over or a tunnel under them. I have not traveled the entire length, but have used the northern half of the trail. As trails go this one is as good as it gets.
My favorite time to stop is when I an heading home to Wisconsin. I have managed to get through Chicago before rush hour and the hour or so stall lets the Milwaukee rush hour die down. There are many truck stops between the trail and Milwaukee to shower at. You can check out the trail at www.rideandroll.me or www.lcfpd.org for further information.