No matter the season, the outdoors are calling. These Chicago-area hiking spots are a perfect way for outdoor enthusiasts to escape and find their next adventure. Here’s what to expect from some of the top hiking trails for kids in Chicagoland.
Want to plan an all-day nature outing? Check out these scenic state parks where families can hike, bike, picnic, fish, hit the water with boat rentals and more.
This article was recently updated on August 8, 2024 by Chicago Parent’s Assistant Editor, Nikki Roberts. The update included her research and fact-checking expertise to provide the latest information on Chicagoland hiking trails for families. Questions? Please reach out to nikki@chicagoparent.com.
Kid-friendly hiking trails in Chicago
North Park Village Nature Center Park
- Address: 5801 N. Pulaski Road, Chicago
You don’t have to venture far from the city to enjoy a nice hike. Featuring more than 100 acres of trails through woodlands, wetlands and prairies, along with a nature preserve and educational center, North Park is a little-known spot for enjoying the great outdoors right in our own backyard. When you need a break from hiking, enjoy nature play time at Walking Stick Woods, a 12-acre woodland.
North suburbs
Busse Woods at Ned Brown Forest Preserve
The paved trail in the Cook County Forest Preserves is an eight-mile loop that takes hikers and bikers along the shore of Busse Lake and through forests of maple and oakwood trees. If you’re lucky, you might see the elk!
River Trail Nature Center
- Address: 3120 Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook
If you’re looking for a scenic hike that kids can easily walk (but is also stroller-friendly), this Northbrook forest preserve is the place. A 1.5-mile trail winds you through the park along the scenic Des Plaines River. Along the way, you’ll spot sugar maple-basswood forest, prairie and wetlands, along with a variety of insects, birds and plants. Check out the animals in the enclosures including a coyote and bald eagle.
Independence Grove
- Address: 16400 Buckley Road, Libertyville
Hiking is encouraged at this Libertyville park with both paved and gravel trails, depending on how adventurous you’re feeling. Either way, visitors will enjoy views of the 115-acre lake and picturesque woodlands.
The Grove
- Address: 1421 Milwaukee Ave., Glenview
The trails at The Grove take you through woodlands, wetlands and grasslands. This hidden gem not only has over 2 miles of hiking trails to explore, but is also considered an outdoor history and nature museum perfect for those curious minds. Explore the indoor exhibits (including a giant sloth) at the Interpretive Center.
Ryerson Conservation Area
Ryerson Conservation Area, also fondly known as Ryerson Woods, offers something for the entire family. Trails that wind through the woods and past historic buildings? Check. Short loop trails for those pint-sized explorers? Check. Boardwalks and wooden bridge for added fun? Check. There’s even a small farm with sheep and chicken or combine your love of reading and hiking by following along the storybook trail. Once the weather warms up, try to spot butterflies in the rain garden.
Crabtree Nature Center
- Address: 3 Stover Road, Barrington Hills
This Barrington Hills gem has 3 miles of trails through woodlands, wetlands and prairies for the family to explore. Looking for something short and sweet? Take the Giant’s Hollow Trail and you may spot some frogs in the frog ponds. Kids will adore the nature play area and the animals in the enclosure. Take the time to explore the nature play area, too.
South suburbs
Lake Katherine Nature Center & Botanic Gardens
Looking for an easy yet picturesque hike? The mulched 1-mile trail around the lake is perfect. If you’re looking for a longer walk, look to the connecting Cal Sag Trail. Diversions include a butterfly, herb, and heritage gardens. Also, don’t forget to snap a pic by the gorgeous waterfall! Take a break at the nature play areas and the Children’s Forest featuring wetlands, a spider maze, the schoolhouse arch and a salamander mound about halfway through the loop.
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center
Explore three trails on the property ranging from .4 miles to 1.3 miles. The short, paved loop with gorgeous water views is great for littles, and the longer, wooded trails are a perfect fit for adventurous older kids. The nature center offers themed walks and workshops that focus on nature through exploration and outdoor activities.
Waterfall Glen
- Address: 9899-9877 S Cass Ave, Lemont
Skip this park’s 9-mile loop around Argonne National Laboratory and opt for the shorter trail to Rocky Glen Waterfall. Kids will love playing on the paved area around this tiny waterfall, the scenic overlook and finding hidden structures in the woods. Plus, it’s less than a mile hike from the parking lot to the waterfall. The waterfall parking lot is on the south side of the park, about .3 mile east of Cass Avenue.
West suburbs
Fox River Bluff West Forest Preserve
- Address: 5N753 IL Route 31, St. Charles
Situated along the Fox River in St. Charles, this popular preserve is a hidden gem of the Western Suburbs. Here you’ll find miles of trails, scenic bridges, boardwalks and areas for fishing and biking.
The Morton Arboretum
- Address: 4100 IL Route 53, Lisle
Want to keep your hike short and sweet (and ideally, melt-down free)? Morton offers a quick .55-mile paved loop around Meadow Lake that will burn kids’ energy without completely exhausting them. The Children’s Garden is always a big hit!
Salt Creek Trail
- Access points in the Western Suburbs
Beginning in Brookfield Woods and stretching over 16 miles west to Bemis Woods in Western Springs, the paved Salt Creek Trail is an easily walkable trail for kids. Stroll behind houses that border the creek; many neighboring residents have cute backyards that add to the trail! With access points in Brookfield, Forest View, La Grange Park, Lyons, McCook, North Riverside, Oak Brook, Riverside, Westchester and Western Springs, there’s always a new point to hop on or turn back, making every trip to this trail a unique one!
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