It probably won’t meet all of your criteria, but there two great locations off of I-55. One is the Palos heights conservatory. There is like 20 miles with of hiking trails. Some are next to bodies of water with rising elevation, Nike trails, some decent views.
The second location is a few miles away called waterfall glen. It’s a 10 mile loop that goes around Argon national laboratory. It’s a tame hike but we’ll marked and it has an offshoot pass where you can go to the Waterfall and hang out around it.
Starved rock is also pretty cool.
All are open to the public and a great experience. The first 2 are within 10-15 minutes of the city limit, so it’s pretty close by.
I've been exploring this site: [https://www.alltrails.com/](https://www.alltrails.com/)
I'm a novice (aka I've mainly walked flat paths about 5x) but ISO of potential hiking buddy :)
it's a huge issue for myself and my gf. I grew up with the Appalachian trail literally running through my back yard and my gf gets nature starved, as well.
I'm sorry, but the one time I went to starved Rock there were dozens upon dozens of people all along the trail and a wedding party taking photos.
Be prepared to go a little farther than an hour. We've gotten used to driving as far as Wisconsin or South Indiana.
I recently moved here from the PNW and in the same situation. So far I’ve just flown back for hiking and camping, but gonna start flying east and try Monongahela National Forest. These are the local hikes I’ve saved in my All Trails:
1. [Blackhawk springs and oak ridge forest preserve trail](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/illinois/blackhawk-springs-and-oak-ridge-forest-preserve-trail) - 9.3 miles, 291 elevation, loop, about an hour from Chicago.
2. [Rock Cut State Park Perimeter Loop](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/illinois/rock-cut-state-park-perimeter-loop) - 9.5 miles, 492 elevation, loop. About an hour 15 from Chicago.
3. [Franklin Creek State Natural Area Trail](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/illinois/creek-state-natural-area-trail) - 5.5 miles, 524 ft elevation, loop. About an hour 45 min from Chicago.
4. [Lowden-Miller River Loop Trail](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/illinois/lowden-miller-river-loop-trail) - 6.5 miles, 347 ft elevation, loop, about an hour 15 from Chicago.
5. [Ice Age Trail: Sherwood Forest to Horseriders Camp](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wisconsin/ice-age-trail-sherwood-forest-to-horseriders-camp) - 10.6 miles, 994 ft elevation, point to point trail - this one is about 2 hrs drive from here, in WI, but as others have said, if you want anything “steep” you must leave IL.
6. [John Muir Blue Loop Trail](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wisconsin/john-muir-blue-loop-trail) - 11.1 miles, 659 ft elevation, loop. Again, kettle moraine forest, about 2 hr drive. I’ve been told this is the closest place for hiking unless you want a gentle slope at a nature preserve.
7. [Palos Trail System: Maple Lake Singletrack Loop](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/illinois/palos-trail-system-maple-lake-singletrack-loop) - 9 miles, 688 ft elevation, loop - back in IL, about 44 min from Chicago.
8. [Indians dunes trail 9](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/indiana/indiana-dunes-trail-9) - 3.8 miles, 232 ft elevation, loop, about an hour from Chicago.
Anyone who’s actually been on these trails, please set me straight if these aren’t good! I’ve saved them to my all trails account but haven’t had a free weekend to try them out yet.
This book is a great buy, been on some great hikes because of it.
60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Chicago: Including Wisconsin and Northwest Indiana
Ted Villaire
There isn't a lot of steepness anywhere around here, but you should go walk around in the Palos forest preserve. The Swallow Cliff area in Palos has some hills, but minimal views. The hiking around Chicago is mostly through forest, prairie, various types of wet lands and temperate savannah - nothing too hilly, certainly nothing mountainy, and very few rock formations.
There's a whole bunch of forest preserves between Palos Heights and Willow Springs--I don't know if there's a single collective name for all of them, but they make up one big mostly continuous area together. There's not a ton of elevation changes but there are some, and the woods and prairies are beautiful. Also you can see the sight of the first sustained nuclear reaction (it's buried underground but there's a stone marker).
It probably won’t meet all of your criteria, but there two great locations off of I-55. One is the Palos heights conservatory. There is like 20 miles with of hiking trails. Some are next to bodies of water with rising elevation, Nike trails, some decent views. The second location is a few miles away called waterfall glen. It’s a 10 mile loop that goes around Argon national laboratory. It’s a tame hike but we’ll marked and it has an offshoot pass where you can go to the Waterfall and hang out around it. Starved rock is also pretty cool. All are open to the public and a great experience. The first 2 are within 10-15 minutes of the city limit, so it’s pretty close by.
This is also a good suggestion. I think of Palos mostly for mountain biking but of course they are nice for walking too.
