This is southern end of the North Branch Trail ~ at Devon and Caldwell in Chicago ~ where I turned around to head north to Dundee Road in Glencoe. This photo show the trail going off into the woods. Looking the other way at this location you see the busy 3 way intersection and traffic. The trail is quite a contrast to the surrounding area.
A bike rider passing through the thick woods on the North Branch Trail as it heads west mostly parallel to Devon Ave. at this point. Although the road is fairly close to the trail here you are still in the woods a little and not right next to the road.
The shady trail still on the southern section of the trail (Caldwell Woods before Bunker Hill FP). I did this ride in July and the shade from all the trees on this part of the trail was nice.
The NBT is still shady here but the woods are not quite as thick at this point. The North Branch River is off to the left here and I believe this is where you pass through one of the forest preserves (Bunker Hill I believe).
A view of the North Branch River, where the trail gets its name. You can see the river through the trees as you ride by on the trail at this point.
This is just north of Howard Street (in Niles) on the NB Trail. You get out of the woods here and into a more well maintained area.
This is the steep, old rusty bridge where the NBT crosses Oakton and Caldwell. A few more bridge crossings (like this) at some of the busier intersections on this trail would be really nice.
Coming down of the bridge is always a lot nicer than getting to the top. Just past this bridge (heading north) is Miami Woods which is one of my favorite parts of this trail (which you can see in the next page (#2) of this photo tour).
Here's the photo tour of the North Branch Trail from Devon Avenue in Chicago to the northern end of the trail, at Dundee Road and then into the Chicago Botanic Gardens, from July, 2012.
North Branch Trail Photo Page 1 - Devon to Oakton and Caldwell < you are here
North Branch Trail Photo Page 2 - Miami Woods to Dempster
North Branch Trail Photo Page 3 - Dempster to Harms Road
North Branch Trail Photo Page 4 - Golf Road to Edens Exp.
North Branch Trail Photo Page 5 - Edens Exp to Skokie Lagoons
North Branch Trail Photo Page 6 - Skokie Lagoons and Botanic Gardens
Here are some Fall Photos of the North Branch Trail from Lake Street in Glenview to south to just past Touhy Ave near Park Ridge (from October 10, 2012):
The NBT Fall Photos 7 - Lake St. to Miami Woods
The NBT Fall Photos 8 - Miami Woods and backHere's the GPS Map of the ride above.