I returned here after visiting about 30 years ago, and was very impressed with the trails. You can…read morespend many days here and still not see all the areas the park offers. We parked at the Oak Opening area and hiked down to Lake Defiance, taking the Lake Defiance Trail. We stopped at the Nature Center to see some displays and chat with the ranger, and then continued our hike. Seeing the moraines, the leftover hills and ridges from the retreating Wisconsin Glacier, 10's of thousands of years ago, was a geologic trip through time. This is a great local state park that does not have an entrance fee! (None of our state parks have entrance fees to the best of my knowledge!) This is a place I can't wait to get back to explore, right in the backyard of the Chicago 'burbs!

Very thankful my son recommended training for long runs at Moraine Hills. His mapping of the route…read moreprovided a great roadmap. There is signage, mileage marking and different surfaces (soft and asphalt). for the trails. The varying elevations provide great opportunities to train well. It did not disappoint. Thank you!!

Beautiful place for walking/hiking. Lots of greenery and nicely groomed gravel paths. Saw some deer…read moreand waterfowl while hiking.

Nice preserve with lots of trails to walk on. Fishing spots, cook out areas and volleyball sandy…read morecourt. Lots of beavers which is fun to see their dams and tree eating. Very busy, lots of families, plenty of parking!

The bog itself is a small loop like 1/2 a mile. There's another trail around it, who knows how far…read moreit goes. Definitely cool to be on a bog, and walking on the supported apparatus is fun as they wiggle all over and you might fall in! Kewl.

I first visited Volo Bog in the early 90s with an environmental biology class I was taking at CLC…read more I've returned many times since then to hike the large outer ring trail. I recently returned with a group to see a presentation slide show and do a guided walk through the bog interpretive trail and had a really great time. It was the first time I'd done the guided tours or experienced the presentations. The docents and people working here are really great and you can tell they enjoy what they do here. They were very friendly and open with our group and everything was very informative. The fall colors were beautiful! I wish I'd seen a muskrat this time but the temp was chilly and they were probably all hunkered down. I did see lots of birds! If you enjoy nature you should definitely visit Volo Bog.

Can you believe it's December and it's so beautiful? A lovely day to walk the paths at Openlands…read moreand/or walk down by the lake. People, dogs, families walking, jogging, strolling and taking in the view.

Managed by Lake County Forest Preserves since August 2023, this 72-acre area (formerly part of Fort…read moreSheridan) has a unique blend of ravines, bluffs, and a lakefront in Highland Park, 25 miles north of Chicago. This is close to Fort Sheridan and the cemetery. I love the paved trails, which are Ada accessible with minimal disturbance to nature. The art installations offer additional meditation subjects with a mix of science, poetry, and wonder. The qr code links did not work. My first introduction was a ravine with concrete sidewalks, mighty oak trees, and a complex root system slowing the erosion of the sides. Art installations do pique the imagination of visitors. Wood sidewalks and bridges lead to additional ravines, bluffs, and lakefront. I spotted a great horned owl silently sweeping across the canopy of trees. Four white tailed deer were nibbling on their grassy lunches. Red winged black birds were singing sporadically. I passed a tree with the bark rubbed off as evidence a deer came by to rub its antlers. I also saw several round holes on the lower trunks of the tree. It was evidence of a possible woodpecker looking for grubs. I spotted wood ear mushrooms growing on the side of a tree. Thousands of migrating birds visit the preserve each year. Listen to the audio guides for the nature and art installations. https://openlands.org/projects/openlands-lakeshore-preserve/ Main Parking 24256 N Patten Road, Highwood, IL 60040 South Parking 2789 Oak Street, Highland Park, IL 60035

The 2nd most popular state park in Illinois, Illinois Beach State Park was initially established in…read more1948, with the northern portion being added in 1982. It is located on over 6 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, encompassing 4,160 acres. I spent a lot of summers here (both at the beach and the campgrounds) with my dad and brother during my youth, and was also the area where I proposed to my girlfriend over 30 years ago...was nice to stop by with my now wife on this rainy day. It's official name is Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park, renamed for the former state senator and conservation advocate in 2010 (a year after her passing). I went to high school in the area, and she was an important presence during that time, often sponsoring various academic and community awards for local students. Since it was rainy and a weekday, the large parking lots and beachfront were pretty empty. We walked it a bit, collected some sand (recently started to collect and label beach sand to further document my travels). There is a 'resort' hotel on the grounds (which I remembered) and The Pavilion (a combination camp store, souvenir shop, and concession stand), which I didn't remember (makes sense since it opened in 2021). The latter was closed when we stopped by (has limited hours during the non-summer time and is closed during winter).

My first time here. I've avoided this area because it's surrounded by iffy neighborhoods with high…read morecrime rates like murders. They had a fall festival this past weekend with free guided walks so I figured it would be safe for us. Loved the guided walk and how informative it was. This is a high quality state park with lots of native plants still intact. So the whole place is pretty deserted but it did rain in the morning. Cars with completely tinted windows drive around in broad daylight. Pretty scary...The campgrounds have security that do not allow you to pass through unless you are a camper so that would make it safe. I saw a few police cars in the area as well. Personally, this isn't for me but if you are street smart, know your way around the neighborhood, it's great for hiking.

Google maps leads slightly away from the address…read more Decent amount of parking and super clean bathrooms. (Yes, for a forest preserve!) Trails were pretty flat. I saw lots of wildlife. Trails were clean.

This trail is so peaceful! I've now done the trail twice (once in May, and once in October). The…read more(gravel) paths are extremely wide and leave plenty of space for bikes and walkers. Easy way to get in a good 10k steps before you even realize it, and the changing landscape is absolutely beautiful. We missed the sunflowers/wildflowers this year, but I will be sure to not miss them again next year!! Plenty of parking for a weekend visit. Wear sunscreen as the path is wide open, and bring hand sanitizer as the restrooms were out of soap both times.

The park in general is very nice and beautiful. Lots of thing to do. That alone is 5 stars…read moreespecially being so close. But the thing that ruins it is the Rangers/dedicated law enforcement for this area. They are just fishing for whatever like they have nothing better to do. I've heard stories but my personal story is I got pulled over, complained about how I was speeding and then threatened to search the car. Absolute power trip. Other then the tyrants that work here very beautiful place.

Very rude front desk staff. Ruined the experience of wanting to take the trail walk. She was…read moreunwilling to listen

Lake in the hills fen park. It's an outdoor park called Fen park and is in the town of lake in the…read morehills. Fen park can be walked in or viewed from Standing and looking.

Hidden gem in LITH!! Peaceful, lovely scenic trails. It's a beautiful walk. The pavilion is great…read morefor a packed lunch or hanging out with a good book.

Amanda and her staff are wonderful; they do everything possible to ensure every visit is pleasant…read moreand seamless. I suppose you can tell how highly we recommend this place--we have already booked our return trip for next year!

Greatest place overlooking the water with its own private beach! It has everything from camp fires…read morewith the family to boat rentals for a day on the water. Well kept beach with a massage tent for relaxation! Only 50 minutes from Chicago - this place is a hidden gem!