beginners trail near Chicago

“Hi guys,

Me and a friend of mine have never gone backpacking before, but would really love to try it out. We're looking for at least an overnight trip, but not some place that is going to kill first-timers. I live around Chicago and would prefer not to drive for more than a couple hours. Anyone know any places that fit that description?”

“From the southwest Chicago suburb of Mokena, it is:
1 hour, 20 minutes to the I& M Canal Trail, between LaSalle and Rockdale, Illinois
2 hours, 20 minutes to the Hennepin Canal Trail, Illinois.
2 hours, 30 minutes to the River Ridge Trail, Forest Glen Forest Preserve, Westville, Illinois
2 hours, 40 minutes to Sand Ridge State Forest trails south of Peoria,
2 hours, 45 minutes to Ice Age Trail, Kettle Morraine Forest, Wisconsin.
3 hours 58 minutes drive to Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness, Michigan. (Open hiking in 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, 9 minutes to the Adventure Hiking Trail, neary Corydon, Indiana
5 hours, 30 minutes to Yellow River State Forest, Iowa
5 hours, 30 minutes to Vinegar Ridge Recreational Area, Minnesota.”

“it's a little further than you're looking but about 3.5 hours there is the low gap trail in morgan/monroe state forest in mooresville indiana, about 30 minutes south of indy...it's a 10 mile loop trail that's perfect for beginners...also in that area is the tecomseh trail

http://www.state.in.us/dnr/forestry/4816.htm”

“I never saw any country around Chicago that could kill first-timers. It's all beginner country isn't it?”

“4 hours 30 minutes to Deam Wilderness, Indiana (multiple loops)

Check out the trip page as we have a trip lined up for the end of February.Click link below.

http://www.thebackpacker.com/trips/trip/1650.php”

“�I never saw any country around Chicago that could kill first-timers. It's all beginner country isn't it?�
toejam
6:52:36 AM
2/03/09


teehee”

“I was sorta thinking the same thing, but my exemplary manners forbade my saying so:)”

“it's not just how rough it is but also how long it is ;)”

“Hey there!!
There is some good hiking in the Northwest burbs, Via The Cook County Forest Preserve District (CCFPD) but yer not supposed to stay out overnight� I do anyway, but not when it�s this freaking cold. The Poplar Creek Area is the least used and has close to 4500 acres and over fifty miles of trails. It�s in Hoffman Estates and Barrington Hills. All would be considered �moderate� and are maintained by locals like myself. I am sorry ta say that there are no maps for these trails as the FPD does not want be burdened with patrolling them.

Here is a link to a CCFPD facilities map

http://fpdcc.com/downloads/GeneralMap_mapFA.pdf .

Listen to Prosecutor as he has listed most of the best. There are some in Northern Indiana, but I don�t have first hand knowledge of them. So I will withhold my endorsements at this time. Don�t let the rest of the �Community� freak ya out!! Their good folks, just a tad perverted at times. Lol

Thrifty!!
I see you�ve been taking lessons from Crash!!
See ya later.
Randall”

“Randall, report to the what I learned while backpacking thread”

“Another option is to head to northwest Indiana to the Indiana Dunes Nt'l Lakeshore and the Indiana Dunes State Park. It's about an hour's drive. Put a pack on or not and hike away. It's a nice beginner hike without the overnight commitment. If you really want to camp, then camp at one of the campgrounds.”

“good luck with not driving more the 2h. you'd still be in town. lol.

southern IL has awesome places to offer, so does so IN. WI, MN and MI are loaded with backpacking opportunities. none are really beyond a beginner, like someone said above.”

““I never saw any country around Chicago that could kill first-timers. It's all beginner country isn't it?”
toejam
8:52:36 AM


LOL
http://chicagogangs.org/index.php?pr=GANG_MAP_NORTH”

“http://chicagogangs.org/index.php?pr=GANG_MAP_NORTH”


ouch.”

“Got me there, Stovie. I wasn't thinking of challenging urban terrain.”

“;-)”

““From the southwest Chicago suburb of Mokena, it is:
1 hour, 20 minutes to the I& M Canal Trail, between LaSalle and Rockdale, Illinois
2 hours, 20 minutes to the Hennepin Canal Trail, Illinois.
2 hours, 30 minutes to the River Ridge Trail, Forest Glen Forest Preserve, Westville, Illinois
2 hours, 40 minutes to Sand Ridge State Forest trails south of Peoria,
2 hours, 45 minutes to Ice Age Trail, Kettle Morraine Forest, Wisconsin.
3 hours 58 minutes drive to Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness, Michigan. (Open hiking in 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, 9 minutes to the Adventure Hiking Trail, neary Corydon, Indiana
5 hours, 30 minutes to Yellow River State Forest, Iowa
5 hours, 30 minutes to Vinegar Ridge Recreational Area, Minnesota.”
prosecutor

a friend of mine also hikes at Starve Rock SP a bunch.. it's just over an hour from the south side.

but what brings me back to this thread is: is there any overnight backpacking trails close to Chicago? Is Ice Age the closest? Anybody hike it? Can you tell me about it? any other info would also be appreciated.

thanks”

“chicagoland = 7 hour drive to anything significant”

“lol.. i know and that's why i'm asking.. my buddy keeps coming down here and I feel I ought to go up that way for a change. it doesn't have to be significant, just doable for a weekend trip.

thanks”

“There are trails and lots of them!!

But ya have to sorta break the law if ya wanna stay overnight!!

I do it ever now and then!!!

Never been caught and I hardly ever see anybody!!!

Really if ya wanna try it... I can tell ya where ta go!!

But there is risk involved and as Yogsan pointed out most of the terrain is not significant... Woodsy but very flat!! More deer that you�ll see anywhere else!!

See ya later.
Randall”

“devil's lake is pretty (up in wisconsin) and the rock climbing is excellent”

““devil's lake is pretty (up in wisconsin) and the rock climbing is excellent”
Yogisan

lol.. i actually mentioned that too him last night. i've been to Devils Lake many moons ago. Is there really backpacking opportunity there? I know the day hikes are awesome. I did the gnarly one there when I was there last. As I recall it was rather expensive to enter the park for a non cheesehead. <- big drawback.

Randall, email me. Not sure if what you propose here is doable as his vehicle at the TH would definitely draw attention. Mine maybe less so but then we don't have a front plate here.. I guess depends where this is.

Neither of you have done any of the Ice Age Trail? the southern part looks not all that far away.. maybe right at a couple of hours from the south side, no?

Thanks guys.”

“no backpacking but a fun area.

black river state forest (south of black river falls) is 5 hours north and has excellent backpacking.”

“knobstone trail is about 5 hours south and likewise is excellent backpacking”

“so, it's looking like a 5h min drive. damn. :(

we've been talking about KT.. we need to do it while we have shuttle possibilities at each end.

blk river.. never heard of it.. definitely will keep that in mind.”

““chicagoland = 7 hour drive to anything significant”
Yogisan


what do you have in that range?”

“Mammoth Cave?”

“that's a good one.. it has been a while.. i guess RRG falls within that range too.. something i have yet to explore.”