Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 2.4 km / 1.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 15 m
- Typical duration
- 31 min
- Lake
- Forest
Hiking Trails Under 5 km near Chicago
The directory currently contains 74 quality-checked routes matching this guide near Chicago. Their average mapped distance is 2.1 km and average recorded ascent is 14 m (46 ft); the longest route in the set is 4.9 km.
This subset represents 67% of the 110 quality-checked routes near Chicago. Its average distance is 2.1 km, compared with 7.7 km across the full local set.
Every route in this set has a mapped distance of 5 km or less. Time and suitability still depend on ascent, surface and conditions. Within this set, 69 routes (93%) are rated easy, 0 (0%) are rated hard or expert, and 22 (30%) 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
0.8 km
Beach TrailCompare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.
Lowest recorded ascent in this sample
0 m
Beach Trail6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.
Return logistics
0 recorded loops
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
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
- 3.5 km / 2.2 mi
- Elevation gain
- 12 m
- Typical duration
- 45 min
- Desert
Easy
Indiana · United States
- Distance
- 4.1 km / 2.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 37 m
- Typical duration
- 55 min
- Desert
Easy
Indiana · United States
- Distance
- 3.4 km / 2.1 mi
- Elevation gain
- 7 m
- Typical duration
- 43 min
- River
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
- 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
- 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
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
- 1.2 km / 0.8 mi
- Elevation gain
- 8 m
- Typical duration
- 16 min
- Forest
Easy
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
Easy
Indiana · United States
- Distance
- 4.0 km / 2.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 34 m
- Typical duration
- 54 min
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 3.9 km / 2.4 mi
- Elevation gain
- 55 m
- Typical duration
- 53 min
Easy
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 1.1 km / 0.7 mi
- Elevation gain
- 6 m
- Typical duration
- 15 min
Easy
Easy
Moderate
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 1.1 km / 0.7 mi
- Elevation gain
- 46 m
- Typical duration
- 18 min
Easy
Indiana · United States
- Distance
- 2.6 km / 1.6 mi
- Elevation gain
- 6 m
- Typical duration
- 33 min
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
Moderate
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 3.6 km / 2.3 mi
- Elevation gain
- 14 m
- Typical duration
- 47 min
Moderate
Indiana · United States
- Distance
- 3.5 km / 2.2 mi
- Elevation gain
- 42 m
- Typical duration
- 47 min
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 3.2 km / 2.0 mi
- Elevation gain
- 6 m
- Typical duration
- 41 min
Easy
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Trail @ Grassy Lake Forest PreserveIllinois | 2.4 km | 15 m | 31 min | Easy | April to October |
| Beach TrailIndiana | 0.8 km | 0 m | 10 min | Easy | April to October |
| Yellow Trail @ Grassy Lake Forest PreserveIllinois | 4.6 km | 7 m | 59 min | Easy | April to October |
| Paul H. Douglas TrailIndiana | 3.5 km | 12 m | 45 min | Easy | April to October |
| Tolleston Dunes TrailIndiana | 4.1 km | 37 m | 55 min | Easy | April to October |
| Little Calumet River TrailIndiana | 3.4 km | 7 m | 43 min | Easy | 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 |
| Blue South Single TrackIllinois | 4.8 km | 38 m | 1 hr 4 min | Easy | April to October |
| Brown West TrailIllinois | 2.3 km | 7 m | 30 min | Easy | April to October |
Red Trail @ Grassy Lake Forest Preserve, Beach Trail, Paul H. Douglas Trail 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
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- Hard Hiking Trails in United States778
- Moderate Hiking Trails in California722
- Best Autumn Hikes in California628
- Hiking Trails Under 5 km in California600
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- Family-Friendly Hikes in Connecticut564
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