(Click on any of the bike trail photos to enlarge)
The part of the path has chain link fences on both sides. Although this is not all that scenic I thought that it was an interesting view of the path...
This is one of the underpasses (tunnels if you prefer) where the IPP passes under a busy highway. One of the really nice features of this bike trail is that it has the bridges and tunnels that allow you to ride over or under the highways without having to stop, wait (and risk you life in some cases) to cross. I have been on plenty of other trails with terrible highway crossings so I can really appreciate this.
I think I took this photo from my bike as I was riding through the tunnel. Although I do not know which highways this is under, the Illinois Prairie Path crosses Route 59 and North avenue (Route 64) in this area so it is likely that this would be under one of those highways.
You can easily tell where you are by the many IPP markers (with the
distinctive emblem) posted along the path. The sign above indicates that we are still on the Elgin Branch (although we are reaching the end of this leg at this point).
The photo above is just before the Illinois Prairie Path and Great Western Trail intersection. There is a large map posted at the intersection but it can still be a little confusing if you have not ridden these trails before.
In our case, we ended up continuing on the IPP via the Prince Crossing Road until we reached the Geneva Spur which we took west back to the Fox River Trail (since we had a limited amount of time on this ride).
Here's the Illinois Prairie Path Photo tour on the Elgin Branch (from the Fox River Trail) to the Geneva Spur (just past Prince Crossing Road) back to the Fox River Trail at Geneva - September 2007.
Illinois
Prairie Path Photos 1 - Fox River Trail Intersection
Illinois Prairie Path Photos
2 - Pratt Wayne Woods FP
Illinois Prairie Path Photos
3 - Elgin Branch to Army Trail Road
Illinois Prairie Path Photos
4 - Railroad Track Crossing
Illinois Prairie Path Photos
5 - Bridges and Tunnels < You are here
Illinois Prairie Path Photos
6 - Prince Crossing Road
Illinois Prairie Path Photos
7 - Elgin Branch and Geneva Spur
Illinois Prairie Path Photos
8 - Geneva Spur to West Chicago
Illinois Prairie Path Photos
9 - Geneva Spur to Fox River Trail