Hike Raceway Woods amongst the evergreens, 6.3, 4.7 and 3.7 mile options
Details
Optional post hike lunch:
Village Squire
125 Washington, Dundee
5 minute drive, make sure you select Dundee location. Thay have other locations. Google maps may show as West dundee, this is correct.
https://mobi.thevillagesquire.com/dundee.html
Seperate checks ok per Sarah
Summary
My son and I found this place on 05/22/20 and I led a group hike here in 2020. This hike features some groves of evergreens and allows us to see some green during a brown foliage season. There are some surprising elevation changes so please be prepared. Shoes with good traction recommended.
This hike is cross posted with Chicagoland Trailblazers Hiking Group and my guest rsvp includes members of the group
https://www.meetup.com/chicagoland-trailblazers-hiking-group/events/313076282
Important:
If the lot is full, park on the side street one block to the north on "Gentle Breeze Terrace".
You will have to cross route 31 which is busy but can be crossed with caution. There are no pedestrian crossing signs nor pedestrian marked walks here.
Hike 1 - 3.75 miles
The Best of Raceway! Hike will start in a cleared out area of Raceway then end up in a large grove of evergreens.
It features winding single track mountain bike trails with small hills and unlevel surfaces. No mud, hard packed clay and dirt. More heavily forested in this area and ends near parking lot.
This will include the Meadowdale, Raceway, Serpentine and Steffans trails located in the Southern section.
Ends near the parking lot.
Hike 2 - Add a mile (4.7 cumulative)
First time we're doing this section!
Go underneath the tall bridge and cross the stream over the log bridge that Kyle built last Thursday. He laid down 8 logs in two different areas, jumped on them to make sure they were secure, and told me to use the center two for most stability. More about Kyle in the intro. This hike has a few fun hills to enjoy and I found poles helpful. There's one slightly muddy area coming back but I was able to avoid it. Its heavily wooded and the trail is called the Woods trail. I threw in the big hill just for fun and we'll climb a grassy area back up to the top of that tall bridge. This hike ends near the parking lot.
Hike 3 - just under 2 miles (~6.3 cumulative)
Winding single track mountain bike trails with small hills and unlevel surfaces. No mud, hard packed clay and dirt. Winds back and forth on the north end of Raceway woods. Forest with standard brown foliage for this time of year. Forest is thinner in this area. This includes the Little Monza and Corkscrew trails in the Northern section.
Location
State route 31, Carpentersville. We are meeting at the entrance right off of route 31. Its 1.6 miles north of route 72 (Higgins road or Main street).
There are multiple parking lots. If you see a giant 30 foot tall white can shaped structure then you are in the correct parking lot.
If the lot is filled, there is street parking 1 block to the north of the entrance. The street is "Gentle Breeze Terrace" and unlimited side street parking lots. You will have to cross route 31 but its only 2 lanes of traffic here.
Where to meet
Meet by the picnic tables under the shelter. We will start walking by 10:10.