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Best Lake Hikes near Chicago

The directory currently contains 5 quality-checked routes matching this guide near Chicago. Their average mapped distance is 5.3 km and average recorded ascent is 17 m (56 ft); the longest route in the set is 9.3 km.

This subset represents 5% of the 110 quality-checked routes near Chicago. Its average distance is 5.3 km, compared with 7.7 km across the full local set.

Every route in this set carries a lake tag in the directory. Whether the mapped line reaches the shore and whether swimming is allowed must be checked locally. Within this set, 3 routes (60%) are rated easy, 0 (0%) are rated hard or expert, and 1 (20%) 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 5 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

1.3 km

Lake Trail

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

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

6 m

Lake Trail

5 of 5 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

Easy

Lake Trail

Illinois · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
6 m
Typical duration
17 min
  • Lake

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
DLT h - N. Lake to Midwest RdIndiana8.8 km34 m1 hr 54 minModerateApril to October
Red Trail @ Grassy Lake Forest PreserveIllinois2.4 km15 m31 minEasyApril to October
Yellow Trail @ Grassy Lake Forest PreserveIllinois4.6 km7 m59 minEasyApril to October
Herrick Lake Regional TrailIllinois9.3 km21 m1 hr 59 minModerateApril to October
Lake TrailIllinois1.3 km6 m17 minEasyApril to October

DLT h - N. Lake to Midwest Rd, Red Trail @ Grassy Lake 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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