A Journey Through Time…Rich With Stories
The Jane Addams Recreational Trail
Each journey on the trail is a new story and a new experience with the ever-changing plant life, animals, birds, rock layers and topographic features.
The trail tells the story of man’s history as well, from the Native Americans to the pioneer families to the entrepreneurs who built the mills around which villages and cities grew.
The path, which has seen so much history, has been restored as a source of beauty, nature, exercise and fun.
We invite you to create your own stories as you discover the Jane Addams Trail.
Trail Highlights
- 17 miles from Tutty’s Crossing Trailhead in downtown Freeport to Wisconsin state line where it connects to the Badger Trail, a 40-mile trail to Madison, Wisconsin. Note that Wisconsin charges a trail admission fee
- 4.1 miles asphalt paved path from Tutty’s Crossing Trailhead to Wes Block Trailhead with two short sections of no-road bike lanes. 10 foot wide, level grade, crushed limestone surface from Wes Block Trailhead to Wisconsin state line.
- 22 bridges including the historic Van Buren Bridge across the Pecatonica River, erected in 1885, and a Covered Bridge outside of Orangeville
- Bordered by the Pecatonica River, Richland Creek and Cedar Creek
- Travels through historic downtown Freeport, the Old River School Historic District Neighborhood, and past natural wetlands, old oak woods, grassland prairies, exposed rock embankments, active farms, and several small communities as well as the Village of Orangeville
- Part of the Grand Illinois Trail that traverses northern Illinois from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River
Events
WATCH FOR UPCOMING EVENTS
JANE ADDAMS TRAIL COMMISSSION MEETINGS
Schedule of Meetings for 2023/2024
Meeting Place: Freeport Park District Administrative Center, 1122 S. Burchard Avenue, Freeport, IL
Time: Noon
(Prior to attending, please call 815-235-6114 to confirm meetings)
January, 2023: January 19
February, 2023: February 16
March, 2023: March, 16
April, 2023: April 20
May, 2023: May 18
June, 2023: June 15
July, 2023: July 20
August, 2023: August 17
September, 2023: September 28 (rescheduled)
October, 2023: October 19
November, 2023: November 16
December, 2023: December 14
January, 2024: January 18
February, 2024: February 15 – CANCELLED
March, 2024: March 21
April, 2024: April 18
May, 2024: May 16
June, 2024: June 20
For more information contact: Freeport Park District 1122 S. Burchard, P.O. Box 417 Freeport, IL 61032
815-235-6114
Trailheads and Parking
- Tutty’s Crossing Trailhead 250 E. Stephenson Street, Freeport. Adjacent to the Pecatonica River. Parking, Information, Boat Launch, Water, Wes Robinson Memorial Garden (Shelter, Restrooms and other amenities under development)
- Wes Block Trail Access 2636 W. Fairview Road, Freeport. Exit off Illinois Highway 26, 1/4 mile south of the U.S. Highway 20 intersection to Riverside Drive. Follow Riverside past the Baymont Inn and Suites, then right on Heine Road to the trailhead. Parking, Shelter, Restroom, Boat Launch, Water
- Cedarville Road 2875 W. Cedarville Road, Freeport. West of Village of Cedarville. Parking 1/8 mile west of Trail, Wayside on Trail
- Red Oak Beaver Road off Red Oak Road. Parking, Portable Restroom in Summer
- Buena Vista, McConnell Road. Parking
- Richland Creek Trailhead, 101 N. Ewing Street, Orangeville. Parking, Shelter, Restroom, Water