Fox River Trail guide: St. Charles, Geneva and Batavia

The Fox River Trail is the easiest way to see all three Tri-Cities in one outing. It follows the river through downtown St. Charles, Geneva and Batavia, with trail on both banks in many stretches and bridges that let you make loops. Late fall brings fewer crowds and, according to the City of Geneva, a good chance to spot bald eagles, great blue herons, great egrets and cormorants fishing the river.

St. Charles: start at Pottawatomie Park

The St. Charles Park District counts the Fox River Trail, including its East Side Bike Trail and Norris Woods Bike Trail segments, at 44.6 miles.

Pottawatomie Park has a free Bike Plaza with a water bottle fill station, benches, a bike repair station and trail information. It is a handy place to start a ride south.

A few rules on Park District property: the bike speed limit in parks and on trails is 10 mph. Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are allowed at that speed. Class 3 e-bikes and gas-powered bikes are not.

Geneva: Island Park and the Old Mill sculpture

In Geneva, the trail runs through Island Park, which is walkable from downtown and has gardens and a treehouse-themed playground with a zip line. From Island Park, follow the trail north under State Street to see a sculpture built from ironwork and wheel gears salvaged from the Old Mill building.

Just south, the Illinois Prairie Path's Geneva spur meets the river trail at Route 25 in Bennett Park. That junction is a good turnaround point or a way to add miles heading east.

Fabyan Forest Preserve: windmill and villa

Between Geneva and Batavia, the trail passes through Fabyan Forest Preserve, with entrances on Route 25 and Route 31 just north of Fabyan Parkway. A bridge crosses the river inside the preserve. You will pass the restored Fabyan Windmill and the Fabyan Villa, a Frank Lloyd Wright redesign from 1907. The preserve has a parking lot and restrooms, which makes it a solid midpoint stop.

Batavia: the Riverwalk and Depot Museum

In Batavia, the Riverwalk is a 12-acre stretch on the river at Houston Street and Island Avenue, open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. It has a parking lot, restrooms, a playground and picnic shelters. A boardwalk leads to the North Point Pavilion, and the path passes the Batavia dam and a wildflower sanctuary. At the south end of the Government Center, a pedestrian bridge crosses to the east leg of the trail.

The Batavia Depot Museum, in an 1854 railroad depot at 155 Houston St., sits right on the trail. Through the Sunday before Thanksgiving, it is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. The suggested donation is $1.

Trail tips

• Forest Preserve District of Kane County trails have a 15 mph speed limit, per the Kane County bike map. St. Charles Park District paths are 10 mph.
• Watch for bikes passing on the left and announce yourself when you pass.
• Check closures before you go. The St. Charles Park District posts trail updates online, and the Batavia Park District posts trail work on its Riverwalk page.
• For emergencies, call 911. The Kane County non-emergency number is 630-232-8400.