Dixon Park District Bike and Walking Trails

Bike and Walking Trails:

"In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks." ~ John Muir

Welcome to the wandering trails of the Dixon Park District.

In the summer months, a leisurely walk through any of our parks will reward all of your senses; you will see bright colors as brilliant orange and black orioles alight on their intricately-woven bag nests; you will feel the soft sun touch your face as you watch the clouds float high above; you will smell those delectable wild June prairie roses; you will hear the soft swish of oak leaves in the breeze. And your heart will swell with the beauty and quiet of the outdoors on a summer afternoon. Plus you will receive enormous health benefits from the exercise you get from walking.

Welcome to the many miles of trails in the Dixon Park District! We are blessed with diverse trails and recreational opportunities. Our trails consist of grass, pavement, and packed aggregate (gravel) surfaces with adequate parking facilities. Mile markers are placed on some trails. Our trails provide recreational opportunities for: Exercising ~ Horseback Riding ~ Hiking ~ Bicycling ~ Jogging ~ Wildlife Watching ~ Fitness/Leisure ~ Cross-Country Skiing ~ Snowmobiling ~ Handicapped-Accessible Trails. Dogs are welcome on all trails but must be on a leash at all times, and dog owners MUST remove dog droppings from trails and park areas.

Lowell Parkway Trail

This well-loved and heavily-used paved trail (3.5 miles) begins at the paved Washington Avenue parking lot. Hikers, bicyclists, walkers, joggers, wildlife watchers, persons in wheelchairs, and babies in strollers are welcome to use Lowell Parkway Trail. There are rest benches placed along the pathway and a permanent outhouse is located at the junction of the Lowell Parkway and the gravel Meadows Trail. There is a covered picnic bench at this site. Seasonal porta-potties may be located at the soccer fields, the roller hockey courts, and at Wooden Wonderland play area. There is a water fountain on the Lowell Parkway between the Washington Avenue parking lot and the junction with Meadows Trail.

You may see a wide variety of wildlife on this trail including wild turkeys,songbirds, coyotes, raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, thirteen-lined groundsquirrels, and rabbits. The Lowell Parkway Trail leads to the beautiful, 200-acre Lowell where former President Ronald Reagan was a lifeguard for seven summers. A paved spur leads directly into the park. At the park you will find over five miles of paved roadways available for bicycling plus many hiking trails. Sorry, but to maintain tranquility, bicyclists are not allowed on non-paved hiking trails in Lowell Park. Snowmobiles and horses are not allowed in Lowell Park for the same reason. The Lowell Park Nature Center, play equipment, picnic shelters, historic Reagan Bath House, >ADA> boat docks, and more are found in Lowell Park which was established in 1907. Lowell Park is proud of its listing on the National Register of Historic Places and has a designated Illinois Nature Preserve within the park.

Meadows Park Trails

The gravel and grass trails of the 567-acre Meadows Park offer great opportunities for horseback riding, cross-country skiing, walking your dog, bicycling, and wildlife-watching. Snowmobiles are restricted to the marked gravel trails in the Meadows. Trail map kiosks are located in this parking lot and at the junction of the Meadows Trail and the Lowell Parkway Trail (by the outhouse). Trails are color-coded with colored trail markers. A gravel parking area for horse and snowmobile trailers is located off North Brinton Avenue. You are welcome to park horse trailers on the gravel or on the mowed grass areas. A water hydrant is available as are picnic tables. Please follow the grass/gravel trail past the football, roller hockey, and soccer fields. Please respect farm fields during the growing season; do not ride or walk through any planted fields. There are horse hitching posts at convenient locations. Please do not tie horses to trees for extended periods of time. Future plans include the possibly of overnight horse camping. If interested, give us a call! A portion of the gravel Meadows Trail meanders along Rock River. Try your luck fishing while enjoying the view! Whitetail deer are a common sight as are turkey vultures floating overhead among the clouds. Redtail hawks, bluebirds... the list of native wildlife, including butterflies, is endless!

The Stengel Trail

Named in memory of the late Joe Stengel, this trail begins at Lowell Park Road,then travels a short stretch to Penrose Prairie. Joe was an ardent trail enthusiast, and he would be pleased to know that you are enjoying the trails of the Dixon Park District. The Stengel Trail is a mixture of packed gravel, grass, and railroad ballast. The trail surface is comfortable for all but very narrow-tired bicyclists. Rest benches are placed along the trail. Please respect both Penrose and Gee's Grove prairie areas. Do not travel off the trail in these locations. Both sites contain rare and unusual, native, prairie flowers, and grasses. The Dixon Park District is in the process of creating a grass parking area on the north edge of Woosung where the Stengel Trail begins once again. It is hoped that eventually the trail will be linked from Penrose Prairie to Woosung. Another grass lot is located on Judson Road on the south edge of Polo. Both lots are available for horse and snowmobile trailers plus cars and trucks. The city of Polo provides a trail that passes through the center of town. It is approximately nine miles between Polo and Woosung. On the north edge of Polo, a short stretch of the Stengel Trail ends at Fairmount Road. It is hoped to eventually link with the Jane Addams Trail in the city of Freeport since this trail leads on to Wisconsin!

In-Dixon Trails

A paved parking lot at the intersection of Washington Avenue and Bradshaw Street provides parking to explore in-town trails. Signed city sreets lead from the Bradshaw parking area to the entrance of the multi-use trail on Boyd Street by the Dixon Family YMCA. Accessible ramps lead you safely under both the Galena and Peoria Avenue bridges. In between the bridges, you'll enjoy the only statue of Abraham Lincoln in military garb and the historic Lee County Old Settler's Log Cabin. Past the Peoria Avenue bridge the trails leads you into Page Park. Page Park offers tennis courts, boat access, picnic shelter, and bank fishing. The recently-constructed Peoria bridge provides a designated bike trail lane on the west side of the bridge. This leads to the brand new and beautiful Dixon Riverfront! Don't miss the statue of President Ronald Reagan on horseback. Grab a sandwich and enjoy a break at one of the convenient tables - restrooms are also available. More trails are planned for the south side!

If you would like to volunteer for trail extension and improvement opportunities, please contact the Dixon Park District office at 284-3306. Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Give us a call! The Illinois Department of Natural Resources provides funding for many of our trails. Thanks to the many volunteers who assist in trail maintenance!

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