Chicago, IL Hike Trails and Maps

1380 Reviews

Looking for the best Hike trails around Chicago?

Find the top rated hike trails in Chicago, whether you're looking for an easy short hike trail or a long hike trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a hike trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.

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Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type
119 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

312 RiverRun

1.1 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Almond Road Bike Path

1.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Bartlett Trail

1.23 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Bloomingdale Trail (The 606)

2.7 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete

Busse Woods Trail

11.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete

Cal-Sag Trail

13.7 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Centennial Trail (IL)

13 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Chesapeake and Ohio Greenway

1.9 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

Chicago Lakefront Trail

19 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete

ComEd Greenway

2 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Danada and Herrick Lake Regional Trail

5.8 mi
State: IL
Crushed Stone

Deer Grove Trail

3.9 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Des Plaines River Trail

56.1 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel

DuPage River Trail

33.1 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Erie Lackawanna Trail

17.6 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

Fox River Trail (IL)

45.7 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Grant Woods Bike Path

5.9 mi
State: IL
Crushed Stone

Great American Rail-Trail

3743.9 mi
State: DC, IA, ID, IL, IN, MD, MT, NE, OH, PA, WA, WV, WY
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Great Western Trail (DeKalb, Kane)

18 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Great Western Trail (DuPage)

13.1 mi
State: IL
Crushed Stone
Accordion

Hickory Creek Bikeway

3.7 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Illinois Prairie Path

58.52 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Iron Horse Heritage Trail

2.4 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

John Husar I&M Canal Trail

8.9 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Kankakee River Trail

10.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Kuhn Road Trail

1.4 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Lake Arlington Walking Path

2 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Lincolnwood Valley Line Trail

1.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Major Taylor Trail

7.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Marquette Trail

2.1 mi
State: IN
Crushed Stone

Middlefork Savanna Trail

4.3 mi
State: IL
Crushed Stone, Gravel

Millennium Trail (IL)

30.7 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Moraine Hills State Park Trail

11.4 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

North Branch Trail

21.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

North Central DuPage Regional Trail

11.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

North Shore Channel Trail

6.7 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete, Dirt

Oak Savannah Trail

10.2 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

Old Plank Road Trail (IL)

21.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Palatine Trail

9.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete

Pennsy Greenway

14.5 mi
State: IL, IN
Asphalt

Prairie Duneland Trail

11.2 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

Prairie Trail (IL)

26.4 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel

Route 30 Bikeway

7.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Salt Creek Trail (IL)

26.7 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Cinder, Woodchips

Southern Dupage County Regional Trail

46 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Spring Creek Greenway Trail

8.45 mi
State: IL
Boardwalk, Crushed Stone

Tall Grass Greenway Trail

3.83 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Thorn Creek Trail

17.2 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Timber Ridge Trail

1 mi
State: IL
Gravel

Tinley Creek Trail (North)

24 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Tinley Creek Trail (South)

3.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Valley Line Trail

1.1 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Veterans Memorial Trail (IL)

2.7 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Virgil L. Gilman Trail

11.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Waterfall Glen

9.5 mi
State: IL
Crushed Stone, Grass

Buffalo Creek Trail

3.2 mi
State: IL
Crushed Stone

Burnham Greenway

5.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Chain O' Lakes Bike Path

3.2 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Dunes Kankakee Trail

1.8 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

Fermilab Trail

5.7 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete

Gary Green Link Trail

2 mi
State: IN
Asphalt, Concrete

Green Bay Trail

8.9 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Illinois & Michigan Canal State Trail

79.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Grass, Gravel

Joliet Junction Trail

4.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Lake George Trail

3.1 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

Little Calumet River Levee Trail

13 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

Monon Trail (Lake County)

4.4 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

North Shore Bike Path

7.7 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Northerly Island Trail

1 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete

Orland Park Bikeway

6.7 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Boardwalk, Concrete, Gravel

Poplar Creek Trail

9.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Randall Road Bike Trail

3.9 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Robert McClory Bike Path

25.4 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Rock Run Greenway Trail

12.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Singing Sands Trail

3.6 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

Skokie Valley Trail (Lake County)

9.8 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Techny Trail

3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete

Union Pacific Recreation Path

1.2 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Waubonsie Trail

3.2 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Wauponsee Glacial Trail

22.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Blackberry Trail

1.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Calumet Trail

9.1 mi
State: IN
Crushed Stone

Chessie Trail

1.45 mi
State: IN
Asphalt, Concrete

East Northbrook Trail

1.1 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

El Paseo

0.1 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Grove Road Trail

3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Lake Renwick Bikeway

3.35 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Prospect Heights Bike Path

