What's best about Lake Co.? Bike, jogging paths, Mundelein cop says

Editor's note: This is another installment in our weekly series highlighting what people like about living in Lake County. This week, we asked that question of Mundelein police Sgt. Fred Kliora.

Jogging and biking paths crisscross Lake County, but Mundelein police Sgt. Fred Kliora's favorite runs along the Des Plaines River and shares its name.

Kliora can hop on the Des Plaines River Trail near his Wadsworth home and run or bike north to Van Patten Woods and its stunning Sterling Lake, or he can head south toward Lake Carina, Independence Grove or a number of other forest preserves and nature areas.

"You have a lot of wildlife and a lot of lakes," Kliora said. "And of course you have the river."

The opportunities for exercise and nature-watching are among the reasons why Kliora considers the Des Plaines River Trail one of the 52 great things about Lake County.

The trail runs about 33 miles, nearly the entire length of the county, except for a small gap near the Par King miniature golf course near Lincolnshire.

At the north end, the trail starts at Russell Road near Wadsworth. It runs south about 29 miles to West Riverside Drive, stops, and then picks up again near Estonian Lane.

From there, the trail runs south about two miles to Lake-Cook Road near Wheeling, where it connects to a Cook County trail system.

A new, short section is being added north of Estonian Lane near the Cubby Bear North restaurant. It should be open to the public this month, forest district officials said.

But the trail is more than just a two-way course for bikers, hikers and cross-country skiers. It also connects 10 forest preserves and other attractions in the area.

The Adlai E. Stevenson Historic Home near Mettawa, Wadsworth Prairie and the Ryerson Conservation Area near Deerfield are among the sites in the trail's path.

Kliora particularly enjoys running on the trail between 8 and 9 a.m. Because so much of the trail is heavily wooded, the foliage protects him from the sun.

Official markers along the trail help him keep track of mileage.

"I can put in a good 15 miles no problem," Kliora said. "It just keeps going."

--Russell Lissau