About the Trail:
The combination of the Rock Island Greenway and the Rock Island Trail State Park extends from Peoria, Illinois to the town of Toulon, Illinois for 39 miles of rail-trail. These two connected rail-trails are along the right-of-way of the former Rock Island & Peoria Railroad (RI&P). The railroad originally ran northwest from Peoria connecting with the City of Rock Island on the Mississippi River.
The Trail is relatively recent—officially dedicated in 1989—and built over the Rock Island passenger line that was active from 1871 until it ceased operation in the 1950s. The Rock Island Trail State Park is maintained by the Illinois Department of Conservation and stretches for 26 miles from Alta, Illinois in Peoria County, to Toulon, Illinois in Stark County. From Alta, the south portion of the Trail (the Rock Island Greenway) snakes through Peoria and is maintained by the Peoria Park District.
Links to Trail Resources include:
Bike the Trail Library to Library brochure (printable .pdf with maps)
Friends of the Rock Island Trail on facebook now known as the Trail Advocates of Central Illinois (TACI)
Illinois Department of Transportation's Trails, Paths & Streets - including bike maps by county
Peoria Park District-Rock Island Greenery map
Rock Island Trail State Park website--includes information about the Trail and a Trail map
Zagster Bike Share in Peoria--info on the popular bike lending program in Peoria