4.2 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Phyllis Harmon Path

1.1 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Ridgefield Trace

8 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Oswego Prairie Trail

0.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Vale Park West Pathway

0.7 mi
State: IN
Concrete

Bull Valley Road Shared-Use Path

1.1 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Commonwealth Edison Bikeway

1.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Fairview Walking Trail

0.7 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

Fort Beggs Bike Trail (North)

1.4 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Fort Beggs Bike Trail (South)

2.1 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Fort Hill Bike Path

2.4 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Great Divide Bike Trail

1 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Lake Andrea Multi-Use Path

2.3 mi
State: WI
Asphalt

Lies Road Trail

2.8 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Lily Cache Greenway

2.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Lincoln Memorial Trail

1.8 mi
State: IN
Asphalt, Concrete

Orchard Road Trail

4.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Orland Grassland Trail

8 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Palos Heights Bike Trail

2 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Prairie Crossing Bike Path

3.7 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Prairie Farms Trail

1.8 mi
State: WI
Crushed Stone, Dirt

Prairie Point Trail

2 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Preservation Path

2.1 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Stearns Road Bike Path

3.54 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Struckman Boulevard Bike Path

1.1 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Turkey Creek Trail

0.8 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

Veterans Memorial Trail (IN)

1.9 mi
State: IN
Asphalt
Trail Image Trail Name States Length Surface Rating
The 312 RiverRun is a 1.1-mile biking and walking trail located on Chicago's northside along the North Branch of the Chicago River, nestled between Gordon Tech High School and Lane Tech High School....
IL 1.1 mi Asphalt
This bike path sits on the east side of Almond Road between Washington Street and Fairfield Lane in Gurnee. The 8-foot wide asphalt path is used by residents as a spot for exercise and recreation, but...
IL 1.5 mi Asphalt
The Bartlett Trail is a recreational trail in the Village of Bartlett, Du Page county. Though short, the trail is conveniently located as a space for exercise, while providing a safe route to school...
IL 1.23 mi Asphalt
The Bloomingdale Trail, part of “The 606” park system, is a 3-mile, elevated rail-trail on Chicago’s northwest side. Built on a former rail line, the trail sits 17 feet above four of the city’s...
IL 2.7 mi Asphalt, Concrete
Overview    The Busse Woods Trail spans the Ned Brown Forest Preserve, a 3,700-acre natural space in the northwestern suburbs of Chicago. The preserve—popularly just called Busse Woods—has a large...
IL 11.6 mi Asphalt, Concrete
Closure Notice: The trail is closed at the 127th Street bridge until the end of 2024. Overview The Cal-Sag Trail (also known as the Calumet-Sag Trail) runs for 13.7 miles and connects several...
IL 13.7 mi Asphalt
Illinois’ Centennial Trail runs through parts of three suburban counties from Willow Springs Road to Romeo Road/135th Street southwest of Chicago. The trail occupies a thin strip of land between the...
IL 13 mi Asphalt
The Chesapeake and Ohio Greenway (also referred to as the C&O Trail) offers a short, paved route through Merrillville, a town just a few miles south of Gary and the southern tip of Lake Michigan. The...
IN 1.9 mi Asphalt
The Chicago Lakefront Trail is aptly named; it spans 19 miles along the shore of Lake Michigan, going right through downtown Chicago and passing many cultural and tourist attractions throughout the...
IL 19 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The ComEd Greenway is an asphalt multiuse pathway running north-south through the village of Bollingbrook. The trail's name is an abbreviation of Commonwealth Edison, the name of the electric utility...
IL 2 mi Asphalt
This regional trail connects two of DuPage County's forest preserves—Herrick Lake and Danada—on a crushed stone pathway nearly 6 miles long. Together, the preserves cover more than 1,600 acres of...
IL 5.8 mi Crushed Stone
The Deer Grove Trail is one of several great Chicagoland trails located in properties of the Forest Preserve of Cook County. Deer Grove is the oldest of all the Cook County preserves. It's comprised...
IL 3.9 mi Asphalt
Closure notice: Between 02/01/2024 and 06/30/2024, between W Higgins Rd and W Bryn Mawr Ave will have periodic closures and/or full closure restrictions due to construction activities. Check the...
