Rails to trails is a great program where abandoned railroads are turned into hiking paths. Not only are the tracks given a new purpose, but the resulting hikes are awesome. This is because they often head through incredibly scenic parts of countryside. Such is the case along the Illinois Prairie Path. The Illinois Prairie Path is a network of 61 miles of biking and hiking trails. It is mostly in DuPage County, with some spilling out to Kane County and Cook County. Here's why you should explore it.
The Illinois Prairie Path has been around since 1963.
If you're an avid hiker, you probably have no problem hitting the trails in any season and maybe even in any kind of weather. For the rest of us, well, we tend to stick to hiking when the weather is warm and the skies are clear. But there are some year-round hikes that just about anyone can do including one particular short loop hike in Illinois. The Hastings Lake Loop is a delightful nature walk we think you'll love as much as we do.
advertisement
Hastings Lake is located in Lake Villa, Illinois, and is part of Lake County Forest Preserves. Covering 270 acres, Hasting Lake offers four miles of hiking trails through fields, wetlands, and woodlands. A variety of recreation can be experienced here like hiking, biking, rollerblading, fishing, and even cross-country skiing.
You can also take your dog, although you must keep it on a leash. And there is plenty of nature to be found here in every season.
Within this preserve is an 80-acre lake with 12,000 feet of shoreline. The lake is filled with plenty of fish like bluegill, largemouth bass, and carp. Fishing is common here and there is even a wheelchair-accessible fishing pier.
The Hastings Lake Loop is a 2.2-mile loop trail that is relatively flat, accessible, and perfect for year-round use. It's one of the best loop trails in IL that everyone should consider hiking in any season.
And in the winter, you can experience peace and quiet as you go for a hike or cross-country skiing. Isn't it a wonderful thing when you can find a trail that can be used year-round?
As for accessibility, the Hastings Lake Loop is a mix of paved pathways and boardwalks with a gentle grade that's good for most wheelchairs and strollers. The boardwalk also has a barrier along the edge. And in the parking lot off of West Gelden Road, there are five designated accessible spots.
Have you gone for a hike at Hastings Lake in Illinois? What are some of your favorite Illinois loop trails? Let your fellow readers know in the comments. Get your Hastings Lake Loop trail map and current conditions with AllTrails+.
If you want to explore more of the great outdoors, you can also check out the best hikes in Illinois. These are our favorite hiking trails from beginner to advanced.
As far as natural wonders go, Illinois is vastly underrated. But we have our fair share of cool sights to enjoy! However, there are definitely landscapes that even locals wouldn't expect to encounter here. For instance, few would expect to find a slot canyon in the heart of Illinois, where the corn grows tall and the wind, generally speaking, whips unimpeded across the state. Pretty crazy, right? Well, canyons in Illinois are few and far between, but there happens to be a narrow gorge in the Land of Lincoln that's a dead ringer for Arizona's Antelope Canyon.
advertisement
To find it, you need to head to the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois.
Then, about halfway around the 0.8-mile upper trail loop, you'll come across a steep set of wooden stairs that appear to descend into a hole in the rocky ground.
From there, you can return back through the canyon, or you can follow the lower trail through the valley, along the base of the escarpment, back to the trailhead.
The round trip total for this moderate hike is only about 1.5 miles, but it's not for those who are claustrophobic. The upper portion of Rim Rock National Recreation Trail is accessible, but the lower trail through the slot canyon is not.
If you choose to visit the area, this unique canyon in Illinois is a fantastic place to explore! Have you been yet or hiked the Rim Rock Trail?
