In the summer, visitors can hike, bike, and bird-watch, and in the winter, people use the area for cross-country skiing. This nationally protected prairie area is a popular place to go biking, hiking, and bison-watching. Yup, you heard that right: Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie is home to a bison herd that you can observe with your own two eyes. People often forget that the prairie is the landscape of the Midwest, and that it can be beautiful in its own way.
For more information, visit here. To admire the fall colors and enjoy the crisp, cool weather, there are few better places to go hiking near Chicago than Kankakee River State Park. A historic area that was once home to Native American settlements, this lush, forested river area is equal parts tranquil and full of adventure opportunities.
To explore the park, the best place to start is with the 3-mile Rock Creek Trail. This is one of the most scenic Chicago hiking trails as it twists through rocky canyons, along the flowing river, and past a bubbling waterfall, all with the beautiful forest canopy overhead. For a peaceful, easy hike through a gorgeous nature area, Morton Arboretum is a great option for hikes near Chicago. As one of the shorter trails on our list, the arboretum is a great place to spend a leisurely afternoon walking around and learning about the protected tree and plant species that grow on the property.
Perhaps the most popular place to go hiking near Chicago, Starved Rock State Park is a stunning, family-friendly nature area that boasts several miles of forested hiking trails for all levels of hikers.
While here, you can see caves, rock formations, canyons, waterfalls, and more as you tackle some of the most famous hikes near Chicago and in Illinois. A popular, easy, paved multi-use trail along the lakefront.
Wonderful views along the way. Accessibility: There is at least 1 designated accessible space off of East 71st Street at the south end of the trail. It does not appear to be van-accessible with a striped access aisle. The trail surface is paved asphalt or concrete with partial railings. It is typically 4 to 6 feet wide with many wider passing spaces. There is a painted dividing line along most of the trail which reduces the width.
There are benches and picnic tables along the route for resting. Show more. Bloomingdale Trail. Length: 8. As of June , the trail reopened from 6am to 7pm.
Chicago Riverwalk. Length: 4. A family and pet-friendly paved route with great displays of downtown Chicago and its architecture. Plenty of restaurants and fun along the way. Accessibility: There are no designated accessible spaces at the east end of the trail.
However, there are designated accessible spaces with striped access aisles in the parking lot off of East Wacker. These sandy soil woodlands are dominated by different species of oaks with some openings of savanna remaining.
The trail heads west from the parking lot. Hikers can return the same way they came or join up with the paved Thorn Creek trail to make a loop. This hike takes you through a series of linked preserves that are nestled along the Des Plaines River.
The path can be taken north to Catherine Chevalier Woods where picnic groves are found or taken north all the way to Camp Ground Road Woods before you have to turn around. The unpaved trail is a hotspot for birds and also includes bottomland woods, oak woodlands, and small prairie remnants.
The river provides great wildlife viewing throughout the year. The Cowles Bog trail is challenging as you will have to tackle some steep dunes, so if you are looking to burn some calories, this trail is highly recommended. If you are looking for the perfect day-time hike look no further than the Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve.
The preserve is almost acres surrounding the Argonne National Laboratory and has 11 miles of mapped trails although you are able to explore the narrow, unmarked pathways crisscrossing throughout the preserve. Enjoy the diverse landscapes of natural woods, savannas, some hills and bluffs overlooking the Des Plaines River. This is the perfect option if you are looking to minimise travel time and stick close to the city. Matthiessen State Park is just south of Starved Rock which has been mentioned above.
It is a acre tract, centred on the Vermillion River, of forest, prairie, canyons and other rock formations. There are 5-miles of well-marked hiking trails as well as 9-miles of horse riding and cycling trails. The park was originally called Deer Park as it is home to a large population of white-tailed deer which utilise the salt licks created by the mineral springs in the area. You will be blown away by the views of the Vermillion River, cascading waterfalls and impressive drops.
Experience the beauty of a narrow, mile-long sandstone canyon carved out by moving water which is a must-see when visiting the park.
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