IL 56.1 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel
The DuPage River Trail spans over 30 miles across two counties: DuPage and Will. It's currently open in several disconnected segments mainly in parks and forest preserves beginning in Warrenville and...
IL 33.1 mi Asphalt
Overview The Erie Lackawanna Trail runs for 17.6 miles and connects Crown Point and Hammond, two former rail junctions whose early fortunes were tied to the tracks carrying people and goods to and...
IN 17.6 mi Asphalt
Overview The Fox River Trail (FRT) was built on stretches of three former railroads: Chicago, Aurora & Elgin; Aurora, Elgin, & Fox River Electric; and Chicago & North Western. Today, it hosts a...
IL 45.7 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
About an hour northwest of Chicago, the beautiful Grant Woods Forest Preserve spans more than 1,000 acres, offering an outdoor respite of prairie, woodlands and marshes. The crushed limestone pathway...
IL 5.9 mi Crushed Stone
Note: This developing route is not yet fully contiguous – it is just over 50% complete. Please refer to the Trail Map for more information on the existing sections of trail, as well as the online...
DC, IA, ID, IL, IN, MD, MT, NE, OH, PA, WA, WV, WY 3743.9 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
The western segment of the Great Western Trail in Illinois follows 18 miles of a former railway corridor through DeKalb and Kane counties, between Sycamore Forest Preserve in the City of Sycamore and...
IL 18 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The eastern segment of the Great Western Trail in Illinois follows 13 miles of an abandoned railway corridor through DuPage County, between Villa Park and West Chicago. There are plans to extend the...
IL 13.1 mi Crushed Stone
Accordion
The Hickory Creek Bikeway offers nearly 4 miles of paved pathway through a wooded preserve. On its western end, the trail begins at Hickory Creek Barrens Nature Preserve and Lincolnway Road; on the...
IL 3.7 mi Asphalt
Overview The Illinois Prairie Path (IPP) was one of the nation’s first rail-trail conversions. The 58-mile trail consists of five connected trail segments with three main branches that converge...
IL 58.52 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
The Iron Horse Heritage Trail in Portage, Indiana, runs for over 2 miles between Max Mochal Road (SR 149) at the east end and Hamstrom Rd. at the west end. The trail passes through a greenway corridor...
IN 2.4 mi Asphalt
The John Husar I&M Canal Trail is the northernmost trail developed on the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor. The Illinois & Michigan Canal provided the final link in the water route...
IL 8.9 mi Asphalt
The Kankakee River Trail is fairly wooded and runs primarily through Kankakee River State Park. Walkers, bicyclists, and cross-country skiers can enjoy more than ten miles of trail along the north...
IL 10.6 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
Overview The Kenosha County Bike Trail runs for nearly 8 miles in two sections separated by couple miles with the city of Kenosha. About the Route The northern segment runs between 1st St....
WI 7.9 mi Asphalt
Helping to forge a connection between the northern and southern segments of the Kenosha County Bike Trail, the Kenosha Pike Bike Trail also has plenty to offer in its own right, giving trail users a...
WI 6.95 mi Concrete
The Kuhn Road Trail starts on Lies Road, at Glenbard North High School and continues south along Kuhn Road, past single-family homes and Friendship Park. The trail officially ends at Barbara O'Rahilly...
IL 1.4 mi Asphalt
Lake Arlington is an artificial lake and popular recreation area in Arlington Heights in Cook County. The park features amenities to interest visitors of all ages and it is a local favorite for family...
IL 2 mi Asphalt
The Lincolnwood Valley Line Trail connects the existing Valley Line Trail (Sauganash Trail) to the Skokie Valley Trail in Cook County.  Like the previous segments, this trail occupies a former Union...
IL 1.3 mi Asphalt
The Major Taylor Trail is named after legendary African American cyclist Marshall “Major” Taylor, who was one of the most celebrated bicycle racers of the late nineteenth century, setting several...
IL 7.6 mi Asphalt
The Marquette Trail is part of the Marquette Greenway, which will one day span more than 50 miles through Northwest Indiana, connecting communities along the southern shore of Lake Michigan. The...
IN 2.1 mi Crushed Stone
The Middlefork Savanna Forest Preserve is a natural gem hidden in an high-income neighborhood of Lake Forest, Illinois.  Those 600 acres are home to perhaps the best-preserved example of the rare...
IL 4.3 mi Crushed Stone, Gravel
The Millennium Trail currently spans just over 30 miles in two disconnected segments, but there are plans to extend it to 35 miles and connect it to the Des Plaines River Trail. The trail goes through...
