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Best Forest Hikes near Waukegan

The directory currently contains 6 quality-checked routes matching this guide near Waukegan. Their average mapped distance is 5.2 km and average recorded ascent is 16 m (52 ft); the longest route in the set is 11.8 km.

This subset represents 38% of the 16 quality-checked routes near Waukegan. Its average distance is 5.2 km, compared with 11.2 km across the full local set.

These routes carry the forest tag. The data does not quantify canopy cover or guarantee shade along every section. Within this set, 4 routes (67%) are rated easy, 0 (0%) are rated hard or expert, and 1 (17%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.

Data refreshed September 2026

Choose by the details

How do these routes differ?

A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

2.4 km

Red Trail @ Grassy Lake Forest Preserve

Compare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

0 m

River Trail Nature Center Trails

6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.

Return logistics

1 recorded loop

Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.

Plan the return journey →

Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.

Trails

Theatre, Building 180 in the Fort Sheridan Historic District, a national landmark district (1932). Once the movie theater for troops stationed at the army base, it is now the studio for Julie Rotblatt-Amrany and Omri Amrany, who are best kn
Moderate

Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve

Illinois · United States

Distance
5.5 km
/ 3.4 mi
Elevation gain
62 m
Typical duration
1 hr 15 min
  • Forest
  • Castle and ruins
Easy

Black Paved Trail

Illinois · United States

Distance
4.0 km
/ 2.5 mi
Elevation gain
6 m
Typical duration
50 min
  • Forest
Moderate

Red Paved Loop

Illinois · United States

Distance
11.8 km
/ 7.3 mi
Elevation gain
7 m
Typical duration
2 hr 28 min
  • Forest

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Red Trail @ Grassy Lake Forest PreserveIllinois2.4 km15 m31 minEasyApril to October
Fort Sheridan Forest PreserveIllinois5.5 km62 m1 hr 15 minModerateApril to October
Yellow Trail @ Grassy Lake Forest PreserveIllinois4.6 km7 m59 minEasyApril to October
Black Paved TrailIllinois4.0 km6 m50 minEasyApril to October
Red Paved LoopIllinois11.8 km7 m2 hr 28 minModerateApril to October
River Trail Nature Center TrailsIllinois2.8 km0 m36 minEasyApril to October

Red Trail @ Grassy Lake Forest Preserve, Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve, Yellow Trail @ Grassy Lake Forest Preserve currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

Plan with more confidence

All planning articles →

Choosing a route

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.

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Understanding the map

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.

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Planning your day

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.

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