4.5Lakefront Trail(2.442 reviews) - Walk, Run, Bike, Stroll, your views are excellent Biking Trails • Hiking Trails
The Chicago Lakefront Bicycle Trail is roughly 22 miles of bike paths, stretching from Indiana border up to Evanston. The trail rides through many parks including Jackson Park (including U of Chicago), Grant Park (including Buckingham Fountain/Museum Campus) Millennium Park, and Lincoln Park with its Free Zoo. Plenty of beaches and bike rentals available at Bobby's Bike Hike - 540 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago IL 60611 (free maps, helmets).See more..
Known for its magnificent rock formations of St. Peter sandstone, this scenic park offers many hiking and horseback riding trails plus fishing and boating along the banks of the Illinois River.See more..
4.5Busse Woods Trail System(187 reviews) - Clean and beautiful walking n bike trails Biking Trails • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
Happened to stumble uptown this park during my weekend trip to Chicago and fell in love with this long trail amidst city of Schaumburg. Ton of picnic areas, rest rooms and very well marked trails. Ton of bikers and walkers and well shaded areas as well. Only downside was that dog walkers did not clean up after their pets. The place really sticks up because of their negligence. See more..
Old railroad tracks converted into bike/walk trail. Covers alot of distance and is wide enough for traffic, which is a very popular outdoor activity for locals. Definitely do not use after dark. See more..
I visited Washington Park after a busy day sightseeing in Springfield. I walked around the gazebo and other areas before heading out to pick up dinner. Then I ordered carry out so I could eat it in the park on a bench. It was a very relaxing dinner! (There are ample parking spots and trash cans.) I walked around the Rose Garden, the Angel of Hope memorial, and the outside of the Botanical Gardens before the half hour carillon concert. More details are on their Facebook page. The park was filled with locals and the trails were in use by many.See more..
Typical walk in the woods with a nice waterfall as a bonus, the best this side of Starved Rock. Trail is easy to walk, just watch out for bikers. A tip for non runners. Be sure to park at the lot on Bluff road. It's only a half mile stroll to the falls. Other lots take nine or six miles one way so be warned.See more..
can't believe that we have lived in the north shore for over 20 years and we had never been here! What a gem! We came here with our son and future daughter-in-law for walk on a very cool, very early spring day. Parking was a bit difficult as they had a maple syrup tapping event going on and they closed off parking spots in order to keep the number of people there at time low, due to the pandemic. They have a number of paths through the woods to walk. None of them are particularly long and definitely not arduous. It was very pleasant strolling along and chatting. We ran into one of people that works there and he was very willing to answer our questions and pointed us in the direction of the newly tapped trees. There is a small section were they have some of the local fauna on display. We enjoyed our meander through there too. Great place for young and old alike!See more..
As part of our bike trip crossing Illinois from the Indiana border to the Mississippi River, we rode our bikes on the I&M trail from Joliet to LaSalle. It was great....picturesque, historic, and mostly well maintained. There are many access points along the way with parking, some with water fountains, some with bathroom facilities. I've been on the trail several times since and have always enjoyed the experiences. It's quiet and relatively safe, though I'd suggest travelling in a group just because it can be lonely. We should be proud this trail is available to us.See more..
It's a very short hike. Pretty cool natural bridge! It's at the very end of the road. Little Grand canyon trail in about 3-5 miles away. And Cedar Lake trail head. So good to combine these shirt hikesSee more..
Hit this trail up finally, it's a nice ride. Trail itself is historic and interesting, the Stone Bridge is pretty neat as well. Easy ride too.See more..
There are about 75 Trumpeter Swans presently on the lake at Lincoln Trail. That's the wildlife treat of the moment at this beautiful park.See more..
4.5Veteran Acres Park(31 reviews) - Serene Getaway Spent More than 3 hours Biking Trails • Hiking Trails • Cross-country Ski Areas
Lovely gem in Crystal Lake. A quiet place to hike and enjoy nature. The Nature Center has a variety of exhibits that always fascinated my grandchild. Pack a lunch, bring a book and relax for a bit.See more..
