The Vadalabene Bikeway
     
     
     

     
     
     
     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Vadalabene Bikeway runs 21.5 miles along the McAdams Turnpike, and the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, between Alton, IL. and Pere Marquette State Park, just north of Grafton, IL. The trail starts as a separate paved path parallel to the highway, then goes through an elevated tree lined section, then comes back to the road, using a shared roadway on the shoulder of the highway, all the while passing under ancient, wind-sculptured bluffs. The route then passes through Grafton using back streets and trail along the Illinois river before climbing up onto the wooded bluffs overlooking the Brussels Ferry and the Illinois River. It then descends back to parallel IL Route 100, ending at a parking lot at Pere Marquette State Park.
     
     
     
     
     
 

 
     
     
 

The Piasa Bird, said to ward off evil river spirits by the ancient Indians, stands guard over the main parking lot.

  
     
     
     

 
     
     

One of the first things you encounter on the trail is a spring or storm sewer running across the trail, leaving a slippery coating of algae on the trail surface.

  

Small boulders are strewn across the deteriorating asphalt surface.
     
     

 

  
 

 
     
 

The trail surface has collapsed where a culvert passes under the trail.

  
     
     
     

 

     
     
   

 
   

The crumbling trail surface shrinks to a lane wide or less as nature reclaims the right-of-way.
     
     
     
   
     
     
 

The trail reverts to a dirt trail in one spot.

  
     
     

 
     

A lone cyclist enjoying the early morning shade. The asphalt surface of the trail is buckling badly in many spots.

    
     
     
     
   
     
     
     
  The trail improves greatly once it reaches Clifton Terrace.  
     
     
     

 

     
     

A spur of the trail travels through a small park in Clifton Terrace.

   After a short incline, the trail travels through a tunnel of trees above the surface of the highway.
     
     
     
 

 
     
     
     
 

The scenery along the trail is breath-taking as you roll by the beautiful Alton Lake reservoir of the Mississippi.

  
 

 

  
     
     

 

     
     
     
   

The Trail crosses the highway just south of Piasa Creek to aid southbound cyclists.
     
     
     
 

 
     
     
     
 

The Trail utilizes the shoulder of the road where the bluffs come right down to the edge of the road.

  
     
     
     

 
     
     
     

As you enter Grafton, a sign instructs bicycles to use the trail.

  

Antique and Gift shops line IL 100 as it passes through Grafton. There are also several fine restaurants and fish stands. The town was officially moved to higher ground after the disastrous 1993 flood, several buildings still have marks showing how high the waters rose.
     
     
     

 

     
     
     

The trail starts through town on a chip and seal road running behind Route 100.

  

The asphalt trail through town is still covered with mud from flooding several months ago.
     
     
     
 

 
     
     
     
 

     
     
     

During high water, the new section of the trail traveling through town is under water, forcing cyclists to use IL 100.

    
     
     
     
 

 
     
     
     
 

The trail crosses IL 100 at the northern edge of town. The trail is part of the 3,000 mile Mississippi River Trail.

  
     
     
     

 

     
     
     
   

After leaving Grafton, the trail climbs the bluffs above the Brussels Ferry briefly.
     
     
     
 

 
     
     
     
 

The trail descends near the Pere Marquette stables.

  
     
     
     

 

     
     
     
   

The trail continues to parallel IL 100.
     
     
     
 

 
     
     
 

After reaching the campground and picnic area at Pere Marquette State Park, the trail continues on to end at the Museum parking lot.