The Grand Illinois Trail - Recommended Trip 2 - Illinois Prairie Path/Great Western Trail

The 28-mile Prairie Path/Great Western Trail segment of the GIT connects Elgin and Maywood. The sides of the path near Wheaton and Elmhurst are planted with different prairie plants including the purple coneflower, compass plant, cup plant, black-eyed Susan and several varieties of asters. There are portions of the trail that are paved, but the majority of the trail is smooth crushed limestone. The path is clearly marked from start to finish and there are plenty of places to stop for a rest or meal.

The Illinois Prairie Path runs for seven miles between Maywood and Villa Park. Between Villa Park and West Chicago the Great Western Trail is used for 11 1/2 miles. The 9-mile Illinois Prairie Path-Elgin Branch provides the final connection between West Chicago and Elgin. The Prairie Path is one of the first major trails developed in the United States. Mary Watts, a naturalist and teacher, advocated for the trail in 1963. She inspired the creation of the Illinois Prairie Path not-for-profit who took over the initial management of the trail in 1966 after it was acquired by DuPage County. The volunteers associated with the Illinois Prairie Path ecosystem represent one of the most successful citizen-based trail protection and development initiatives in the U.S.

Today the IPP/Great Western Trail network is used heavily by residents of both DuPage and Kane Counties.

To obtain a $6 copy of the "Illinois Prairie Path Trail Map" write to the Illinois Prairie Path, P.O. Box 1086, Wheaton, Illinois 60189. It includes substantial detail about the trail and its history and features.

For more detailed information and access to a printed map see Section 1 & Section 2.

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