Chicago area trails

“Im looking for more trails within three hours to do day hikes or maybe even overnights around chicago. ANy suggestions?”

“Indiana Dunes State Park and Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore are about an hour from the Loop. There are more options into Michigan.”

“Kettle Moraine up in WI is within 3 hours, I think.”

“Depends what you're looking for.

As Wounded Knee said:

Southern Kettle Moraine is about 2.5 hours from the south side of Chicago. There are several trails to day hike. Also the Ice Age Trail runs through the Southern Kettle Moraine there are two, maybe three shelters that must be reservec and demand it high.

Ruby mentioned the Indiana Dunes which are good-if you go a bit farther there are the Michigan Dunes--about 2.5-3.0 hours from southeran Chicago.

Going west, about 90 minutes is Starved Rock State Park. It's very popular so get there early in the day. Once you get off the boardwalks, the hikes through the woods and seeing the "canyons" and rock formations are pretty nice. Saw deer.

There is the Michigan and Illinois Canal Trail (60 miles)--it's a gravel trail that you will share with bikes, but has some nice sights and ocassional wildlife including a lone egrit.

Nearby is the the Palos Hills Forest Preserve. There are many trails, some not mapped. Some trails allow horses. It is forest with a few meadows. Saw deer and fox.

Hope this gives you a start.

Feel free to e-mail me.”

“Potato Creek State Park near South Bend, IN is a nice dayhike. There are 10 or 20 miles of trail and some non-backpacking campgrounds.

Yankee Springs SP and Fort Custer SRA in Michigan are the closest long trail hikes in Michigan. Both have at least 20 or 30 miles of trail.

I've been eyeing the Bong SRA and the Big Foot Beach SP in Wisconsin. Both list 20+ mile hikes.

There are also some nature preserves/local parks in SW MI that I like with long trails and a nature conservancy project that I've had my eye on along the border of Illinois and Indiana.

Remember also that there are two ferry services across Lake Michigan that can make the trip to the NW LP of MI more pleasurable.”

“I tried to steal that sign! Bong State Recreation Area.”

“these are good sitee for indiana: http://www.state.in.us/dnr/ http://www.indianaoutfitters.com/index.html...i live near morgan/monroe state forest...would be about 3 1/2 hour drive from chicago depending on where you live...they have a couple good 10 mile loops...”

“Woot Woot! :-) I see an autumn trip to be organized near Chicago in my crystal ball. Maybe October?”

“Really? Where?”