Trail Conditions

Raceway Woods Forest Preserve

Carpentersville, IL

5 Miles

Flowy Trails

All Levels

Trail Overview

Trail Length

Eight total trails, including designated loops (pavement and gravel additional 3.25 miles)

Difficulty Range

Beginner to Intermediate: Wooded sections with punchy climbs, and some fast descents

Hours

Sunrise to Sunset

Land Manager

Forest Preserve District of Kane County

View on Trailforks

About the Trail System

Raceway Woods Forest Preserve is located at 17N702 Western Ave (route 31)(Silo lot) in Carpentersville and offers over 5 miles of flowing singletrack trails. The preserve features a well-designed trail network that provides an engaging ride for beginners and intermediate riders, with smooth, flowy sections that make it easy to build and maintain momentum.

The trails wind through wooded terrain with a mix of gentle climbs, fun descents, and flowing turns. The trail design emphasizes flow and rhythm, making it an excellent place to work on bike handling skills and enjoy the simple pleasure of riding through the forest. The moderate difficulty makes it accessible to newer riders while still providing an enjoyable experience for more experienced cyclists.

The trail system’s design encourages riders to link together different sections, allowing for rides of varying lengths. Whether you’re looking for a quick after-work ride or a longer session, Raceway Woods offers options to match your available time and energy level.

Trail Zones

Fast, flowy Singletrack

Smooth, flowing trails through wooded terrain

• Flowing turns and berms
• Gentle climbs and descents
• Well-maintained trail surface

Accessible Riding

Great for skill development and fun

• Suitable for beginners and intermediates
• Multiple loop options
• Focus on flow and rhythm

CAMBr's Role at Raceway Woods

CAMBr maintains the trail system at Raceway Woods in partnership with Dundee Township and Kane County Forest Preserve District. Our volunteers work to keep these trails in excellent condition through regular maintenance and improvements, ensuring they remain enjoyable and accessible for the local riding community.

The flowing character of these trails is the result of thoughtful design and ongoing care. CAMBr’s commitment to this preserve helps maintain it as a valuable resource for riders seeking a fun, accessible trail system in the northwest suburbs.

Why Volunteer?

Meet Fellow Riders

Connect with the local mountain biking community and make lasting friendships

Give Back

Make a lasting impact on the trails you love to ride

Learn New Skills

Gain trail building knowledge and sustainable construction techniques

Local Amenities

Getting There

Route 31 Silo lot (recommended starting point)

Huntley Rd parking lot - 550 Huntley Rd, Carpentersville, IL (Huntley Lot)

Parking is available. The trailhead provides easy access to the trail network.

Dining

• Rosie O’Hares
• Nomanches Mexican Grill
• North of the Border
• Jersey Mikes
• DC Cobbs
• Blue and Grey Brewery
• The Assembly
• Van’s Custard and Grill

Nearby Bike Shops

Main Street Bicycles
Trek Algonquin

Amenities

• Restrooms: Permanent outhouse restrooms at the Silo lot
• Porta Potty at the Huntley lot
• Water: No hydration station on-site (nearby stores available)
• Bike Wash / Tools / Pump: Not available on-site
• Hours: Sunrise to sunset
• Fees: No trail fee or pass required


It is a multi-user system - so you should expect to see runners, hikers, dogs and the occasional toddler on the trails. It is also a two-way system, so you'll encounter oncoming traffic. Raceway is also a very busy place thanks to its popularity, and the limited single track that surrounds it.

Events & Community
• Events / Races: Raceway Rally in July, Meadowdale Car show in September – Turkey Chaser in Nov – Huck Jam in Jan/Feb (when snow is abundant)
• Trail Director: Rob Shelton — [email protected]
• Volunteer Opportunities: Posted on the Raceway Woods Riders Facebook page
• Trail Updates & Communication: Follow us on Facebook at Raceway Woods Riders, trailbot.com and trailforks
• Rob Shelton - Raceway Woods MTB Trail Director

⚠️ Important Trail Etiquette

• Yield to hikers and other trail users
• Stay on designated trails
• Avoid riding when trails are wet to prevent damage
• Control your speed on flowing sections
• Call out when passing other trail users
• Pack out all trash
• Respect the preserve’s hours and regulations

Raceway Woods Photos

Ready to Hit the Trails?

Your CAMBr membership directly supports trail maintenance and development at Raceway Woods and all our trail systems. Join us to help keep these flowing trails in excellent condition.
Become a Member

CAMBr Current
Trail Conditions

Natural surface trails and bike parks can be easily damaged when they’re soft, wet and/or muddy.  All trail users should stay off the singletrack trails and jump lines unless they’re dry, or frozen solid.  CAMBr volunteers put in many thousands of hours each year maintaining and constructing trails, and we closely monitor their condition.  

CAMBr uses the Trailbot smartphone app to publish trail conditions updates.  Trailbot is a completely free, ad-free, easy-to-use trail conditions app for iOS and Android  – so you’ll know what to expect before you go, and can make informed decisions when conditions aren’t favorable for hitting the singletrack.  

Visit Trailbot.com to download the app, or find it in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Within the app you’ll find not only current trail conditions updates for all your favorite CAMBr trails, but also weather information, trail descriptions, maps, and other useful links. Trailbot updates are also pushed to our website for easy access.

Please respect the trails, and all the work that goes into them, by staying off when they’re soft.

ABOVE ALL – IF YOU’RE LEAVING AN IMPRINT, IT’S TIME TO LEAVE

WHAT ARE FREEZE/THAW RULES?

There’s a season in the Chicago area, typically between mid-November and the end of March, when temperatures will drop below freezing at night and then warm up above freezing during the day. What this means for the trails is when actually frozen they are hard and good to ride. But when the temps go up and the moisture in the ground thaws, the dirt becomes very soft and muddy. This is because the water in the soil expands when frozen and it looses the tightly packed soil. The result is the trails can become very soft and muddy even if there hasn’t been much rain or snow fall.

So, to protect the trails from damage, only ride when the ground is frozen hard, and get off once the ground begins to warm up. South facing trails will usually soften up first, and if the sun it out and the temps get into the 30’s, you’ll probably need to be done by 10AM.

Remember, if you’re tires are leaving an imprint, it’s too soft to ride. 

Fat Bike Tire Pressure