Moderate
Indiana · United States
- Distance
- 8.8 km / 5.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 34 m
- Typical duration
- 1 hr 54 min
- Lake
Dog-Friendly Hikes near Chicago
The directory currently contains 49 quality-checked routes matching this guide near Chicago. Their average mapped distance is 4.1 km and average recorded ascent is 19 m (62 ft); the longest route in the set is 15.4 km.
This subset represents 45% of the 110 quality-checked routes near Chicago. Its average distance is 4.1 km, compared with 7.7 km across the full local set.
These routes either have dogs marked as allowed or meet the directory’s dog-score threshold. Current land-manager rules take precedence. Within this set, 39 routes (80%) are rated easy, 0 (0%) are rated hard or expert, and 18 (37%) 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 PreserveCompare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.
Lowest recorded ascent in this sample
7 m
Yellow Trail @ Grassy Lake Forest Preserve6 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
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 2.4 km / 1.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 15 m
- Typical duration
- 31 min
- Lake
- Forest
Moderate
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
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 4.6 km / 2.9 mi
- Elevation gain
- 7 m
- Typical duration
- 59 min
- Lake
- Forest
Easy
Indiana · United States
- Distance
- 3.4 km / 2.1 mi
- Elevation gain
- 7 m
- Typical duration
- 43 min
- River
Moderate
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 15.3 km / 9.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 65 m
- Typical duration
- 3 hr 17 min
- Forest
Easy
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 4.0 km / 2.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 6 m
- Typical duration
- 50 min
- Forest
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 6.4 km / 4.0 mi
- Elevation gain
- 78 m
- Typical duration
- 1 hr 28 min
- Forest
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 4.8 km / 3.0 mi
- Elevation gain
- 38 m
- Typical duration
- 1 hr 4 min
- Forest
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 2.3 km / 1.4 mi
- Elevation gain
- 7 m
- Typical duration
- 30 min
- Forest
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 3.7 km / 2.3 mi
- Elevation gain
- 7 m
- Typical duration
- 47 min
- Forest
Easy
Moderate
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 9.3 km / 5.8 mi
- Elevation gain
- 122 m
- Typical duration
- 2 hr 7 min
- Forest
Moderate
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 3.1 km / 2.0 mi
- Elevation gain
- 53 m
- Typical duration
- 44 min
- Forest
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 0.8 km / 0.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 22 m
- Typical duration
- 11 min
- Forest
Moderate
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 11.8 km / 7.3 mi
- Elevation gain
- 7 m
- Typical duration
- 2 hr 28 min
- Forest
Moderate
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 3.2 km / 2.0 mi
- Elevation gain
- 6 m
- Typical duration
- 40 min
- Forest
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 2.1 km / 1.3 mi
- Elevation gain
- 7 m
- Typical duration
- 26 min
- Forest
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 2.5 km / 1.6 mi
- Elevation gain
- 31 m
- Typical duration
- 35 min
- Forest
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 5.9 km / 3.7 mi
- Elevation gain
- 12 m
- Typical duration
- 1 hr 15 min
- Forest
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 1.2 km / 0.8 mi
- Elevation gain
- 8 m
- Typical duration
- 16 min
- Forest
Moderate
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 15.4 km / 9.6 mi
- Elevation gain
- 100 m
- Typical duration
- 3 hr 22 min
- Forest
Easy
Moderate
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 14.9 km / 9.3 mi
- Elevation gain
- 12 m
- Typical duration
- 3 hr 7 min
- Forest
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 4.9 km / 3.1 mi
- Elevation gain
- 85 m
- Typical duration
- 1 hr 9 min
- Forest
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 2.8 km / 1.8 mi
- Typical duration
- 36 min
- River
- Forest
Moderate
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 9.3 km / 5.8 mi
- Elevation gain
- 21 m
- Typical duration
- 1 hr 59 min
- Lake
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 1.8 km / 1.1 mi
- Elevation gain
- 12 m
- Typical duration
- 23 min
- Forest
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 0.9 km / 0.6 mi
- Elevation gain
- 7 m
- Typical duration
- 12 min
- Forest
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 6.0 km / 3.8 mi
- Elevation gain
- 32 m
- Typical duration
- 1 hr 19 min
- Forest
Easy
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 2.6 km / 1.6 mi
- Elevation gain
- 6 m
- Typical duration
- 33 min
- Forest
Easy
Easy
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 4.7 km / 2.9 mi
- Elevation gain
- 19 m
- Typical duration
- 1 hr 1 min
- Forest
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 1.9 km / 1.2 mi
- Elevation gain
- 6 m
- Typical duration
- 24 min
- Forest
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 1.9 km / 1.2 mi
- Elevation gain
- 6 m
- Typical duration
- 24 min
- Forest
Easy
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 4.0 km / 2.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 9 m
- Typical duration
- 50 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.
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time | Difficulty | Best season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DLT h - N. Lake to Midwest RdIndiana | 8.8 km | 34 m | 1 hr 54 min | Moderate | April to October |
| Red Trail @ Grassy Lake Forest PreserveIllinois | 2.4 km | 15 m | 31 min | Easy | April to October |
| Fort Sheridan Forest PreserveIllinois | 5.5 km | 62 m | 1 hr 15 min | Moderate | April to October |
| Yellow Trail @ Grassy Lake Forest PreserveIllinois | 4.6 km | 7 m | 59 min | Easy | April to October |
| Little Calumet River TrailIndiana | 3.4 km | 7 m | 43 min | Easy | April to October |
| Main TrailIllinois | 15.3 km | 65 m | 3 hr 17 min | Moderate | April to October |
| Black Oak TrailIllinois | 1.9 km | 0 m | 24 min | Easy | April to October |
| Black Paved TrailIllinois | 4.0 km | 6 m | 50 min | Easy | April to October |
| Black Unpaved TrailIllinois | 6.4 km | 78 m | 1 hr 28 min | Easy | April to October |
| Blue South Single TrackIllinois | 4.8 km | 38 m | 1 hr 4 min | Easy | April to October |
DLT h - N. Lake to Midwest Rd, Red Trail @ Grassy Lake Forest Preserve, Fort Sheridan 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.
Read article →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.
Read article →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.
Read article →Related guides
Other shortlists covering the same area or the same kind of terrain.
- Hiking Trails Under 5 km in United States3816
- Moderate Hiking Trails in United States2589
- Easy Hiking Trails in United States2332
- Family-Friendly Hikes in United States2298
- Best Mountain Hikes in United States1375
- Dog-Friendly Hikes in United States1092
- Loop Trails in United States1042
- Hiking Trails Under 10 km in California829
- Hard Hiking Trails in United States778
- Moderate Hiking Trails in California722
- Best Autumn Hikes in California628
- Hiking Trails Under 5 km in California600
- Easy Hiking Trails in Connecticut565
- Family-Friendly Hikes in Connecticut564
- Hiking Trails Over 20 km in United States545
People also search for
- Family-Friendly Hikes near Manchester116
- Family-Friendly Hikes near Boston112
- Family-Friendly Hikes near Baltimore107
- Family-Friendly Hikes near Norwich107
- Family-Friendly Hikes near Springfield107
- Family-Friendly Hikes near Mansfield City104
- Family-Friendly Hikes near Washington96
- Family-Friendly Hikes near Hartford95
- Family-Friendly Hikes near Branford92
- Family-Friendly Hikes near Waterbury91
- Family-Friendly Hikes near West Torrington90
- Dog-Friendly Hikes near Yverdon-les-Bains82