I visited this trail on a Tuesday and Wednesday. It was beautiful scenery, a lot different than the typical forest preserves we have at home in Chicago. There weren’t a lot of other people out but I can’t speak to how busy it might get over a weekend. The second day I went, the trail was flooded in several areas. I tried a couple of different entrances but kept getting stuck - but there was pretty significant rainfall overnight. See more..
I decided to investigate this bike trail during the July 4th holiday. I was so pleasantly surprised. There was hardly a soul on it, so it is very pandemic and socially distanting friendly. There are several bridges and from the west trail head it is almost totally shaded from the sun. A great ole railroad bed that is just amazing. I ran into a few mosquitos over by the Sciota Mills rest area however that was the only negative I could find on this trip. The 4 miles from Freeport to west trail head does not have much shade so be prepared for sun on that stretch. The trail is fee free, well maintained, has several rest stops, and bountiful interesting views. Grab your bike and a bottle of water and sit back and enjoy the ride!See more..
5.0Little Red Schoolhouse(27 reviews) - Fall trails Spent More than 3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
On Willow Springs Road, by 107th, with free parking, 2 buildings to tour for free (one is the original red schoolhouse). The new facility has bathrooms, a table indie to sit at, great areas for kids for interactive play, and wonderfully done displays. There are owls and hawks in outdoor enclosures. Multiple trails of varying lengths well labelled, and fall displays. Well worth a trip this fall. See more..
4.5Salt Creek Trail(25 reviews) - Hanging out with my hubby Hiking Trails
We went bike riding going to salt creek and it’s really pretty out there we have so much fun with my husband .See more..
4.5Swallow Cliff Stairs(19 reviews) - Great workout! Spent 2-3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails • Forests
Take the yellow marked trail... 8 miles and do the stairs! Go during the week early afternoon... less crowded. Bathrooms and water fountain are located at the stairs and porta potties at Teasons Woods,See more..
5.0Busey Woods(17 reviews) - Shady place for a hot afternoon Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
We really enjoyed wandering the trails here on a hot humid afternoon. We saw many deer. We were sad that some of the watering places were drained so it appeared the deer had a harder time getting water. There also used to be turtles and frogs but there stream was drained so we did not see any of those either. There were several trails but they were not really clearly marked. We figured we would eventually find our way out. See more..
4.5Douglas-Hart Nature Center(16 reviews) - Great Place Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails • Forests We stopped here to stretch our legs and have lunch. It was great. They have nice walking trails. A zip line that both my teens and 5 year old could enjoy. The pond had lots of fish and 3 huge turtles that came right up to the dock. We also enjoyed the nature center. We were able to eat lunch at picnic tables. It was a great stop.See more..
4.5Herrin Park(15 reviews) - A great family park. Spent 2-3 hours Parks • Hiking Trails • Playgrounds
This park is huge for southern Illinois has many separate playgrounds basketball courts has a pool a pond with bridge.The grounds are well kept plenty of parking and gazebo seating.See more..
4.5Rock Island Trail(13 reviews) - Nice hiking and biking trail through central IL Spent 2-3 hours Hiking Trails
The Rock Island Trail has recently been expanded well into the city of Peoria and extends NE to Toulon. Most areas of this trail are well kept, but after a rain, bike tend to leave ruts in the trail where gravel is a bit thin. But the flora and fauna along the trail make up for any issues with the trail. Watch for a few ruts and chipmunk holes, and your ride or walk will be very enjoyable! I personally would recommend stopping in Dunlap or Princeville for lunch or dinner - nothing in Wyoming, and what's there is closed frequently. Nice picturesque train station in Wyoming, though.See more..
The Cook County Forest Preserve District does a fantastic job caring for this trail. Within 24 hours of a storm all debris is cleared from the path. Every season they cut back branches and grass making it clear and smooth. Professional bikers, families with young kids and liesure runners all use it safely, as long as you stick to the right. It connects to other car-free trails so you can go for a good 30 miles if you want. There is a great bike shop called Bici 2 in Willow Springs on Archer that will check your tire pressure and rent bikes too.See more..
