Top Ten Places to Get Outdoors Near Chicago
1. Chicago Lakefront
Biking, Swimming, Cross-Country Skiing, Running, Kayaking, Bouldering
2. Palos Hills
(Cook County Forest Preserves)
Hiking, Mountain Biking, Fishing, Cross-Country Skiing
About 35 minutes west
Accessible by car, bus
3. Indiana Dunes
Hiking, Camping, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Swimming
About 1 hour southeast
Accessible by train, car
4. Devil’s Lake
Climbing, Hiking, Camping
About 3.5 hours northwest near Baraboo, Wisconsin
5. Starved Rock
Hiking, Camping, Cross-Country Skiing, Canyons!
About 2 hours west
6. Kettle Morraine
Mountain Biking, Hiking, Cross-Country Skiing
Southern part about 2 hours north
Northern part about 3 hours nor
7. Morraine Hills
Cross-Country Skiing, Hiking
About 1.5 hours north - still in Illinois
8. Kankakee River
Canoeing, Hiking, Camping
About 1 hour south
9. Mississippi Palisades
Climbing, Hiking, Camping
About 2.5 hours west
10. A Little Farther Afield:
Red River Gorge
Climbing, Hiking, Camping About 7 hours
Sleeping Bear Dunes
Hiking, Camping, Backpacking
About 6 hours
UP of Michigan/Northern Wisconsin
1. Chicago Lakefront
Biking, Swimming, Cross-Country Skiing, Running, Kayaking, Bouldering
2. Palos Hills
(Cook County Forest Preserves)
Hiking, Mountain Biking, Fishing, Cross-Country Skiing
About 35 minutes west
Accessible by car, bus
3. Indiana Dunes
Hiking, Camping, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Swimming
About 1 hour southeast
Accessible by train, car
4. Devil’s Lake
Climbing, Hiking, Camping
About 3.5 hours northwest near Baraboo, Wisconsin
5. Starved Rock
Hiking, Camping, Cross-Country Skiing, Canyons!
About 2 hours west
6. Kettle Morraine
Mountain Biking, Hiking, Cross-Country Skiing
Southern part about 2 hours north
Northern part about 3 hours nor
7. Morraine Hills
Cross-Country Skiing, Hiking
About 1.5 hours north - still in Illinois
8. Kankakee River
Canoeing, Hiking, Camping
About 1 hour south
9. Mississippi Palisades
Climbing, Hiking, Camping
About 2.5 hours west
10. A Little Farther Afield:
Red River Gorge
Climbing, Hiking, Camping About 7 hours
Sleeping Bear Dunes
Hiking, Camping, Backpacking
About 6 hours
UP of Michigan/Northern Wisconsin