Chicago Area bpacking?

“I just moved into Chicago and I'm thinking about taking my dog on an overnight trip, I was wondering if anyone had some recommendations for overnight trips that aren't too far. Thanks,”

“there are many options. how far are you willing to drive? there are a bunch of us who live in and near chicago”

“nm
last edited: 6/15/05 9:58:22 PM”

“From the southwest Chicago suburb of Mokena where I live, it is:

35 minutes to the I & M Canal, Rockdale, Illinois.
2 hours, 20 minutes to the Hennepin Canal Trail, Illinois.
2 hours, 45 minutes to Ice Age Trail, Kettle Morraine Forest, Wisconsin.
3 hours 58 minutes drive to Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness, Michigan. (Open hiking amound the dunes)
4 hours 8 minute drive to 58 mile Knobstone Trail, Indiana.
4 hours 30 minutes to Deam Wilderness, Indiana (multiple loops)
4 hours, 55 minutes to 22 mile Manistee River Loop, Michigan.
5 hours, 30 minutes to Yellow River State Forest, Iowa
6 hours, 8 minutes to Red River Gorge, Kentucky. (Lotsa loops)
7 hours, 45 minutes to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan (Shuttle bus for backpackers)
7 hours, 45 minutes to North Country Trail, Drummond, Wisconsin. (early October, I can give you a shuttle)”

“fill out your profile pleeze”

“Prosecutor nice list.

Kettle Moraine (Southern Unit) is great hiking. The couple of shelters are in high demand, so call ahead. Also, some of the trails you will share with crazed bikers. The bikin trails are marked one way, so I usually go in the reverse direction. One of the trails that is bike-less is the Ice Age Trail that is not complete. It's planned to run the length of the terminus of the Wisconsin Glacier. I think it hooks up with the North Country Trail.

Also, If you're looking for some day hikes, Starved Rock State Park has some good trails. But get there early, very popular park.

The IM Canal trail is 60 miles long, so you can pick it up in a number of spots besides Rockdale--we often enter just south of Utica.

The Little Red School House sits in a forest preserve on the southwest side. Has lots of trails, but may have to share with horses.”

“hey littlebenlost,
I thought hiking in Chicago involved grabbing your wallet and going up and down the Miracle Mile? :-)”

“No, hiking in Chicago is running down the Magnificant Mile after a thief who grabbed your wallet.”

“Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I was thinking no more then a 4 hour drive from the city because after that the dog gets pretty bored. As for the mag mile, I've done that kind of hiking as well, its very easy to add weight along that trip!”

“I went to Kettle Moraine once a while back in the fall and there were a LOT of hunters around for my taste.”

“What do hunters taste like?”

“they taste like chicken silly.

BaGAWK”

“Be careful hiking Chicago, not only is that city damn windy, but there are lots of Bears® wandering around. Big ones.”

“I'm trying Yellow River this weekend, from where I am in Chicago its closer then the stuff in MI.”

“Hoosier National Forest is not too far”

“Your more than welcome to join our NCT trip, 6/24-26. We could help you spot your vehicle, if you desired a 15 mile overnight trip? See my post for the Michigan NCT Hike 6/24-26. I'm guessing, this would be a 5 hr. drive for you, as the Prosector has, mentioned?”

“Thanks for the invite ncthiker. I did a search and I couldn't find the NCT hike thread, might it be called something else. Searching NCT or Michigan I only find a trip that happened a while back. I would definitely be interested in a 15 mile overnight but the devil is in the details.”

“Welcome, fellow Chicagolander. If you want to do an overnighter with your dog head down to Channonhan and camp along the IM canal trail. I took my gf down there and we had a good time.

Also, if you head down IL 71 past Oswego there are a few roads that have "Camping" signs on them. I'd go check them out.”

“Just click on trips, Its the 5th trip down "Michigan NCT Hike 6/24-26"
If your serious, about joining, we'd need you to be at the meeting place by no later than 11:00am Friday 6/24?
last edited: 6/18/05 12:51:58 PM”

“ncthiker, I'll look at the information, see what the work schedule is like for the week on Monday and let you know one way or the other by the end of the day Monday.”

“Ok, littlebenlost. Also, Mon.or tues., I'll let everyone know on my departure day and time as well. You could probably arrive as late as 12:00pm on Friday, unless the 3 of us all go up Thursday night? Then it would be, a bit of a waste of time on our part, getting up Friday morning and possibly, having to wait around for four hours?”

“If you want to go out this next weekend of 6/24, let me know. I am going to head south to Charles Deam on Crash Bang's trip. We could ride together. I live in NW Indiana, 40 minutes from the Loop.”

“FYI, for the Deam trip I am leaving on Friday afternoon/evening and returning on Sunday afternoon. If my job runs late there is a possibility that I will leave early Saturday morning. But more likely on Friday.”

“Ncthiker, I wrote in the NCT trail post, but I'm not going to be able to make it out of here early enough for a Friday morning departure this week. Just too much going on and not enough notice on my part. Hopefully I'll catch you guys on another trip. Ruby, I'll get back to you. I would love to get out, but I'm probably not going to be able to get out of here until Saturday evening.”

“:( not fair i tell you! My dang office with the vewi is not worth giving up every other weekend :(”

“I meant so say that I could get out Friday evening, or Saturday morning, but not Friday afternoon. But my view of the El is lovely.
last edited: 6/20/05 12:03:54 PM”