Raceway Woods (& All Grass Farms Detour)
Just a quick 40 minute drive from our location on the NW side of Chicago is a gorgeous little Kane County forest preserve that offers a short but vigorous tromp through beautiful woods, over rolling terrain, whether you’re on a fatbike, cross country skis or on foot.
The area is popular with mountain bikers, since a local advocacy group maintains a 5 mile network of winding singletrack, which strikes a good balance between being not too intimidating for beginner off-roaders, but also fun for more advanced riders. The trails are roughly centered around a creek, and take full advantage of the way the land rises from its banks, with plenty of switchbacks, short climbs, flowing, bumpy stretches, and smooth, curvy satisfying descents.
While the preserve can be enjoyed in all seasons (except when trails are muddy and unrideable), winter makes it exceptionally scenic, and this short excursion by fatbike will make you feel like you’re left Chicago far, far behind. With fat, studded tires, you’ll quickly get out of breath climbing the steep embankment over crunchy snow. You might get a little discouraged, as I did, but I promise the effort is worth it, even if you have to hike-a-bike through a couple steeper stretches. Though, looking at a map, you’re never far from the road, but after just a short ride up, you will emerge into a snow-covered evergreen grove that will make you feel like you’ve suddenly landed on an Alpine slope far far away. No, it’s nowhere near as vast and dramatic as the real thing, but every bit as beautiful if you just plop down in the snow, and let your eyes wander as far as they can see.
If you don’t have a fatbike, the preserve has a little over 2.5 miles of paved walking trails. When covered in a foot of snow, as they now are, they make for a challenging tromp on foot or showshoes. Cross country skiing would also be fun, though on this outing, we didn’t see any tracks, so you might have to cut your own.
OK, I’ve convinced you to go, but I haven’t even gotten to the best part yet. The icing on the cake for this trip it the proximity of the preserve to what is surely a local agricultural gem: All Grass Farms, a small organic parture farm using regenerative practices to raise 100% grass-fed beef, raw A2 Guernsey milk, free-range broiler chickens and eggs, turkeys, and pasture-raised pork as well as local, organic vegetables. It’s one of the few places in Illinois actually licensed to sell raw milk. It sells out quickly each day, but if you arrive early and bring your own Mason jar, you will be treated to the best tasting milk you’ve ever had! The tiny two-room farm store is also stocked with frozen farm-raised meats, eggs, veggies, locally baked artisan bread, and other locally sourced goods including honey, butter & cheeses, hand-made soaps, locally roasted coffee, and a small, eclectic selection of books on sustainable living and eating.
The farm sits inside Brunner Family Forest Preserve, which offers additional hiking opportunities in warmer weather. Trails skirt the farm pastures where you can watch grazing animals, and descend down to woodlands and wetlands along a 3.5-mile stretch of the Fox River.
Summary
Raceway Woods is a 122 acre open space tract getting its name from the old race track that once wound around parts of it.
The central core of the tract has a fine savanna and mesic woodland with steep banks where pocket seeps trickle down into a clear rippling brook that wanders through several pristine natural areas.
The MTB trails are generally flowy, and smooth, but contain one section called Scarabs Revenge that is more difficult. This section of trail is marked to let riders know when approaching.
Only ride when frozen. Winter storm watch in effect, watch for grooming updates!
Where in the Midwest is it
Raceway Woods east parking lot is located at 645 Western Ave in Carpentersville, IL 60110 (map)