MAJOR
TAYLOR TRAILKEEPERS RIDE
Registration • Routes • Places
We Pass Through • Route
Profile Data • Updates
Registration
CLICK
HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE 2021 MAJOR TAYLOR CHICAGO TRAIL KEEPERS
RIDE!
Routes The event consists of
three doubleback routes centered around a rest stop at Whistler
Woods Forest Preserve. The initial route follows the Major
Taylor
Trail,
then one route goes west following the
Cal Sag Trail and
the other
one
goes southeast to Major
Taylor's gravesite. All routes are
fully paved (no dirt or gravel surfaces) and primarily
follow low travelled residential streets as much as possible
when
not
following bike paths. The average distance
of each ride segment on these routes is 12.6 miles and no
ride segment is significantly longer or shorter than any
other one - they are all about the same length.
- Click
Here for the general route and rest stop locations
overlaid on satellite imagery.
There are two additional rest stops
located mid-route (not at the end) on the Cal Sag Trail and
Major Taylor
Gravesite routes. You can either turn around at these rest
stop
locations
or continue on to ride additional mileage.
By combining these different route options there
are many different
possible
route
distances
available
(up to 80.7 miles total). Participants
will be able to ride as much or as little as they want,
allowing riders of all ability levels to participate in the
event.
This event is perfect for
riders who prefer flat riding and do not want hills. The
terrain is entirely flat and the only hills are overpasses
over highways and railroad tracks. In addition, since each
loop begins and ends at the central rest stop location
the net elevation gain and net grade for every possible
ride is zero. Every foot you pedal up you'll be able to
ride back down!
All routes will open at 7:00 am and close at 4:00 pm.
- Click
Here for more information about the types
of roads the route will follow.
- Click
Here for more information about our riding
policies and procedures.
Major Taylor Trail Route
All participants
should initally arrive at the parking lot at the northwest
corner of
115th & Halsted
St. to park your
car, officially check
in, and receive all of your registration materials.
From there all riders will ride 2.7
miles to our central
rest stop location at Whistler Woods on the
fully paved Major Taylor Trail. This ride segment is perfect
for very novice/inexperienced riders such as families with
very young children.
 |
Starting,
Ending, and Parking Location
Northwest
corner of 115th & Halsted St.
Chicago, IL 60643
2.7 miles from Whistler Woods |
 |
Central Rest Stop
Whistler
Woods
735 W. 134th St.
Riverdale, IL 60827
2.7 miles from 115th & Halsted St.
|
Cal
Sag Trail Route
This route follows the existing Cal-Sag Trail to the west
and has a mid-route rest stop at the Cal Sag Trail parking
area in Palos Hills.
The Cal Sag Trail parking area is 12.7 miles from
Whistler Woods. Past the rest stop the route continues to
follow the Cal-Sag Trail until it turns around at the SAG
Quarries forest preserve for a 11.7 mile round
trip. So this route can be either 25.4 or 37.1 miles.
From Whistler Woods to Alsip (6.6 miles) the route primarily
follows low travelled residential roads and from Alsip to
SAG Quarries (12.0 miles) it is entirely on a fully paved
bike path.
Because the rest stop closes at
noon, this route will close soon after. We
highly recommend any rider that wants to ride this route
do it
first so they can complete it before it closes.
 |
Cal
Sag Trail Route Rest Stop
Cal
Sag Trail Parking Area
8600 Calumet Sag Rd.
Palos Hills, IL 60465
12.7 miles from Whistler Woods
11.7 mile round trip to SAG Quarries (optional)
This rest stop will close
at 1:00 pm.
|
Major Taylor Gravesite Route
This route goes to Major Taylor's gravesite in Glenwood
and has a mid-route rest stop at the Lansing Woods Forest
Preserve in Lansing.
The Lansing Woods rest stop is 12.1 miles from Whistler
Woods. Past the rest stop the route continues to Major Taylor's
gravesite for 7.0 miles (14.0 miles round trip). So this
route can be either 24.2 or 38.2 miles.
From Whistler Woods to Calumet City (7.5 miles) the route
primarily follows low travelled residential roads. It then
follows the fully paved Burnham Greenway Trail for 3.1 miles,
safely crossing under I-80, to Lansing Woods primarily on
low travelled residential roads for 1.7 miles more. From
Lansing Woods the route follows the fully paved Thorn Creek
Trail for 6.3 miles then follows Glenwood Thornton Road for
0.7 miles into the cemetery and Major Taylor’s gravesite.
 |
Major
Taylor Gravesite
Route Rest Stop
Lansing
Woods
Lansing, IL 60438
(800) 870-3666
12.1 miles from Whistler Woods
12.4 mile round trip to the Major Taylor gravesite
(optional)
This rest stop will close at 4:00 pm.
|
 |
Major
Taylor Gravesite
Mount
Glenwood Memory Gardens (South)
18301 Glenwood-Thornton Road
Glenwood, IL
(708) 758-5663
Hours: Open until 4:00 pm
12.4 miles (round trip) from Lansing
Woods
|
Places We Pass Through
The event will touch 13 incorporated communities over all
the routes. Communities in bold indicate rest stop locations.
