Prairie Trail (of McHenry County) Photos
Hills in Sterne's Woods

This is one of the steep hills on the McHenry County Prairie Trail as you pass through Sterne's Woods. This view is looking back (since we are heading north on this ride) and after you come out of the first heavily wooded area. It doesn't look as steep in the photo but not many riders make it up this hill!

There is another more heavily wooded area on the the Sterne's Woods part of the trail just after the more open area in the previous photo. There are a few more major hilly and wooded stretches before you reach the rest area and water pump on the north end of Stearns Woods (at Hillside Road). There is also a gravel parking lot at this location if you want to get on the trail here.

Just past the water pump and rest area off of Hillside Road you start to get into the long, straight rolling hills part of the Prairie Trail between Sterne's woods and the town of McHenry. There are a few roads to cross in this area. The road crossings are not difficult since there is not usually much traffic on these back roads but the speed limits are high so you do need to stay alert. 

This part of the trail is very straight and open and runs alongside the railroad tracks for a long distance. You can see way off into the distance here and although it looks mostly flat in the photos there are long stretches of gradual inclines and declines. This part of the trail is great for pure non-stop bike riding out in an open rural setting.

Looking back (south on the Prairie Trail). I have not been able to confirm this but I believe that the fields on the right in the photo above are sod fields since you can see the watering machinery in the fields and the only "crop" is grass.