Get Outside This Winter And Hike, Ski, Or Snowmobile At Grant Woods In Illinois

The winter season is here and with it comes the cold, snow, and fun in the great outdoors! Grant Woods Forest Preserve provides a vast playground of 1,226 acres for any outdoor enthusiast to enjoy. If you like to hike, go cross-country skiing, or ride a snowmobile, spending a day at this nature preserve may be just what you need.

Grant Woods Forest Preserve is host to well-maintained paths that are wide and fairly easy to navigate. The two main trails are Grant Woods Trail, a 4.9-mile loop trail, and Grant Woods North Loop, which is a 1.6-mile moderate loop. Both are available to use year-round.

There are six miles of gravel trails that are open for hiking all year and cross-country skiing when the snow has accumulated.

In the winter, snowmobilers can access 4.5 miles of preserve trails that are adjacent to additional snowmobile trails on private land.

Trails at this preserve will take visitors through woods, gently rolling hills, prairie, and marshland, a nice varied landscape that is both beautiful and full of wildlife.

Coming to Grant Woods this winter is a great way to get some exercise and fresh air and feel peace out in nature. And you may be able to see spot deer or some of the many species of birds that call this preserve home.

Grant Woods is only one part of the Lake County Forest Preserves system which was created in 1958 to protect large areas of nature and provide a place for outdoor recreation.

Spend some time outdoors this winter with a hike, cross-country skiing, or snowmobiling at Grant Woods Forest Preserve. For more information on the trails for this and other nature preserves, visit the Lake County Forest Preserves website.

What are your favorite outdoor winter activities?