10 Best Hiking Trails in Chicago

Starved Rock State Park offers 13 miles (21 km) of trails that take hikers all through 18 different canyons with views of waterfalls, rock formations and wildlife. Among the signature sights on the trail is the 125-foot (38-metre) Starved Rock butte for which the park is named. 

The trails offer a range of difficulties to suit most hikers. Trails are well-trod and established, so they're easy to follow for those who prefer to explore on their own. Still, for those who are novices at the art of outdoor adventuring, you can take a guided hike, which is offered all year long. It's a day trip about 1.5 hours from Chicago.

The Bloomingdale Trail (The 606) is a bit different than other hiking trails, as it's in the heart of downtown and offers an easy, paved path. It's an elevated trail built on an abandoned railroad track and offers lots of green space and great views of the city skyline. The path is built for everything from casual strolls to running.

The path is an out-and-back trail encompassing 5.7 miles (9.2 km) of surface. It allows visitors and residents an escape from the hustle and bustle and will take you through residential neighbourhoods and wooded areas. It's also ADA-compliant.

Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve is located just 30 minutes west of the city and offers over 2,500 acres (1,012 hectares) of natural wilderness passing by the cascading Rocky Glen Waterfall. The preserve offers 11 miles (18 km) of mapped trails that are used by hikers, cyclists, horseback riders and even cross-country skiers.

Besides the well-mapped trails, you'll also have a wealth of unmapped footpaths to explore that will take you through thick green canopies. Fishers find this area popular, as there is a range of old quarries that form natural lakes and offer great fishing.

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie is a 20,000-acre (8,000-hectare) wilderness preserve with serene rolling prairies and wildlife viewing opportunities. These National Forest Service lands are located just an hour southwest of downtown Chicago. 

There are 12 miles (19 km) of trails reserved for hikers, plus another 22 miles (35 km) of shared trails in use by hikers, horseback riders and bicyclists. A major attraction of these trails is that bison were re-introduced to the park in 2015. Hikers come here from all around in hopes of catching a glimpse of the herd in its natural surroundings.

Kankakee River State Park offers around 4,000 acres (1,619 hectares) of nature preserve surrounding its namesake river and includes scenic trails for outdoor adventurers of all types. In addition to the 11 miles (18 km) of land for hiking, the park is also popular for fishing, kayaking and even gathering mushrooms. It's about an hour from Chicago.

If you want to extend your stay in the park, you can find campgrounds with fully featured cabinets complete with electricity and other modern amenities. You can spend one day exploring the rocky outcroppings along the river and another getting out on the water in a canoe.

The Morton Arboretum nature preserve in Lisle offers a complex landscape with great opportunities to view the local flora and fauna and hike miles of trails. The preserve features over 4,000 species of plants and trees spread over 16 miles (26 km) of trails, mostly rated for easy hiking. Some of the trails are paved and others are covered with wood chips.

Popular events here include the summer and fall Walking Plays, which include outdoor plays performed as the cast members walk the trails. These occur frequently, so check the schedule for planned events. Morton Arboretum is a 28-minute drive from Chicago.

Matthiessen State Park is just south of Starved Rock State Park and offers 1,700 acres (688 hectares) of forests, prairies, rocky canyons and geological formations along the Vermillion River. The park features 5 miles (8 km) of trails rated specifically for hiking and an additional 9 miles (14 km) of trails that are multi-use and shared by bikers and horseback riders.

The park is home to a large population of white-tailed deer that draws in hikers hoping to catch a glimpse of the animals who enjoy the natural salt licks from the mineral springs. It's about a 1.5-hour drive from Chicago but is a worthwhile day trip.

North Branch Trail starts in the city, in Gompers Park, and follows the Chicago River for 22 miles (35 km) of gorgeous natural scenery with a very easy walking path. The fully paved trail is long, and it winds through woods and lagoons and through the Chicago Botanic Gardens in Glencoe.

From Glencoe, you can pick up the Green Bay Trail to the North Shore. Since the trail is fully paved, it also is frequented by runners and bicyclists, so it's important to keep that in mind and be aware of who is around you while you see the sights.

Deer Grove is the oldest property of the Cook County Forest Preserve District and offers miles of hiking trails through wetland, prairie and dense woodlands. About 4 miles (6.5 km) of trails are paved, with another 10 miles (16 km) unpaved and more difficult.

The unpaved trails are popular with more experienced hikers and mountain bike enthusiasts. These trails offer a wide range of different experiences in the outdoors. You'll walk through wet swamps, rolling green prairies and deep, shaded, green canopies of wooded areas. It's a serene path that also offers outstanding opportunities for wildlife viewing in the Palatine suburb west of downtown.

The Des Plaines River Trail is a continuous dirt and gravel hiking path that stretches 31.5 miles (51 km) of Lake County along the Des Plaines River. The entire trail is scenic and offers stunning views of the clear, flowing waters. In the north, it crosses through several nature preserves with thick green canopies above.

The trail is popular among hikers and mountain bikers, and it's ideal for spreading a picnic lunch, looking for local wildlife, birdwatching and viewing various species of plants and trees. You can pick up the trail right in downtown Chicago.