If There Are Only 5 Hikes You Ever Do In Illinois, Make Them These
If you’re not an outdoors geek but still want to see some of the most beautiful places in Illinois, there are just a few hikes you’ll have to dust off your old gym shoes for. These scenic routes through the state’s most fascinating, natural landscapes are sure to make the top of your bucket list.
Don’t miss five trails in Illinois you must hike before you die, and click the corresponding links to check out full articles about each trail. Check them out:
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Near Oregon, which is not far form Rockford, there is a 4.7-mile trail that leads back to where it began at W Nashua Road. The area contains 2,291 acres of forest, and the trail takes you past Rock River, 120-foot bluffs, and other natural wonders.
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Part of the Shawnee National Forest, this trail is way at bottom the of the state. Though it is just a .25-mile observation trail, you'll get to see some amazing sights. Some rocks are as high as 300 feet and the formations took 320 years to form from water and wind erosion.
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The Des Plaines River flows 133 miles through Lake and Cook counties and is completely surrounded by nature preserve. There are many trails running all throughout the forest connecting neighborhoods and communities to each other and nature. There are various access points with trail entrances, covered picnic tables, and more throughout much of its length.
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This 1.7-mile loop trail leads around a large rock and then down stairs to the valley floor of the Shawnee National Forest. Most notable is "Fat Man's Misery," which is a narrow passage through walls of the earth, often overlooked for being near Garden of the Gods.
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As part of a rail to trail project where abandoned railways are turned into walking/biking paths, this trail takes you past some of Illinois' most scenic countryside. It runs through DuPage and some of Kane and Cook counties and contains many beautiful bridges atop which you can get some great shots. The line used to be the Chicago, Aurora and Elgin Electric (CA&E) railway.
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For more lovely places to enjoy the outdoors, check out these seven natural attractions hiding in Illinois.
Have you ever taken one of these hikes? Share your experiences and photos with us!
