The Journey Begins - Biking the entire Hennepin Canal - I needed something to do! July 30, 2021

The inspiration to bike the entire main channel of the Hennepin Canal came last year when some of my family (Havalah, Matthew, and Tennessee) stayed with me at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.   It was their love of biking that got me riding again, after possibly 30 some years.  I had never been much for biking before, but we had such a fun time and it gave us something outside to do during quarantine time.  We started to bike the canal in small sections, however, we did not get very far before they returned to Chicago.  This summer, I still felt like I needed something to do, I needed a goal, so I retook up the idea to complete the whole Hennepin Canal myself.  Starting from the end of the canal, where it feeds into the Rock River in Colona, Illinois, I decided to bike about 1 hour, 30 minutes out, and 30 minutes back, returning to my put-in spot. I don't ride very fast so that ended up being about 3.5 ish miles out and then back for about 7 miles total.  After a few outings, I decided to write the blog.  This gave me an additional thing to do!  I thought other people (hopefully you) might want to know the locations of parking, outhouses, and interesting views along the way, so riders could plan their own outings.  I hope this is helpful, or enjoyable for you because it has been fun for me!  (Note - To have the blogs appear in chronological order instead of reverse chronological order, I had to reverse the published on date.  I put the actual date in the title!  Hit older posts at bottom of the page to actually see newer posts!  Oh Technology!)

Rock River Confluence to Green River Road in Colona about 3.7 miles July 30, 2021

The start of my journey, to bike the entire Hennepin Canal, actually begins at the end of the canal at Lock 29, where the Hennepin feeds into the Rock River in Colona, Illinois.  There is plenty of parking here near the Timbrook Field boat ramp, which slopes into the Rock River. I normally start this section of the trail at the Green River Rd entrance and bike to the Rock River and turn around, so I was unaware that technically you can not access the bike trail from this parking lot.  The path is on the other side (south side) of the canal and the narrow bridge to cross over the canal has a no bike sign.  No worries, however, you can stay on the north side of the canal and take the Hennepin Canal Parkway Street along the canal until it reaches 6th Street in Colona.  At 6th street, the trail switches to the north side of the canal and you can join it there.  Up to this point, the trail is fairly open and straight, passing ballfields and parks on the north side. Below are pictures of the view from both the south trail-side and north street-side.

For a little while after 6th street, the path which is asphalt/gravel goes by houses and feels like an in-town bike path as you travel through the edges of Colona.  During this stretch, you pass the sign for the finish of the Hennepin 100. This is a hundred mile event that starts in Sinnissippi Park, Sterling, IL and follows the path along the Hennepin Feeder Canal and then does an out and back on the main canal (like an upside down T) to make 100 miles.  There is an outhouse, parking, and pavilion by the sign. After this, the trail becomes more natural and enters a short, lovely, section that is tree-lined, curved, and slightly hilly. You also pass 2 metal railroad bridges and another lock and dam.  After the lock, there is a narrow bridge crossing the canal. Earlier in the year, I was curious, where does this bridge go to? So I walked over the bridge and followed the path to a "secret" opening.  I discovered that this opening was filled with beautiful yellow flowers. A secret garden indeed with mountain bike paths. Today mostly just greenery. Getting back on the bike and the trail, I saw turtles and went under I-80. By the Green River Rd spot there is an area when you can put in a kayak or canoe (not a paved boat entry). I'll show pictures in the next post! A beautiful ride indeed!

Green River Rd to E 900th St in Colona, about 3.4 miles July 31, 2021

There is a small parking lot to the south of the canal and a narrow sloped gravel area on the north side to put in a kayak or canoe at the Green River Rd starting point. As today's journey begins, I saw beautiful wetlands adjacent to the trail with hiding blue herons and flowering lily pads in the canal itself.  There is a lovely metal bridge to cross over the green river. Here there must have been an aqueduct at one time that is no longer present.  Instead, the canal dumps into the green river and then the canal begins again on the other side of the river.  A lock and dam were also present in past days.  Before arriving at the bridge, the asphalt/gravel surface becomes gravel and slopes down and back up again.  This can be a little tricky/unstable to navigate.  It appears that some have made a path to avoid this area. After the bridge, the view of the canal is less obstructed by brush. Some other unpaved repair gravel areas are also present.  The best part of this portion of the trail is the eagles' nest! (Sad update - the tree that had the eagle nest in it fell during a recent storm! - so sad, I hope they rebuild in a nearby area) You can see it on the south side of the canal. In the winter and early spring, you can see the eagle pair and hopefully some eaglets.  The pictures of the eagles below were taken last year.  At the end of this section of my ride is another lock and dam that I feature in the next blog! 

E 900th Street to E 1200th Street, between Colona and Geneseo about 3.3 miles August 1, 2021

A beautiful metal bridge, a lock and dam, plenty of parking, and an outhouse are at the beginning of today's journey (located here). The ride starts on the south side of the canal.  After crossing E 900th street, the path, which starts as fine gravel/sand is not adjacent to the canal.  Native plants and trees are between the bike trail and the canal.  This area is well shaded and a beautiful portion.  The path "rejoins" the canal when you reach another lock and dam and then continues next to the canal.  The trail also switches to the north side of the canal before you hit E 1200th Street. If you take the paved road north of the canal from E900th street eastward, Hennepin Canal Trail, you will find an area (although unpaved) to put in a kayak or canoe before you come to E1200th street.  There is an area for parking here too.