want my bike NOW hehe...
Winnebago County
Rock Cut State Park, Loves Park: 40 miles of trails, ranging from lakeside to dense forest and deep ravines. You’ll share some of those trails with horses or mountain bikers, but it’s usually not a big issue.
Tip: To have the place to yourself, go on a weekday at sunrise. The system also contains the Willow Creek bike trail, which connects with the Perryville Path.
If you want to experience the area’s oldest and wildest natural areas, hit the forest preserves and conservation areas.
Espenscheid Memorial Forest Preserve, 4800 S. Perryville Road, Cherry Valley: 1.6 miles of trails. Dan Bowers of Paddle and Trail in Loves Park likes Espenscheid not only for its own forested Kishwaukee River environment, but also because it links with Blackhawk Springs and several other forest preserves along the river. “Jump a road and find yourself in a new ecosystem.”
Nygren Wetlands, 3190 W. Rockton Road, Rockton: 2.5 miles of trails. “One of the best places in the area to see unique diversity of animals,” Bowers said.
Seward Bluffs Forest Preserve, 16999 Comly Road, Seward: 8.5 miles of trails. Unique environment includes dolomite cliffs and a wide variety of wildflowers.
Severson Dells Nature Center, 8502 Montague Road, near Winnebago: 3 miles of trails. Bluffs, hills and streams to explore. Adjacent to privately owned Howard D. Colman Dells Nature Preserve.
Kishwaukee Gorge Forest Preserve. North: 4643 Blackhawk Road, Cherry Valley (near New Milford). 3.1 miles. Seasonal waterfalls. South: 6915 Faust Main, Cherry Valley. Both sides feature dense woods, steep ravines (with stairs).
This is part of an article taken off of Rockford Register Star today in a section called Rock River Valley Insider: Good hiking Gear Can Help You Explore. There's tips on shoes, getting actual hiking shoes vs. running shoes, hiking is great to connect to and w/nature, what foods and drinks to bring,etc. At the very end of the 3 page article, there's a list of 8 hiking places in Winnebago and Boone County. I have only included the Winnebago 1's since I'm not going all the way to Boone hehe...1's I will try to go to and hopeful get to this spring and summer are: Kishwaukee Gorges, Severson, Rock Cut, Espenscheid/Blackhawk Springs and it's connecting areas:).maybe a forest preserve/conservation area or 2...they're all going to make for good adventures and hopefully great pics for all to enjoy on here haha....HAHA I love the "you'll share the trail w/horses", like they're just walking around hehe like deer or turkeys..
oh the RPD Hiking Club Tuesdays hikes are just 1 every other week or so starting in like June/July, I saw the dates/locations listed in their program guide for this year so I hope to do a couple, if not, more...hmm I need more outdoorsy friends hehe on here I think...maybe my entries will inspire people to get out there and just go to parks more if there's no hiking areas that are close by?
Rock Cut State Park, Loves Park: 40 miles of trails, ranging from lakeside to dense forest and deep ravines. You’ll share some of those trails with horses or mountain bikers, but it’s usually not a big issue.
Tip: To have the place to yourself, go on a weekday at sunrise. The system also contains the Willow Creek bike trail, which connects with the Perryville Path.
If you want to experience the area’s oldest and wildest natural areas, hit the forest preserves and conservation areas.
Espenscheid Memorial Forest Preserve, 4800 S. Perryville Road, Cherry Valley: 1.6 miles of trails. Dan Bowers of Paddle and Trail in Loves Park likes Espenscheid not only for its own forested Kishwaukee River environment, but also because it links with Blackhawk Springs and several other forest preserves along the river. “Jump a road and find yourself in a new ecosystem.”
Nygren Wetlands, 3190 W. Rockton Road, Rockton: 2.5 miles of trails. “One of the best places in the area to see unique diversity of animals,” Bowers said.
Seward Bluffs Forest Preserve, 16999 Comly Road, Seward: 8.5 miles of trails. Unique environment includes dolomite cliffs and a wide variety of wildflowers.
Severson Dells Nature Center, 8502 Montague Road, near Winnebago: 3 miles of trails. Bluffs, hills and streams to explore. Adjacent to privately owned Howard D. Colman Dells Nature Preserve.
Kishwaukee Gorge Forest Preserve. North: 4643 Blackhawk Road, Cherry Valley (near New Milford). 3.1 miles. Seasonal waterfalls. South: 6915 Faust Main, Cherry Valley. Both sides feature dense woods, steep ravines (with stairs).
This is part of an article taken off of Rockford Register Star today in a section called Rock River Valley Insider: Good hiking Gear Can Help You Explore. There's tips on shoes, getting actual hiking shoes vs. running shoes, hiking is great to connect to and w/nature, what foods and drinks to bring,etc. At the very end of the 3 page article, there's a list of 8 hiking places in Winnebago and Boone County. I have only included the Winnebago 1's since I'm not going all the way to Boone hehe...1's I will try to go to and hopeful get to this spring and summer are: Kishwaukee Gorges, Severson, Rock Cut, Espenscheid/Blackhawk Springs and it's connecting areas:).maybe a forest preserve/conservation area or 2...they're all going to make for good adventures and hopefully great pics for all to enjoy on here haha....HAHA I love the "you'll share the trail w/horses", like they're just walking around hehe like deer or turkeys..
oh the RPD Hiking Club Tuesdays hikes are just 1 every other week or so starting in like June/July, I saw the dates/locations listed in their program guide for this year so I hope to do a couple, if not, more...hmm I need more outdoorsy friends hehe on here I think...maybe my entries will inspire people to get out there and just go to parks more if there's no hiking areas that are close by?