There’s a city loop trail that goes all the way around our biggest city that you’d never believe. This giant system of parks, trails, and natural attractions is truly something spectacular. Check it out:

Beginning at Buckingham Fountain at Grant Park in downtown Chicago, The Chicago Outerbelt is a trail that loops 210 miles around the city allowing hikers to enjoy just about every bit of nature there is in Chicagoland.
Wikimedia Commons/Cdurrani
You'll never believe that there is a way to never leave a nature trail and still enjoy the Windy City. Other attractions near the east side of the city include Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, Navy Pier, North Avenue Beach, and the Lincoln Park Zoo.
Flickr/uptowner
There is also plenty of green space around the Calumet, Hyde Park, and Blue Island regions of the city where you'll find excellent views of Lake Michigan and the river.
Wikimedia Commons/Bohao Zhao

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Further north, the Chicago Botanic Garden is a lovely place all its own to roam, and it is surrounded by many other forests with campgrounds, trails, and more.
Flickr/Hafiz Issadeen
Further, guests will find Skokie Lagoons and a wealth of other bodies of water along this path.
Wikimedia Commons/bradhoc
Schiller Woods, the Des Plaines River Trail, and many other parks and trail systems contain oases that make getting outdoors and into nature more exciting.
Flickr/R924
The best part about this city loop trail is that you're never far from civilization. Shops, restaurants, convenience stores, and neighborhoods are within reach of the natural attractions on this trail.
Wikimedia Commons/Dave Piasecki

For more details about, including a full map of, the Chicago Outerbelt, check out the Outerbelt Alliance website here. If you’ve ever attempted to hike this city loop trail, we’d love to hear from you. Please share your experiences and photos with us below in the comments.

For more like this, check out the 12 best hiking and biking trails in Illinois.

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