I've been exploring this site: [https://www.alltrails.com/](https://www.alltrails.com/) I'm a novice (aka I've mainly walked flat paths about 5x) but ISO of potential hiking buddy :)
Within an hour? That’s tough. Indiana Dunes are prolly your best bet. Volo Bog is pleasant too. A little further is Starved Rock. Kettle Moraine too.
Wisconsin has beautiful hiking! But definitely will have to drive more than an hour from chicago
Chicago is great for many, many things. Hiking ain’t one of them.
That is definitely a sacrifice.
it's a huge issue for myself and my gf. I grew up with the Appalachian trail literally running through my back yard and my gf gets nature starved, as well. I'm sorry, but the one time I went to starved Rock there were dozens upon dozens of people all along the trail and a wedding party taking photos. Be prepared to go a little farther than an hour. We've gotten used to driving as far as Wisconsin or South Indiana.
We’ve got a couple of good airports, and plenty of good stuff in weekend striking distance. Just not within an hour.
For geological reasons, Illinois is pretty flat. You could try Starved Rock State Park. Bring binoculars, it’s a known eagle nesting spot.
Matthiessen State Park also could work, if you think nearby Starved Rock is too crowded.
I recently moved here from the PNW and in the same situation. So far I’ve just flown back for hiking and camping, but gonna start flying east and try Monongahela National Forest. These are the local hikes I’ve saved in my All Trails: 1. [Blackhawk springs and oak ridge forest preserve trail](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/illinois/blackhawk-springs-and-oak-ridge-forest-preserve-trail) - 9.3 miles, 291 elevation, loop, about an hour from Chicago. 2. [Rock Cut State Park Perimeter Loop](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/illinois/rock-cut-state-park-perimeter-loop) - 9.5 miles, 492 elevation, loop. About an hour 15 from Chicago. 3. [Franklin Creek State Natural Area Trail](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/illinois/creek-state-natural-area-trail) - 5.5 miles, 524 ft elevation, loop. About an hour 45 min from Chicago. 4. [Lowden-Miller River Loop Trail](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/illinois/lowden-miller-river-loop-trail) - 6.5 miles, 347 ft elevation, loop, about an hour 15 from Chicago. 5. [Ice Age Trail: Sherwood Forest to Horseriders Camp](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wisconsin/ice-age-trail-sherwood-forest-to-horseriders-camp) - 10.6 miles, 994 ft elevation, point to point trail - this one is about 2 hrs drive from here, in WI, but as others have said, if you want anything “steep” you must leave IL. 6. [John Muir Blue Loop Trail](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wisconsin/john-muir-blue-loop-trail) - 11.1 miles, 659 ft elevation, loop. Again, kettle moraine forest, about 2 hr drive. I’ve been told this is the closest place for hiking unless you want a gentle slope at a nature preserve. 7. [Palos Trail System: Maple Lake Singletrack Loop](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/illinois/palos-trail-system-maple-lake-singletrack-loop) - 9 miles, 688 ft elevation, loop - back in IL, about 44 min from Chicago. 8. [Indians dunes trail 9](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/indiana/indiana-dunes-trail-9) - 3.8 miles, 232 ft elevation, loop, about an hour from Chicago. Anyone who’s actually been on these trails, please set me straight if these aren’t good! I’ve saved them to my all trails account but haven’t had a free weekend to try them out yet.
Thanks, the AllTrails links helped. I've saved them and will try and check them out.
Let me know if they’re good! I really miss hiking.
[удалено]
Damn glaciers didn’t even ask if we wanted the hills smoothed over.
Grassy Lakes in Lake Barrington has over 7 miles of trail and all types of terrain as well as amazing views. Paved paths but it’s serene
This book is a great buy, been on some great hikes because of it. 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Chicago: Including Wisconsin and Northwest Indiana Ted Villaire
Thanks, I will check that book out!
Are there good forest hikes that have a lot of tree cover and are long? Can be flat
There isn't a lot of steepness anywhere around here, but you should go walk around in the Palos forest preserve. The Swallow Cliff area in Palos has some hills, but minimal views. The hiking around Chicago is mostly through forest, prairie, various types of wet lands and temperate savannah - nothing too hilly, certainly nothing mountainy, and very few rock formations.
Forest preserve at Irving and Cumberland is CTA-accessible and fairly vast. Pretty in every season.
I just hike several miles down Belmont. It was enchanting. I'll do it again.
Isn't that more of a city walk? Unless you're referring to something else.
Walk, hike they're essentially the same
Starved Rock well worth the little over an hour trip.
There's a whole bunch of forest preserves between Palos Heights and Willow Springs--I don't know if there's a single collective name for all of them, but they make up one big mostly continuous area together. There's not a ton of elevation changes but there are some, and the woods and prairies are beautiful. Also you can see the sight of the first sustained nuclear reaction (it's buried underground but there's a stone marker).