Major Taylor Trail Route |
Cal Sag Trail Route
|
Gravesite Route
|
|
-
Riverdale
-
Blue Island
-
Alsip
-
Crestwood
-
Palos Heights
-
Palos Park
-
Lemont
|
-
Riverdale
-
Chicago
-
Dolton
-
South Holland
-
Calumet City
-
Lansing
-
Glenwood
|
Route Profile Data
Note that the posted route data may
not correlate exactly to the actual route you will ride
due to reroutes necessary within one month of the event. Each
Ride Segment
|
115th/Halsted
to Whistler
Woods
|
Whistler
Woods to
115th/Halsted
|
Whistler
Woods
to Cal
Sag Trail
Parking
|
Sag
Trail
Parking to
Whistler
Woods
|
Cal
Sag
Trail
Loop
|
Whistler
Woods to
Lansing
Woods
|
Lansing
Woods to
Whistler
Woods
|
Gravesite
Loop
|
Distance (mi) |
2.7
|
2.7
|
12.7
|
12.7
|
11.7
|
12.1
|
12.1
|
14.0
|
Elevation
Profile |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Starting
Elevation (ft) |
636
|
614
|
614
|
617
|
617
|
614
|
611
|
611
|
Ending
Elevation (ft) |
614
|
636
|
617
|
614
|
617
|
611
|
614
|
611
|
Highest
Elevation (ft) |
643
|
643
|
643
|
643
|
630
|
640
|
640
|
650
|
Lowest
Elevation (ft) |
609
|
609
|
584
|
584
|
598
|
602
|
602
|
608
|
Gross
Climb (ft) |
96
|
118
|
585
|
582
|
498
|
311
|
314
|
468
|
Gross Climb
Profile |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Climb (ft) |
-22
|
22
|
3
|
-3
|
0
|
-3
|
3
|
0
|
Gross Grade |
0.7
|
0.8
|
0.9
|
0.9
|
0.8
|
0.5
|
0.5
|
0.6
|
Net Grade |
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
Ride
Segment Summary
Unique Ride Segments |
8
|
Total Possible Routes |
10
|
Total Rest Stops |
3
|
Every
Potential Route
Note: every route includes the round trip ride on
the Major Taylor Trail route between 115th/Halsted and Whistler
Woods.
Whistler Woods to Cal Sag
Trail Parking (round trip) |
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Cal Sag Trail Loop |
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
Whistler Woods to Lansing
Woods (round trip) |
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Gravesite Loop |
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Total Distance (mi) |
30.8
|
29.6
|
42.5
|
55.0
|
43.6
|
66.7
|
69.0
|
80.7
|
Rest Stops |
3
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
4
|
6
|
6
|
7
|
Elevation Profile |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Starting Elevation (ft) |
636
|
636
|
636
|
636
|
636
|
636
|
636
|
636
|
Ending Elevation (ft) |
636
|
636
|
636
|
636
|
636
|
636
|
636
|
636
|
Highest Elevation (ft) |
643
|
643
|
643
|
643
|
650
|
643
|
650
|
650
|
Lowest Elevation (ft) |
584
|
602
|
584
|
584
|
602
|
584
|
584
|
584
|
Gross Climb (ft)
|
1381
|
839
|
1879
|
2006
|
1307
|
2504
|
2474
|
2972
|
Gross Climb Profile |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Climb (ft) |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Longest Ride Segment
Distance (mi) |
12.7
|
12.7
|
12.7
|
12.7
|
14.0
|
12.7
|
14.0
|
14.0
|
Shortest Ride Segment
Distance (mi)
|
12.1
|
12.1
|
11.7
|
12.1
|
12.1
|
11.7
|
12.1
|
11.7
|
Average Distance Between
Rest Stops (mi) |
10.3
|
9.9
|
10.6
|
11.0
|
10.9
|
11.1
|
11.5
|
11.5
|
Longest Ride Segment Gross
Climb (ft) |
585
|
314
|
585
|
585
|
468
|
585
|
585
|
585
|
Shortest Ride Segment
Gross Climb (ft)
|
582
|
311
|
498
|
311
|
311
|
311
|
311
|
311
|
Average Gross Climb
Between Rest Stops (ft)
|
460
|
280
|
470
|
401
|
327
|
417
|
412
|
425
|
Gross Grade |
0.8
|
0.5
|
0.8
|
0.7
|
0.6
|
0.7
|
0.7
|
0.7
|
Net Grade |
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
Updates
Major Taylor Trailkepers Ride Specific Updates
for the 2021 Season
2/26/21
General Updates
- Click
Here for updates to our general policies
and procedures for all events.
|