IL 30.7 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
Moraine Hills State Park Trail offers a wonderful experience for any geology or nature aficionado. A moraine is an accumulation of earth and stones carried and finally deposited by a glacier....
IL 11.4 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The North Branch Trail follows the North Branch of the Chicago River over 20 miles through Cook County. The trail was originally a dirt path often used for horseback riding; though it’s now paved, an...
IL 21.3 mi Asphalt
The North Central DuPage Regional Trail stretches 11.6 miles in four segments between the communities of Wayne in the west and Roselle in the east. This paved, multiuse trail provides residents and...
IL 11.6 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The North Shore Channel Trail extends from the junction of Green Bay Road and McCormick Boulevard in northern Evanston to the junction of Lawrence Avenue and Francisco Avenue in Chicago. All but the...
IL 6.7 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Dirt
First-time visitors to the Oak Savannah Trail might be surprised at the profusion of natural areas they’ll encounter as they travel the 10.3 miles between Hobart and Griffith in northern Indiana’s...
IN 10.2 mi Asphalt
Overview Running between the suburbs of Chicago Heights and Joliet, the Old Plank Road Trail runs for 21.6 miles and offers views of oak trees and sugar maples, prairie grasses, and wildflowers...
IL 21.6 mi Asphalt
The village of Palatine has connected many of its community assets with two long sections of off-road, multi-use trail. The more popular northern section is the one most references call simply and...
IL 9.6 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The Pennsy Greenway stretches between Calumet City, Illinois, and Schererville, Indiana. The trail begins at the southern end of the Burnham Greenway on the eastern edge of the Forest Preserve...
IL, IN 14.5 mi Asphalt
Prairies and dunes are just two of the natural features you’ll experience on the Prairie Duneland Trail, located just a few miles south of the Lake Michigan shoreline and the Indiana Dunes National...
IN 11.2 mi Asphalt
Overview The Prairie Trail runs the length of McHenry County and is managed by the McHenry County Conservation District. The rail trail spans just over 26 miles from the Wisconsin border and the...
IL 26.4 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel
The 4.4-mile River Bend Trail is so named for the loop of Fox River along which it follows on its eastern end. It's here that you can connect to the scenic Fox River Trail to travel 43 miles along the...
IL 4.4 mi Asphalt
Leave the cars at home: the Route 30 Bike Path gives users an alternative way to travel from the Village of Frankfort in the east, through Mokena to New Lenox in the west, a distance of over 7.5...
IL 7.6 mi Asphalt
Closure Notice: Starting 05/01/2023 through 12/31/2026, there will be intermittent trail closures under the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) bridge, spanning from Ogden Ave to 31st St due to ongoing...
IL 26.7 mi Asphalt, Cinder, Woodchips
The Skokie Valley Trail in Cook County parallels active train tracks in the Village of Skokie, providing easy access to both the Oakton–Skokie and Dempster–Skokie stations on the CTA’s Yellow Line....
IL 2 mi Asphalt
The Southern Dupage County Regional Trail connects multiple of the larger forest preserves in Dupage county together. Starting near the intersection of 75th st and Ogden Ave in Aurora, the trail runs...
IL 46 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The Spring Creek Greenway Trail, separated into distinct eastern and western portions of the trail, spans 8.45 miles throughout two distinct sections of preserved and protected lands. At its...
IL 8.45 mi Boardwalk, Crushed Stone
The Tall Grass Greenway Trail is a trail that runs along the right of way for ComEd powerlines. The trail goes mainly through neighborhoods in south Naperville, and meets up with the south branch of...
IL 3.83 mi Asphalt
The Thorn Creek Trail offers a paved route traversing woodlands abundant with wildlife through several communities on the southern outskirts of Chicago.  The trail travels from Brownwell Woods in...
IL 17.2 mi Asphalt
The Timber Ridge trail is located on the eastern side of the Timber Ridge Forest Preserve in west Chicago. The preserve offers several trails, fishing, picnicking, and is home to Kline Creek Farms,...
IL 1 mi Gravel
The northern section of the Tinley Creek Trail is a series of color-coded connected loops and spurs that weave through several forest preserves in Cook County. The 24-mile trail system is paved,...
IL 24 mi Asphalt
The Tinley Creek Trail is currently in two segments. This southern segment is within the South Green Belt Forest Preserve between Flossmor and Matteson, just west of I-57. The trail traverses wooded...
