Biking a National Recreation Trail...

Today the group enjoyed the beautiful day by biking the 12+ hilly miles of trails in Moraine Hills State Park which is located in the northeast corner of Illinois, three miles south of McHenry bordering the Fox River. Half of the park's 2200 acres are wetlands and lakes, with magnificent forest comprising the remainder. Here are (l to r) Dave, Ellen, Patti, Len, and Marlene...

This trail system of three loops and a connector trail in Moraine Hills State Park was recently promoted to National Recreational Trail status by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, saying, "From coast to coast, the National Trails System helps connect American families with the wonders of the outdoors." National Recreation Trails (NRTs) have been a touchstone of the National Trails System since the first designations in 1971, now a network of more than 1,050 designated trails totaling over 12,500 miles. The NRTs recognize existing trails and trail systems that connect people to local resources and improve their quality of life, linking communities to recreational opportunities on public lands and in local parks across the nation.