Prairie Trail, Algonquin 2015
New Tunnel Under Route 31

Here are some wide angle views of  the new part of the Prairie Trail as it winds down to the tunnel that runs under Route 31 in Algonquin. The photo above shows the trail heading mostly south in the lower left side then in the distance you see where the trail winds around before the tunnel. This was from our trip south heading back to Dundee

In the view above you see one of the streams that flows into the Fox river on the left with the Prairie Trail in the distance. Also in the center of the photo you can see where it looks like people are already making a short cut that goes directly to the trail below. My guess is there will be a beaten down path here soon.

 

After you go through the tunnel the trail runs by a park and then alongside Route 31 on the eastern side behind the the fence. The photo above is where you cross Main Street (the original route 31).

It is obvious where the trail is going in this direction but it was confusing when I was heading north and was used to going a completely different way to stay on the path. You need to remember to go this way at the Citgo station in Algonquin.

 

Here's a wider view of the new intersection. (looking the opposite way from the previous photo). THe path continues on the other side of the intersection to the right of the fence in this photo. See the link below for a comparison of the OLD and NEW intersections.

Click (here) for the New PT Route 31 Intersection with Additional Info

 

The map above is from the Garmin Connect site and shows the ways that we went on this ride. I went on the west side of route 31 on the way north, ~ not knowing where the new trail was ~ and I would not recommend going this way. It pretty much sucks. Then on the way back we went the right way (on the east side of route 31) where the new trail is. That was very nice.

 

OK, this photo is where the trail crosses the Fox River as we continued riding south back to Dundee. I have a few other pictures of this bridge from many years ago but this is a little wider (panoramic) view of the bridge and the Fox River.