4.5Beall Woods State Park(10 reviews) - A Gem Spent 2-3 hours State Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
National Geographic reviewed about 15 Illinois State Parks. They missed this one. It belongs on any list of the best of Illinois. It has well maintained grounds, lovely trails for all. The trees were protected from harvesting. It’s spectacular Illinois. See more..
4.5River Trail of Illinois(10 reviews) - Nice Trail that connects easily to Rock Island Trail Spent 2-3 hours Biking Trails • Hiking Trails
The River Trail of Illinois is a nice trail that will connect with Granite City Food & Brewery, goes behind Embassy Suites, as well as Bass Pro Shop and the new Holiday Inn Express. The trail is blacktop which offers a short beautiful view of the Illinois River as well as a great view of Downtown Peoria. The trail goes to Morton, and it also runs across the Illinois River to Downtown Peoria which will take you by the Gateway Building, Peoria Boat Club and easily connects to the Rock Island Trail through Springdale Cemetery. Be careful once you get out of Downtown Peoria approaching Springdale Cemetery as the neighborhood safety is VERY QUESTIONABLE !See more..
Gorgeous area with a few short hikes to choose from. The natural bridge was stunning and the teal blue water was unique. I recommend the Devil's Backbone hike and Natural Bridge hike. Seems like it would be a great place to take a dip in the summer heat, but it was still too cold for us to do that. Definitely stick to the trail as there was A LOT of poison ivy.See more..
4.0Jackson Falls Trail(9 reviews) - Great short hike Spent More than 3 hours Hiking Trails
The road can be tricky to navigate, but once at the parking lot, it's an easy hike to the falls. There's a swimming hole at the base of the falls, good mushroom hunting along the way, and great little camping spots/fire pits. Water is a nice temperature to cool off with. Views spectacular. See more..
Wildcat Springs, a spacious and sprawling tract of land, is located on the north side of Hamilton, Illinois, just across the Mississippi River from Keokuk, Iowa. It has been a popular recreation area since the 1880's and remains so today with camping, hiking, and picnicking facilities. Chaney Creek, which flows through the park, is a popular place to hunt for geodes.See more..
4.5Pyramid State Park(5 reviews) - Great HIking trails!!! and Great Horseback trails! Nature & Wildlife Areas • Equestrian Trails • Hiking Trails
The local 4-H club has bar coded the trees, fishing areas, shrubs, and etc. All you need is your phone with a barcode reader and you have the information in your phone then. Wonderful hiking trails, horseback tails, fishing and hunting in this park!See more..
5.0Hickory Creek Preserve(5 reviews) - Time For A Walk Biking Trails • Hiking Trails • Forests
This is favorite place for “walkies” with mans best friend..... There are pavilions for group gatherings with large picnic tables and permanent bbq grills for your charcoal feast. Pathways are paved through the woods and nicely kept. There are areas for either a short or long walk and parking is plentiful. Always a tail-wagging time. See more..
4.5Pleasant Valley(5 reviews) - Experience The Illinois Prairie Spent < 1 hour Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
This is such a wonderful place to walk or hike. There are no crowds to deal with and the parking lot is nice and includes a bathroom. You can take a flat walk or go up small hills. There are several paths to take, short and long, but either way you will see the untouched beautiful nature of the Illinois prairie.See more..
At around 15 miles long this is a good distance for an out and back ride. The trail surface is asphalt, however it is in rough shape in spots. Between Capron and Poplar Grove is particularly rough, in the fall covered with leaves the bumps can be hard to spot. The bridge transitions vary, with one particularly bad one, be sure to slow down for bridges and approach with caution. There is some good signage with geography and history of the area, and at the eastern terminus and near Caledonia Road crossing on the west end has water. I would be hesitant to use a narrow tired road bike in the fall of the year when asphalt surface divots could be hidden.See more..
4.5St. Louis Canyon(4 reviews) - Hiking Bodies of Water • Canyons • Hiking Trails
Hiking through Starved Rock Park, There are quite a few canyons to explore at Starved Rock Park. Saint Louis Canyon has a beautiful waterfall. See more..
