Plan to start before 8am and leave Lake Forest by 10am. This ride starts in Evanston and stretches to Pleasant Prairie in Wisconsin in one very big loop. The southern portion takes a north/northwest route via mostly residential streets in Glenview, Northbrook, Highland Park and Lake Forest to start; the ending of the route heads south from Lake Bluff to return to Evanston, staying along the lake as much as possible, through the North Shore’s more elegant suburbs. The middle or northern portion (after leaving Lake Forest) heads west and north via Libertyville, Gurnee and Wadsworth to Pleasant Prairie (WI) and then skirts scenic Lake Michigan before heading due south via Zion, Waukegan and North Chicago; this northern section of the ride includes long stretches on busier roads. It’s a great ride for confident and conditioned cyclists.
Rest Stops: Lake Forest/Northcroft Park (6:30am – 1:30pm), Gurnee/Viking Park (8am – 11:30am), Pleasant Prairie/RecPlex (8am – 1:00pm), Waukegan/Bowen Park (9am – 3pm) and Highland Park/Sunset Park (8am – 5pm)