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!