The Grand Illinois Trail - Recommended Trip 10 - Burnham Greenway Trail

The Burnham Greenway Trail is an 11-mile corridor along an abandon railroad right-of-way between Chicago and Lansing. The trail is currently split into two paved sections planned for connection in 2007. However, both stretches offer great riding opportunities, showcasing numerous rare habitats in relatively short stretches of trail.

The 2 3/4-mile north segment can be accessed at William Powers State Conservation Area (AKA Wolf Lake) at 126th and Avenue O. The trail heads north from the entry road along a rail-to-trail conversion. A short jog east on 112th will bring you to the entrance of Eggers Woods Forest Preserve, an outstanding example of glacial drive and swale topography now covered with savanna and wetlands. Turn around at the trails' end at Indianapolis Boulevard and retrace your steps. Back at William Powers you can cross Avenue O at the park entrance and take a short 1/2 mile ride west along Indian Creek through the newly built Ford Industrial Supplier Park to Torrence Avenue where you'll see the south side's largest employer, the Ford Assembly Plant. With one of the most high-tech assembly lines in the world, the factory is able to produce five different car models on its single line depending on the whims of the marketplace.

The 2 1/2-mile south segment of the Burnham Greenway can be accessed at Commissioner's Park, Wilson Avenue and Exchange Avenue (1 block South of Sibley Route 83 and 6 blocks east of Torrence Avenue). The south segment heads north 3/4 mile through the Calvert City Prairie to State Street. Or you can head south for two miles through the Wentworth Prairie.

For more detailed information and access to a printed map see Section 18.

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