3.5Bemis Woods Park(3 reviews) - Great place to enjoy Nature Biking Trails • Hiking Trails • Jogging Paths & Tracks
Spent a couple of hours in Bemis Woods in Westchester hiking in October. Bemis Woods offers a range of recreational activities such as birding, hiking, biking, and picnics. Amenities also include a canoe launch on the Salt Creek that runs through the park. A theme park called Go Ape Treetop Adventure Course (requires fees) is also located in this park. We enjoyed our hike on the wooded trails and along a part of the paved bike trail. Sections of the hiking trails could be wet after rains. The bridge across the Salt Creek provides a great place for scenic water views. Bemis Woods is a great place for enjoying nature. See more..
4.0Saganashkee Slough(3 reviews) - Fun adventure Hiking Trails • Forests Used to be a secret place to boat around and kayak not so much anymore fishing is average for that area.See more..
4.0Old Plank Road Trail(3 reviews) - Great place to Walk the dog Spent 2-3 hours Biking Trails • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
I have rode my bike back and forth for miles. This is a very nice paved trail.. There are several places along the way to start or decide to leave the trail. I’ve also walked my dog on the trail, it’s really a shame that I need to have my dog protect me on such a beautiful trail, but there have been incidents in the last few years..See more..
Lincoln’s family moved to Illinois and survived a huge snowy winter. The site is on the Sangamon River and it is well maintained and quite small. It’s worth look. Bring a picnic basket. See more..
3.5Worth Waterfalls(2 reviews) - What used to be Hiking Trails • Waterfalls
I grew up near Worth . Let me tell you , it USED to be beautiful. Used to have lustrous trees , a waterfall flowing through , people having a picnic on the grass, playing , and people just enjoying the beautiful scenery. Now! No water flows through, garbage overflowing, and and the only one enjoying the scenery are the millions seagulls. What a shame .See more..
This is a expansive complex that entwines with state department of natural resources. Every access to the Cache River is worth seeing. See more..
5.0Des Plaines River Trail(2 reviews) - canoe launch Spent More than 3 hours Biking Trails • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
One of my favourite sections of the Des Plaines River Trail is the canoe launch at Route 60, east of Highway 21. It was featured in the 2019 Hike Lake County Challenge. Every year the Lake County Forest Preserve District chooses 12 local hikes and encourages participants to complete seven of them. Because the canoe launch path parallels the Des Plaines River, it can be submerged after heavy rains and flooding. However, if you hike during a dry spell, you will be rewarded with beautiful vistas, songbirds, and Disney-like chipmunks and squirrels.See more..
5.0Fox River Trail(2 reviews) - Don't forget to see the Dutch windmill at Fabyan Park Biking Trails • Hiking Trails • Jogging Paths & Tracks
The Fox River Trail is a multi-use path along the Fox River in Illinois, largely in Kane County, that covers nearly 40 miles and includes several west suburban communities from Algonquin to Elgin to St. Charles to Geneva to Batavia to Aurora to Oswego. Along the way, visitors can view such points of interest as the Fox River Trolley Museum, Fabyan Park Forest Preserve, Batavia Depot Museum, C.B.&O. roundhouse and Valley Model Railroad Club. The trail begins at the McHenry County line in Algonquin and runs south to Oswego in Kendall County. The trail also provides access to other local and regional trails, including the Illinois Prairie Path, Great Western Trail, Virgil Gilman Trail and Prairie Trail. At Fabyan Park, south of Geneva, be sure to visit a Dutch-style windmill dating to the 1850s that was moved to the river site and renovated in 1914. In Batavia, the trail follows a former Chicago & Northwestern Railway right of way past the Depot Museum, an 1854 station and caboose that are used as exhibits. A picturesque location and popular photo-op is the Truss Bridge over the Fox River, a part of the Fox River Trail that is shared with the Virgil Gilman Trail.See more..
4.5Shoal Creek Conservation Area(2 reviews) - Outstanding rare nature preserve! Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
Litchfield has a rare treasure at their doorstep! This area was noted decades ago by German immigrant Henry Eilers to contain some of the rarest untouched prairie vegetation. He worked hard to protect this natural heritage, which now is enjoyed by many, and left as a legacy for the future. With over 700 species of plants and 70 kinds of butterfly, this 250+acre natural wonderland is nature enthusiasts paradise. There is a box by the entrance which contains a map of the area and description of some of the flora and fauna you will find. The trails are well marked. But bring some good walking shoes or hiking boots. It might be central Illinois, but this place has some steep terrain. And if you're lucky, you may even spot a bald eagle or two, who roost in the preserve. See more..
