Outdoor Recreation

Windmill

Biking, Paddling, and Running Trails

The Fox River Bike Trail offers a scenic ride along the Fox River with 30 miles in Kane County alone. Biking, jogging, cross country skiing, and hiking are all popular ways to explore the trail. Birdwatchers and photographers, bring your gear! Bald Eagles, Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, and Cormorants love fishing on the Fox River at various times of the year. The Illinois Prairie Path spans approximately 61 miles in Cook, Dupage, and Kane Counties in northeastern Illinois. The trail is named for its rare segments of thousand-year-old prairies. This former railway is perfect for biking, jogging, hiking and equestrian. The Geneva spur is at Route 25 in Bennett Park. Both paths are included in the Kane and Northern Kendall County Bike Map, see the St Charles/Geneva/Batavia insert.

The new Northwestern Medicine Cross Country Course is open to the public. This premier 700 acre course, designed for large high school and college meets, offers panoramic views of the Fox Valley and Chicago skyline. The main entrance is located by the Northwestern Medicine Ballpark on Kirk Rd.

Check out the Bike to Metra brochure for a map of Geneva's bike routes as well as some great tips about biking in general.

Mill Race Cyclery offers hourly rentals of 21 speed comfort and hybrid bicycles, tandems, Burley child trailers, insta tandems for kids, and recumbents. They also rent kayaks, canoes, and stand up paddle boards, if you'd like to float along the beautiful Fox River. 

Paddlers will find the Fabulous Fox Water Trail website a handy resource for planning a day on the Fox River. The website includes a map with access points, portage routes, dams, parking, restrooms and other useful information. 

Geneva's City Hall Prairie Garden

Geneva's City Hall Prairie Garden, located at 22 S First St, features an array of primarily native plants. The garden was designed by Roy Diblik, a recognized perennial plant expert. Its unique perennial plant combinations, which change throughout the year, are inspired by the Lurie Garden in Chicago's Millennium Park.

Fabyan Forest Preserve

Fabyan Forest Preserve is located along the Fox River, with entrances on both Route 25 and Route 31, just north of Fabyan Parkway. The Fabyan Villa Museum has history tours about the Fabyans and their fabulous riverbank estate. Visitors are invited to stroll through the Fabyan Japanese Garden which is also part of the estate grounds. The preserve also has a 68 foot, five-story Dutch windmill offering tours. Visiting hours are posted by Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley. For more information about forest preserves and outdoor recreation, check the Forest Preserve District of Kane County website.

Geneva Park District

The Geneva Park District operates more than 50 parks and offers special events, recreational programs, facilities, and open space for all ages. Visit the Interactive Parks and Facilities Map for park locations and amenities.

Located on the Fox River and walkable from downtown, Island Park features gardens, the Fox River Bike Trail, and a tree house themed playground with a zip line. From Island Park you can follow the bike trail north under State Street and see the sculpture of remnant ironwork and wheel gears salvaged from the Old Mill building. A beautiful picnic spot, RiverPark is a native prairie, savannah, and shoreline ecosystem on the west side of the Fox River.

Sandholm Woods, another Geneva gem, includes a maze of natural elements, contemplative garden, climbing rocks, and a concrete path. Peck Farm Park is a popular destination on the west side of Geneva, with an outdoor butterfly house, Hawks Hallow Nature Playground, hiking trails, observation silo, and more. Wheeler Park has an outer space soft floored playground, miniature golf, disc golf, and trails.