Welcome to Prairie Trail/Diverse City Prairie
The Prairie Trail travels from the Kane County border on the south to just short of the Wisconsin State Line to the north, connecting eight McHenry County communities along the way allowing a safe and convenient means of travel sunrise to sunset. Because of its length, travels along the multi-use Prairie Trail come in close proximity to numerous shops and businesses, allowing cyclists to bike to work, run errands, or just go out to eat or for an ice cream treat. The trail takes cyclists through prairie, woodlands, alongside residential areas and passes through many scenic areas including Glacial Park, Larsen Prairie, Sterne’s Woods, the Diverse City Prairie and over the Fox River.
In addition, the Prairie Trail provides access to nearly 100 miles of trails; Hebron Trail links on the north end for a 6.3 mile stretch westward through North Branch Conservation Area; Ridgefield Trace links in Crystal Lake by Veteran Acres Park and extends west to Woodstock; and Kane County’s Fox River Trail links to the south. The Prairie Trail exists on the former Chicago and Northwestern railroad line.
Prairie Trail South
A half mile trail section of the Prairie Trail in Algonquin/LITH, starting from the Mitchard Way (formerly Meyer Rd.) access point parking lot, headed north, will be under construction through Mid May 2023. No thru traffic will be permitted, nor can a detour be put in place due to limited access to the trail from this area and the highly-trafficked roadways. This cache is not impacted by the construction.
• The District’s parking lot off Mitchard Road (formerly Meyer Rd.) will be closed for the duration of the project.
• The access trail from the neighborhood from Grace St., on the west, will also be impacted; thus no northbound nor southbound access point from there.
• Public parking access on the north would be Diverse City Prairie (Eastgate Dr. & Commercial Rd. west of Main St.) or Town Park, 100 Jefferson St, Algonquin.
Algonquin - Village of McHenry
17 miles of trail
This paved section which runs from the county line in Algonquin to the Village of McHenry for a 17 mile stretch. This trail provides recreational opportunities for pedestrians, cyclists, and rollerbladers. Trail users should note that while most of the trail is relatively flat, the section between Lorraine Avenue and Hillside Road in Crystal Lake (through Sterne’s Woods) is quite hilly. Site users can intersect the trail at numerous points as well as park and ride from Michard Road (formerly Meyer Road) parking lot in Algonquin, along Main Street or at the Hillside Road lot in Crystal Lake, and at Whispering Oak Park or Peterson Park in McHenry.
Cache Your Way Question
How many ounces of milkweed seed have staff and volunteers collected during 2017?
Geocachers
Please join us in playing! Geocaching is a high-tech “treasure hunting” game played throughout the world by adventure seeker. All are welcome who observe and obey the rules.
- Please do not move or vandalize the container.
- Once you find it, log your name in the book, take a trinket and leave one of your own behind for the next person.
- Replace the cache in the same spot that you found it, and make sure it is completely covered.
- Please do not remove the informational card from the containers, this is an essential game piece for cachers completing the GeoSeries.
- The real treasure is finding the container and sharing your thoughts with everyone who finds it.
For a complete list of rules and instructions on how to earn a special district geocoin visit MCCDistrict.org/Geocache
Email geocaching@MCCDistrict.org with any questions or concerns
McHenry County Conservation District Information
Visit our website at MCCDistrict.org or call (815) 338-6223
Photo Release
5/12/25 Photos posted here may be featured on the McHenry County Conservation District's various social media accounts including Facebook, Instagram, and twitter, as well as our website (MCCDistrict.org) and print material such as Landscapes Magazine. By posting photos to this log you agree to allow us to share your work. Photographers will be acknowledged in any shares or posts of photos, so please include your name in your post if it is different from that of your username.