4.5Gallery Park(2 reviews) - Not many birds, a few hawks! Biking Trails • Hiking Trails
Photo’d this hawk in field. Cross from bathrooms, any idea? Hard to identify! He t was very cold but no wind, lake freezing over now!See more..
The park is very well kept and beautiful. There are many trails and the walk along the creek is great. You could just walk and get lost in your thoughts and the scenery. The bridge is very neat. We walked the whole loop and the smell of the flowers was amazing. See more..
4.5Galena River Trail(2 reviews) - Peaceful Spent More than 3 hours Hiking Trails
just a short walk from the parking lot, you can find the beginning of the trail. We didn't spend much time there as it started raining but we had some beautiful views of the river. It is an easy trail.See more..
5.0River to River Trail(1 review) - From the Ohio to the Mississippi Biking Trails • Equestrian Trails • Hiking Trails See more..
4.0Jackson Falls(1 review) - Very nice waterfall Hiking Trails • Waterfalls Waterfall can be found after a moderate hike lasting approximately 1 hour. One part is not so easy due to descend between rocks, still it's worth to finish the hike to see a beautiful waterfall.See more..
5.0Black Partridge Park(1 review) - A terrific hike! Biking Trails • Hiking Trails An afternoon hike at Black Partridge Park is a very satisfying way to spend a few hours with nature. The trails vary in difficulty, but most are easy to walk. They traverse some gently flowing streams over simple footbridges. During any season, the scenery is vibrant. Great walk with the family or by yourself! See more..
5.0I&m Canal Trail(1 review) - Historically important and entertaining Trail Biking Trails • Hiking Trails • Jogging Paths & Tracks
I rode my bike on the I&M Canal Trail from Joliet to Lemont going through the towns of Romeoville and Lockport, covering a distance of approximately 13 miles, while the full I&M Canal Trail runs (somewhat disjointed in places) about seventy miles from La Salle to Willow Springs along the old canal towpath. The trail is marked with unmissable mile markers along with historical vignettes. Also, educational placards are posted frequently about the history of the canal and the stories of those who built and traveled the waterway. The trail surface varies, from crushed limestone, with the section through downtown Lockport being asphalt paved. Great views of the canal and the Canal Locks are available along the trail. The trailhead in Joliet is at the Joliet Iron Works Historic Site where one can explore the remnants of what was once the second largest steel mill in the country. This is a worthwhile stop on the trail. The pretty smooth trail continues on to Lockport where the trail assumes a historic nature with more frequent historical markers. This section through Lockport is beautiful, shady, running right by the canal. On the way out of Lockport, the trail begins to feel industrial running next to an oil tank farm. At the Romeo Road underpass in Romeoville, the trail has a break, and continues on to the Centennial Trail on the west side of the canal. In Lemont, the trail is part of a nice park just off Front Street, with easy access to restaurants and shops downtown. The trail continues through the historical limestone quarries and covers both sides of the canal, and goes past a new sports park called the Forge. But, the trail ends kind of unceremoniously in the north at the fence of a refinery. The I&M Canal Trail is a great opportunity to learn the interesting history of the canal.See more..
The North Branch Trail runs approximately 20 miles along the North Branch of the Chicago River. The trail winds along the Chicago River past the Skokie Lagoons and through forest preserves. But I did not get much views of the river when I biked the north six-miles of the trail. At the north end of the trail, the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, is a pleasant excursion. A bike rider can park the bike at the entrance and have a free entry to the fabulous garden. The north section of the trail also features a ~4-mile loop around Skokie Lagoons and Erickson Woods. The loop’s west side runs along I-94 and highway traffic is quite noisy; the eastern side of the loop provides a more peaceful experience as it winds through the woods, though it is more hilly. The North Branch Trail has plenty of amenities, with parking lots, bathrooms, and picnic areas. Though several road crossings occur along the way, they are well-marked and have adequate safety measures. It is a very enjoyable trail.See more..