IL 3.6 mi Asphalt
Just 1 mile long, the Valley Line Trail—also known as the Sauganash Trail—extends between Bryn Mawr Avenue and Devon Avenue in the Chicago neighborhood of Sauganash. Two bridges allow for safe...
IL 1.1 mi Asphalt
Although just shy of three miles, the Veterans Memorial Trail provides a wooded, paved trail experience for residents in the Chicago suburbs of Romeoville, Lemont, and Woodridge. Those seeking a...
IL 2.7 mi Asphalt
Overview The Virgil L. Gilman Trail travels from quiet forest and prairie lands to bustling neighborhoods in just 11.3 miles, linking a woodsy community college campus with the eastern Chicago...
IL 11.3 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
Overview The trail system in Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve makes a loop around the entire park and totals 9.5 miles. About the Route The Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve is geologically...
IL 9.5 mi Crushed Stone, Grass
The Buffalo Creek Trail makes a loop around the scenic Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve in Long Grove. The crushed-gravel trail provides access to facilities throughout the park. Along the way, you’ll...
IL 3.2 mi Crushed Stone
The Burnham Greenway is composed of two distinct portions that both run along a former railroad corridor between Chicago and Lansing, Illinois. There are plans to extend and connect these short...
IL 5.3 mi Asphalt
The Chain O' Lakes Bike Path is a paved trail that runs between E. Grand Avenue in Fox Lake and Grant Woods Forest Preserve to the east. The trail parallels the railroad track and Rollins Road/CR 31,...
IL 3.2 mi Asphalt
The Dunes Kankakee Trail is a 1.8-mile walking and bike path that carries trail users throughout Indiana Dunes National Park.  Starting at the trail's southern endpoint just outside the park at the...
IN 1.8 mi Asphalt
The Fermilab Trail garners its name by running though the campus of the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab), the former home of the Tevatron particle accelerator. The 3.9-mile particle...
IL 5.7 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The Gary Green Link Trail is part of the Buchanan Street Green Gateway project and follows the Grand Calumet River starting at Bridge Street on its way to Broadway at City Hall. It is about 4.4 miles...
IN 2 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The 9-mile Green Bay Trail runs parallel to Chicago's Metra commuter rail line north of the Chicago city limits. Stretching through North Shore towns such as Kenilworth, Winnetka, Highland Park and...
IL 8.9 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
The Illinois and Michigan Canal State Trail follows the eponymous waterway alongside the Illinois River. It traverses the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor, designated in 1984 and the first...
IL 79.5 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Grass, Gravel
The Joliet Junction Trail is a paved path that travels north–south through the west side of Joliet. It occupies an abandoned Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway corridor that in its last years was known...
IL 4.3 mi Asphalt
As the name suggests, the Lake George trail travels along the north shore of Lake George, turning north at Calumet Ave/US 41 to skirt the east shore of Wolf Lake. From Lake George the trail also heads...
IN 3.1 mi Asphalt
The Little Calumet River Levee Trail zig-zags east-west between Gary and Munster in Lake County, bringing residents to the river and its wetlands, and offering ample opportunities for birding and...
IN 13 mi Asphalt
The Monon Trail in Lake County, Indiana—not to be confused with the trail of the same name in Indianapolis—links the two Chicago suburbs of Hammond and Munster. The paved trail occupies an abandoned...
IN 4.4 mi Asphalt
The North Shore Bike Path runs for nearly 8 miles between Lake Bluff and Mundelein, paralleling State Route 176 for the path's entire length. The trail is one of dozens in the Chicagoland area, all of...
IL 7.7 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
Note: Erosion caused by surging waves off Lake Michigan has caused the trail to collapse in sections. The eastern half of the trail along Lake Michigan is closed indefinitely. See the Chicago Park...
IL 1 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The Orland Park Bikeway provides a great connector across the Chicago suburb of Orland Park. On its southern end, the trail begins at W 159th Street and winds its way through Centennial Park, which...
IL 6.7 mi Asphalt, Boardwalk, Concrete, Gravel
The Paul Douglas and Crabtree Preserve Trail System connects two large nature preserves in northwestern Cook County. The trail begins at the Old Stover Trailhead in the Crabtree Preserve, near the...
IL 9.2 mi Asphalt
