For the most part, the trail follows an abandoned railroad line. Initially created in 1836 for stagecoaches to transport people from Chicago to Green Bay, Wis., the Green Bay Trail later became the route for the Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad. It was eventually abandoned in 1955, and in the 1960s it became a multi-use trail running parallel to the Metra rail line.
The trail is mostly asphalt on the southern end, although it does detour through some surface streets on occasion. As the trail moves its way north, you'll get some crushed limestone thrown into the mix.
Easy access and a flat, well-maintained trail make this one of the more popular cycling routes in the northern suburbs. You get a some tree cover along the route, which is helpful in hot or windy conditions. There's not much of a challenge to the trail-it is after all a former rail bed-but it does offer lots of amenities along the way.
