View Full Version : Chicagoland area dayhikes?
Hello, first post here :)
Anyway, I was wondering if anyone in the Chicago area could direct me to some good practice dayhikes or weekenders. I'm fairly new to the area, and any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. If it helps, I'm in Naperville, Il and would like to start out close, but 2 hours away is not unreasonable to me. Thanks very much in advance.
johnnybgood
09-15-2012, 11:22
I went the Indiana Sand Dunes 20+ years ago when visiting family in Chicago and remember hiking a trail that had some decent elevation gain.
http//:www.yelp.com/biz/indiana-dunes-state-park-chesterton (http://www.yelp.com/biz/indiana-dunes-state-park-chesterton)
Yay for fellow Chicagoans! I've gone to Forest Trails Hiking Club's events before (http://www.foresttrailshc.com/). They'll do day hikes - 10-12 miles in 3-4 hours - and all within a couple hours. I haven't gone this year, but IIRC everyone was super nice and welcoming.
Thanks so much for the welcome and the suggestions :) I'll definitely check those out.
I grew up in Valparaiso, Indiana in Chicagoland -- that dunes trail is the one that I'd hiked when I was training for football and there is definitely elevation gain.
You might also look at northern lower peninsula of Michigan for more remoteness in hiking -- Jordan River Trail for instance or the Manistee River Trail. Search out the Great Lakes Hiking group -- lots of fun hiking with those people over weekends trips.
Datto
turtle fast
09-16-2012, 02:37
In southern Wisconsin, try the Ice Age Trail or the Emma Carlin trail in the Southern Kettle Moraine State Park. The scenery is varied from forest, oak openings, to prarie and much in between. A lot of fellow hikers from the Chicagoland area visit the area.
Hello, first post here :)
Anyway, I was wondering if anyone in the Chicago area could direct me to some good practice dayhikes or weekenders. I'm fairly new to the area, and any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. If it helps, I'm in Naperville, Il and would like to start out close, but 2 hours away is not unreasonable to me. Thanks very much in advance.
For day hikes Palos and Waterfall Glenn are great. For overnights try Kettle Morain South in WI. It has a 30 mile section of the ice age trail. See link.
http://www.backpacker.com/rip-and-go-ice-age-trail/destinations/14399
Book shelter space early. It sells out.
There is a book called 60 hikes within 60 miles of Chicago.
johnnybgood
09-16-2012, 16:54
For day hikes Palos and Waterfall Glenn are great. For overnights try Kettle Morain South in WI. It has a 30 mile section of the ice age trail. See link.
http://www.backpacker.com/rip-and-go-ice-age-trail/destinations/14399
Book shelter space early. It sells out.
There is a book called 60 hikes within 60 miles of Chicago.
Great Information here Milo ! This looks to be what the OP was looking for.
Lyte-w8-hyker
09-16-2012, 16:55
I lived in naperville for over 10 years. Dupage county forest preserves arent too bad. Starved rock is cool too. But overall Chicago sucks for wilderness and nature. It just dosent exist. I and M canal is ok for biking
Old Boots
09-16-2012, 19:39
Rail to Trail offers some hikes along the Michigan Illinois Canal. You could go to Starved Rock State Park where ther are several short hikes.
wow lots of great information. thanks everyone! and I will definitely get that book, sounds perfect.
I hiked at this place and it was pretty good for dayhike - http://fpdcc.com/downloads/maps/pdf/R6.pdf
Starved Rock State Park is a must see adventure for hikers/campers. Ask the Park Rangers how to get to "Little Rock" which is south/down river from the main lodge. Go down to the Vermilion river and then hike up river to Starved Rock you'll pass by Little Rock.
Illinois Michigan Canal is another good place to day hikes.
http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/parks/i&m/main.htm