Ted Villaire - 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Chicago: Including Aurora, Northwest Indiana, and Waukegan

Theres no arguing with the benefits of wandering through the woods. Whatever were looking forfresh air, exercise, time with (or away from) the family, a bit of adventure, or a momentary escape from the concrete gridtraipsing through the local landscape helps us take stock of ourselves and the world around us.

The best thing about hiking in the Chicago region is the variety of scenic spots, each with a distinctive topographical flavor, its own combination of plants and wildlife, and its unique seasonal ambience. When its time to dodge city living for a while, a short trip to Lake Michigan is the first idea in the minds of many. Mesmerizing us every chance it gets, the Big Lakes endless blue horizon is no small part of the regions allure. Profoundly intertwined with the areas weather, economic and social history, and, of course, its visual charm, this exquisite diversion is in Chicagoans own front yard. Heading inland away from the lake, there is no shortage of patches of parkland that can provide us with a respite from our daily routines. These are places that invite us to trace the routes of meandering rivers, wander through expansive prairies, and scramble up steep, wooded hills. These are places we go to enjoy a picnic in a dappled oak savanna, or where we can sit on the edge of a quiet lake while admiring a field of water lilies beyond the weeping willows.

Spring and fall provide some of the best times to explore local trails: temperatures are moderate, bugs are dormant, the number of visitors is minimal, and lovely surprises often present themselves to those who look. Spring, of course, brings a sensory banquet as buds pop, wildflowers bloom, and the landscape becomes braided with intermittent streams. The only thing more pleasurable than the awakening of spring is getting hit with a Technicolor blast in fall. Places such as Deer Grove Forest Preserve, Morton Arboretum, and the Bailly/Chellberg Hike at the Indiana Dunes are a few spots where one can witness brilliant displays of autumns leaves. Fall also offers opportunities to swim through a sea of prairie grass as the mauve stalks of big bluestem reach heights of eight to ten feet at places such as Goose Lake Prairie State Park and Chain O Lakes State Park.