The North Central DuPage Regional Trail (NCDRT) is 19-mile trail spanning northern DuPage County. The western terminus connects to the Illinois Prairie Path (IPP) in Pratts’ Wayne Woods Forest Preserve via the new Munger Road extension. The eastern terminus of the NCDRT connects to the Woodland Meadow access Busse Woods Forest Preserve in Cook County.
The NCDRT is a mixed-surface route consisting of approximately 50% limestone or asphalt bike path and 50% road/sidewalk/bike lane. It traverses and connects three DuPage County Forest Preserves (Hawk Hollow, Mallard Lake, Meacham Grove). The western portion consists mainly of bike paths and forest preserves while the eastern portion consists of quiet streets and neighborhoods with a pedestrian-friendly access point to Busse Woods. Ample parking is available at the Woodland Meadow parking lot while a small turnout exists for a handful of cars at the IPP junction. Public drinking fountains are seasonal and only two are available directly on the trail at the east side of Meacham Grove and in Springfield Park.
While the IPP and Busse Woods are very popular with trail users in DuPage and Cook County, the NCDRT is a safe and well-signed connector trail to the many communities which it intersects.
