Editor’s Note: This post is presented by our partners at Fjällräven.
After a busy week of work in the fast-paced city of Chicago, escaping for a breath of fresh air is an essential way to recharge. While visitors may not come to the Windy City in search of a nature experience, locals know that there is much more to Chicago than meets the eye. Within a relatively short drive, you can be immersed among the towering dunes of Indiana Dunes National Park, explore vertical sandstone cliffs at Starved Rock State Park, or watch bison retake their natural prairie habitat in Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. In this guide we’ll highlight seven outdoor getaways for Chicagoans to get their dose of nature without a long, burdensome drive.
1) Indiana Dunes National Park
A row of dead trees sits atop a sand dune blowout in winter at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore park in northern Indiana. Photo: Shutterstock
From the shores of Indiana Dunes National Park you can see the skyline of Chicago across Lake Michigan. Just a one-hour drive east of the city, the park’s ecosystems of expansive beaches, thick forest canopies, and shifting dunes feel worlds away from the bustle of city life. Granted national park status in 2019, Indiana Dunes is one of the nation’s newest parks, boasting 13,000 preserved acres, 15 miles of Lake Michigan’s coast, and 15 trail systems that stretch over 50 miles. Its proximity to Chicago makes it a quick and convenient escape to find a slower pace in the outdoors.
One of the most popular hiking trails is the Succession Trail at West Beach – a one-mile loop that climbs 75 feet up to the top of Diana’s Dune via a long staircase. For a longer hike, the 4.7-mile Cowles Bog Trail offers a variety of habitats including ponds, marshes, black oak savannas, and beaches. Don’t be afraid to check out the park outside of the summer season for more solitude away from the summer crowds.
- Length: 1-5 miles
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
- Restrooms: Available throughout the park
- Parking: Various access points; $25 per vehicle, $20 per motorcycle, $15 per person on bicycle or foot; passes are valid for seven days
- Dog friendliness: Dogs allowed on leash
- Hours: Varies in each area of the park, for example: West Beach and Porter Beach are open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Kemil Beach is open 24 Hours, and all other beach areas are open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Recommended Gear
- Material: 100 percent polyamide (recycled)
- Filling: 100 percent polyester
- Activity: Trekking
- Features: Insulating, Packable, Packs into self, Lightweight
- Clothing layer: Outerwear, Insulating layer
- Three Pockets: Inner pocket(s), Side pocket(s) with zipper
Starved Rock, the most visited state park in Illinois, sits on the banks of the Illinois River southwest of Chicago. A striking contrast to typical central plains landscape, the park is renowned for its 18 sandstone canyons carved by floods from retreating glaciers 14,000 to 17,000 years ago. These canyons feature dramatic overhangs and rain-fed waterfalls, surrounded by dense forests of oak, maple, hickory, pine, and cedar.
There’s something for everyone at Starved Rock, whether you want a short stroll or a long hike. You can climb up to Sandstone Point overlook, check out St. Louis Canyon’s waterfall, or explore the depths of Wildcat Canyon, among many other trails.
- Length: 1-8 miles
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
- Restrooms: Available throughout the park
- Parking: Free
- Dog friendliness: Dogs allowed on leash
- Hours: 7 a.m. to sunset
3) Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
Bison on the Prairie. Photo: Shutterstock
Located in the town of Wilmington just an hour’s drive from downtown Chicago, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie offers a quick escape into nature with 18,225 acres of land and 34 miles of trails, 12 of which are reserved for hiking. The park is a model of habitat restoration, returning vast areas to their original prairie state and reintroducing bison, which once roamed the region in abundance.
For the best chance of spotting grazing bison, hike the Group 63 Loop Trail and bring binoculars in case they are at a distance. To experience the array of habitats within the park, check out the Prairie Creek Woods Trail where you can find ponds, woodlands, and restored tallgrass prairie.
- Length: 1-10 miles
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
- Restrooms: Yes, available at trailheads
- Parking: Free at trailheads
- Dog friendliness: Dogs allowed on leash
- Hours: 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.