The Poplar Creek Trail is a 9.5-mile paved loop around Poplar Creek Forest Preserve near Hoffman Estates. The trail has a couple of hills but is otherwise level and makes for a pleasant journey...
IL 9.5 mi Asphalt
The Randall Road Bike Trail offers a 4-mile paved north-south route along its namesake roadway in a suburb west of Chicago. A highlight of the journey is the trail's passage through the LeRoy Oakes...
IL 3.9 mi Asphalt
Overview The Robert McClory Bike Path runs the length of Lake County, knitting together a string of communities on the north shore of Chicago all the way to the Wisconsin border. In 1997, the trail...
IL 25.4 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
The popular Rock Run Greenway Trail is a balanced mix of natural areas and cityscapes that alternate over the length of the trail. The natural areas are frequented by recreational users. The...
IL 12.3 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
The Singing Sands Trail stretches over 4 miles across Michigan City. The paved trail picks up from the eastern end of the Calumet Trail at US/12 at the border of Porter and LaPorte Counties. The trail...
IN 3.6 mi Asphalt
Overview The Skokie Valley Trail connects Highland Park in the south to the northern trailhead in Lake Bluff. The entire trail corridor is a rail-with-trail, paralleled by double tracks that sit...
IL 9.8 mi Asphalt
The Techny Trail links downtown Glenview, a charming village northwest of Chicago, with the Techny Basin, a scenic wetlands area adjacent to the West Fork of the Chicago River's North Branch....
IL 3 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The Union Pacific Recreation Path offers a short route through the Village of Lincolnwood's east side between Devon and Touhy avenues. Following the former Union Pacific Railroad, the rail-trail...
IL 1.2 mi Asphalt
The Waubonsie Trail links Boulder Hill and the Village of Oswego via a greenway corridor within a residential community. The eastern trailhead is in Jaycee Park, which offers a playground, picnic...
IL 3.2 mi Asphalt
In just a few short miles, the Wauponsee Glacial Trail leaves the urban confines of Joliet to bask in open farmland and reclaimed tallgrass prairie where the bison roam again. Named for a glacial lake...
IL 22.3 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
Blackberry Trail follows a stretch of Blackberry Creek in Montgomery, Illinois. The trail is accessible from the forest preserve entrance at Caliendo Circle.  Heading north, the trail reaches Mayfield...
IL 1.5 mi Asphalt
The Calumet Trail traverses the south side of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, a unique ecosystem of forest, marsh, dunes and beach along Lake Michigan. This dirt and crushed limestone path...
IN 9.1 mi Crushed Stone
Although its current length is just over a mile, the small-but-mighty Chessie Trail will connect several parks in the northwestern Indiana city of La Porte. At its northern end, the paved pathway...
IN 1.45 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The East Northbrook Trail is a 1-mile route through a wooded corridor adjacent to an out-of-service rail corridor in the Village of Northbrook. The trail provides access to residential neighborhoods,...
IL 1.1 mi Asphalt
El Paseo runs through the vibrant Chicago neighborhood of Pilsen, once home to a large Czech population but now the center of the Lower West Side’s Latino community. The neighborhood is filled with...
IL 0.1 mi Asphalt
The Grove Road Trail parallels the local thoroughfare in the Village of Oswego, located near the southwestern edge of the Chicagoland metropolitan area. In the north, the trail begins on the east...
IL 3 mi Asphalt
Lake Renwick Preserve is home to an artificial lake of the same name that was created from former quarries where aggregates for concrete were once mined. Today, the lake is a recreational amenity in...
IL 3.35 mi Asphalt
Prospect Heights has very few sidewalks, so biking, inline skating or walking are moved to the streets or in the parks. Don't underestimate the Prospect Heights Bike Path which is over four miles of...
IL 4.2 mi Asphalt
Although the Phyllis Harmon Path is short, it's an important connector in an east-west bike/ped route between Arlington Heights and Glencoe. Following Dundee Road, the paved trail goes from the Des...
IL 1.1 mi Asphalt
The Ridgefield Trace is a multi-use pathway that runs through suburban Crystal Lake, Illinois. The trail takes its name from the original Indian trace that once ran along the route of what is now...
IL 8 mi Asphalt
The Oswego Prairie Trail is a short paved route that occupies an overhead electric utility corridor owned by Commonwealth Edison. The path forms a direct link between two parks in Oswego—Farmington...
IL 0.5 mi Asphalt
The Vale Park West Pathway is a multiuse trail in the Chicago suburb of Valparaiso. At 0.7 mile long, the trail passes through a mix of woodland and prairie, as well as over a creek on a 220-foot...
