Easy Hikes Close To Home Chicago

Carefully researched on foot by avid hiker Ted Villaire, and filled with detailed trail notes, Easy Hikes Close to Home: Chicago helps novice hikers discover their options with concise at-a-glance information. The guide, which is lightweight and extremely easy to carry on the trail, highlights factors such as location, access, directions, distance, and scenery. Included are both newly established trails and older trails ripe for rediscovery.

Who says you have to travel far from home to go on a great hike? In Best Hikes Near Chicago author Adam Morgan details the best hikes within an hour's drive of the greater Chicago area perfect for the urban and suburbanite hard-pressed to find great outdoor activities close to home. Each featured hike includes detailed hike specs, a brief hike description, trailhead location, directional cues, and a detailed map.

In addition to Chicago's numerous cultural and athletic activities, there are many excellent opportunities to explore Mother Nature's bounty. From the dunes of Lake Michigan to the hills and lakes of the northwest to the prairies of the south, hikers will find a trail to their liking in this updated edition of 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Chicago. Hikes were chosen for their scenic appeal, but they were also chosen for their historic attractions. The extensive key-at-a-glance information makes it a snap to choose a hike based on length, difficulty, and scenery. Helpful lists highlight the best hikes for children, for wildlife viewing, and other categories. Whether a long-time Chicago resident or vacationer to the area, this updated guide will make choosing the right hike easy and enjoyable.

Written for the cyclists of all stripes, Best Bikes Rides Near Chicago marks the debut of a new series that offers a diverse array of scenic tours in some of America’s largest urban destinations—from easy excursions for the Sunday cyclist to challenging treks for the veteran. Here, veteran author and cyclist Ted Villaire presents 35 diverse rides in and around the Windy City. As amply demonstrated by this guide, Chicago’s heritage as a transportation hub has reaped huge rewards for local cyclists. Twenty miles of lakeshore parkland and an elaborate system of leafy boulevards connect a series of mega-parks throughout the city. Coupled with this is an ever-expanding cycling infrastructure featuring more than 100 miles of bikes lanes. The Illinois Prairie Path, which runs between the Des Plaines River and Wheaton, was one of the first linear trails in the nation converted from a railroad line—and today it is part of the most extensive collection of rail trails in the Midwest, perhaps the nation.

Comprehensive directory to the top rail-trails throughout Illinois. The top trails are given a full profile, with detailed descriptions of the trails and things to see and do along the way.

In addition to Chicago's numerous cultural and athletic activities, there are many excellent opportunities to explore Mother Nature's bounty. Including hikes near Aurora, Joliet, and Elgin, 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Chicago is filled with great options for those looking for hikes close to home. Trekkers will want to explore trails in Chain O' Lakes State Park, Volo Bog State Natural Area, Palos Forest Preserve, and Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. From the dunes of Lake Michigan to the hills and lakes of the northwest to the prairies of the south, hikers will find a trail to their liking in 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Chicago.

A guidebook to hikes around Chicago accessible by public transportation.

Detailed descriptions and maps of forty of the best bicycle rides in Illinois, from easy afternoon jaunts to multi-day tours.