Moderate
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 15.3 km / 9.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 65 m
- Typical duration
- 3 hr 17 min
- Forest
Loop Trails near Chicago
The directory currently contains 28 quality-checked routes matching this guide near Chicago. Their average mapped distance is 3.8 km and average recorded ascent is 17 m (56 ft); the longest route in the set is 15.4 km.
This subset represents 25% of the 110 quality-checked routes near Chicago. Its average distance is 3.8 km, compared with 7.7 km across the full local set.
Every route in this set is classified as a loop and returns to its starting area. A loop can still reuse part of the same path. Within this set, 23 routes (82%) are rated easy, 0 (0%) are rated hard or expert, and 28 (100%) 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
0.5 km
North Island Loop TrailCompare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.
Lowest recorded ascent in this sample
0 m
Black Oak Trail6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.
Return logistics
6 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
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
- 11.8 km / 7.3 mi
- Elevation gain
- 7 m
- Typical duration
- 2 hr 28 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
- 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
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 1.1 km / 0.7 mi
- Elevation gain
- 6 m
- Typical duration
- 15 min
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
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 13.0 km / 8.1 mi
- Elevation gain
- 81 m
- Typical duration
- 2 hr 49 min
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
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 2.6 km / 1.6 mi
- Elevation gain
- 6 m
- Typical duration
- 33 min
- Forest
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 2.8 km / 1.7 mi
- Elevation gain
- 6 m
- Typical duration
- 36 min
Easy
Easy
Illinois · United States
- Distance
- 4.7 km / 2.9 mi
- Elevation gain
- 19 m
- Typical duration
- 1 hr 1 min
- Forest
Easy
Easy
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Farm Pond TrailIllinois | 0.9 km | 0 m | 11 min | Easy | April to October |
| Night Heron TrailIllinois | 3.7 km | 7 m | 47 min | Easy | April to October |
| North Island Loop TrailIllinois | 0.5 km | 0 m | 6 min | Easy | April to October |
| Orange Unpaved LoopIllinois | 9.3 km | 122 m | 2 hr 7 min | Moderate | April to October |
| Red Paved LoopIllinois | 11.8 km | 7 m | 2 hr 28 min | Moderate | April to October |
| Riverbend TrailIllinois | 2.1 km | 7 m | 26 min | Easy | April to October |
| White Oak TrailIllinois | 1.2 km | 8 m | 16 min | Easy | April to October |
| Yellow East TrailIllinois | 15.4 km | 100 m | 3 hr 22 min | Moderate | April to October |
Black Oak Trail, North Island Loop Trail, Riverbend 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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