IN 0.7 mi Concrete
The Bull Valley Road Shared-Use Path travels along the south side of Bull Valley Road in the city of McHenry, Illinois. The paved path is suitable for non-motorized uses including walking, jogging,...
IL 1.1 mi Asphalt
The Commonwealth Edison Bikeway is a short paved trail that occupies an overhead electric utility corridor owned by Commonwealth Edison, the local utility company—hence the trail's name. While lacking...
IL 1.5 mi Asphalt
Following a former rail corridor for less than a mile through Lake Station, the Fairview Walking Trail is a flat and paved multiuse path. The rail-trail runs through a small linear park in a...
IN 0.7 mi Asphalt
The Fort Beggs Bike Trail (North) is a nearly mile-and-a-half long trail in Plainfield, Illinois. The trail shares the electric utility right-of-way, stretching from Fort Beggs Drive south to Spring...
IL 1.4 mi Asphalt
The city of Joliet saw its electric utility corridors as a recreational opportunity. One such trail is the Fort Beggs Bike Trail, which starts on Theodore Street and heads northwest in the shadow of...
IL 2.1 mi Asphalt
The Fort Hill Bike Path trail sits on the north side of Peterson Road/ County Road 20. The trail peels away from the Prairie Crossing Bike Path at Midlothian Road and extends west, passing industries...
IL 2.4 mi Asphalt
The Great Divide Trail sits is a one mile non-motorized trail through a negihborhood at the northern tip of Joliet, Illinois. The paved trail, which sits in the shadow of electric transmission lines,...
IL 1 mi Asphalt
The 2.3-mile multiuse trail wraps around Lake Andrea in Pleasant Springs Park. The trail is an easy walk, run or ride around the lake, and is accessible for a wide range of users. It also helps users...
WI 2.3 mi Asphalt
This shared-use path runs east-west through the village of Carol Stream in Du Page county. Sitting on the grassy north side of Lies Road between Fair Oaks Road and Gary Avenue, the path is used as an...
IL 2.8 mi Asphalt
The Lily Cache Greenway travels east-west across Bollingbrook, from the ComEd Greenway to the Plainfield border. The trail more or less follows the course of its namesake creek, and is characterized...
IL 2.5 mi Asphalt
The Lincoln Memorial Trail is a 1.8-mile multiuse path in the community of Westville, which is located just 15 minutes from Lake Michigan in Indiana's La Porte County.  The southwest trailhead on...
IN 1.8 mi Asphalt, Concrete
Located in the west side of Illinois' second largest city, this flat, straight bike path sits on the side of Orchard Road. The trail passes by commercial, residential and natural areas, and crucially,...
IL 4.5 mi Asphalt
The Orland Grassland trail is a perfect escape from the Chicago suburbs. The grassland itself is an Illinois Nature Preserve, and has been restored from farmland and now boasts 750 acres of...
IL 8 mi Asphalt
The Palos Heights Bike Trail offers a north-south route through residential and commercial areas on the west side of the community. It's also a key connector between two regionally important...
IL 2 mi Asphalt
The Prairie Crossing Bike Path is a hard surface trail connecting Mundelein to Grayslake in central Lake County, Illinois. The trail is perpendicular to the 30-plus-mile Millennium Trail, which it...
IL 3.7 mi Asphalt
With farmland to the east and the Des Plaines River Floodplain to the west, this picturesque trail is a relaxing adventure on two feet or on wheels. The crushed stone trail runs from Prairie Springs...
WI 1.8 mi Crushed Stone, Dirt
The Prairie Point Trail is a scenic neighborhood route that connects twice to the longer Grove Road Trail. While never far from houses, the trail offers surprising scenery, including a stretch along a...
IL 2 mi Asphalt
The Preservation Path is a two-mile paved trail in the community of Matteson, Illinois. The path begins on Vollmer Road and terminates at the Old Plank Road Trail. The trail is paved with center...
IL 2.1 mi Asphalt
The Stearns Road Bike Path is a dedicated sidepath traveling from Hanover Park to the Bartlett, in the Chicago suburbs. The asphalt path sits on the north side of Greenbrook Boulevard/ Stearns Road,...
IL 3.54 mi Asphalt
The Struckman Boulevard Path is just over a mile long, stretching between Bartlett Road and State Route 59, (although the path narrows from the end of Sunset Park up to the end on SR 59). That said,...
IL 1.1 mi Asphalt
Turkey Creek Trail is a short but sweet walk or ride through the beautiful Ivan Gatlin Nature Preserve in the northwestern Indiana community of Schererville. This wetland area provides the opportunity...
IN 0.8 mi Asphalt
When complete, the Veterans Memorial Trail will stretch close to 12 miles, connecting a series of memorials honoring US veterans from every era. At present, 1.9 miles are complete and usable, located...
IN 1.9 mi Asphalt

Recent Trail Reviews

North Branch Trail

Really lovely Chicago riding experience

May, 2024 by creischl

We rode from the parking lot near the corner of West Devon and N. Milwaukee in Norwood Park East up to the Chicago Botanic Garden and back, a total of just under 32 miles. The trail was in excellent condition--almost perfect asphalt surface, curvy, gentle hills and very shady. Most of the road crossings were quite easy--well regulated with lights or signage. We rode mid-day on a Friday in mid-May and there were only a few people on the trail (and one horse in the equestrian trail next to the bike/walk trail). We were on Class 1 e-bikes, following the 15mph speed limit, but did find that lots of people were speeding past us. The trail goes by many parks that include bathrooms and drinkable water.

We had planned to have lunch at the CBG, but found we'd have to buy tickets to enter ($23 pp). Apparently 3 years or so ago, you could get in for free and only had to pay for parking, as I had read in these reviews. We didn't have time to explore the garden so we ended up buying one ticket so one person could go in and purchase lunch for both us--we were hungry and did not want to ride busy roads to get to fast food places. There was a good picnic area by the parking lot where we could have our lunch.

CBG was a beautiful destination--you can ride through the perimeter of the garden with out buying a ticket. The Skokie Lagoon was also a wonderful natural area--full of deer and birds. I'd highly recommend this ride on the North Branch Trail if you're on Chicago's North Side.

Cal-Sag Trail

Great trail, but needs some TLC.

May, 2024 by skellyflash

I ran into minor construction on the 127th st. bridge, but the workers let me through no problem. The street crossings were annoying, but relatively safe. My only complaint is that the trail is somewhat dirty (especially at road crossings) and could use a good brush off and resurfacing.
I look forward to the day when this trail is completed to its proposed western terminus and connection with the Burnham Greenway!

Illinois & Michigan Canal State Trail

Awesome!

May, 2024 by skellyflash

I rode from the northernmost point (connection w/ the Centennial Trail) to Joliet. The gravel on this section was in great shape, although the pavement in some parts could use some love. There was minor flooding south of Lockport, but it wasn't an issue.
Seeing the various rail lines, historic canal, and nature was awesome. I look forward to riding more out here!

Accordion

Centennial Trail (IL)

Fun Ride!

May, 2024 by skellyflash

Trail is in great shape and was a blast to ride on through the canal-area. Sing was good and road crossings were not an issue.

Illinois & Michigan Canal State Trail

maintenance needed

April, 2024 by fahrns50

I have rode this trail over the last 30 plus years and many parts need grading and gravel. I wish part that runs through Joliet could be paved and become part of Joliet Junction Trail

Prospect Heights Bike Path

Nice ride, but many buckles in the pavement. Hang on tight!

April, 2024 by r186am

Nice ride, but many buckles in the pavement. Hang on tight!

Bloomingdale Trail (The 606)

There and back is 5.4 miles

April, 2024 by breadbrowder

Beautiful but beware of pollen.

Spring Creek Greenway Trail

great running trail

March, 2024 by ielpmike

This is a really great trail to run on. It is very soft, especially the stretch just east of Gougar. There is a lot of really beautiful scenery. I ran the entire trail today and it was exactly 7 miles. This is not a good place to ride a bike unless you enjoy riding a soft soggy trail. There are horses on this trail so be sure to keep dogs on a leash. Just as side note, there are two dogs that run around loose from a local house. But they are totally friendly. They have run up to me twice now. They’re just tail wagers. and sniffers.

Cal-Sag Trail

New CalSag Closure 127th St. Bridge

February, 2024 by tom h

Announced last week is the closure of the 127th St. bridge which is located just east of CalSag Road. This will take place from March to December, 2024. Or in other words, the whole biking season for 2024. The repair of the intersection at 127th and CalSag road was completed in late 2023.

Chesapeake and Ohio Greenway

great trail

February, 2024 by peggymj

I rode this on 2/26/24 a beautiful 70 degree day This trail runs from merrillville all the way to the Oak Savannah Prairie Park and connects to the Oak Savannah Trail - north to Griffith and south to Schererville and Crown Point

Green Bay Trail

Nicely Maintained but Poor Signage

February, 2024 by reg16

The Green Bay trail is nicely maintained but as others have mentioned the signs for how to keep the trail when going through residential areas is confusing. We found ourselves at one point randomly biking through Highland Park.

Tinley Creek Trail (North)

BEAUTIFUL

November, 2023 by scottlarry7722_tl

OMG AMAZING PLACE TO WALK

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Accordion

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