2024 Local Hikes
June 19. 2024
2023
We started doing weekly at local forest preserves and nature centers late in 2023 and added them here since not a lot to have it's own page.
Tuesday, Dec 14
Sag Valley Forest Preserve
Sag Valley Yellow
40
8.6
436'
Moderate
Loop
Light
Nice hike pretty far but worth doing again.
Spring Forest Deli, tasty!
Tuesday, Dec 21
Deer Run Forest Preserve
Orange, Red, Blue
38
6.8
52'
Easy
Loop
Light
Nice hike but very remote and rather far.
Cherry Valley Cafe, tasty!
Friday, Dec 29
Ned Brown Forest Preserve
Red Loop
27
8
105'
Easy
Loop
Light
Should do again. Good Hike. Good for biking too. Lot's of places to picnic.
Portillos, tasty!
2024
Saturday, Jan 6
Timber Ridge Forest Preserve
Great Western Triangle
14
5.4
104'
Easy
Loop
Light
OK Hike
Scoobies, not good, not again.
Friday, Feb 2
Fox River
Geneva to Batavia (short)
4
3.8
50'
Easy
Out & Back
Light
Nice walk along the river.
Egg Harbor, tasty but pricey.
Wednesday, Feb 14
Fox River - Aurora
North Aurora to Batavia
10
6.7
50'
Easy
Out & Back
Light
Nice walk along the river and close to home
Hasner's,great spot - go again.
Friday, Feb 23
Goose Prarie Natural Area
Nature Trail & Prarie View
60
5
400'
Easy
Loop
Light
Good spot, good for picnic... but far.
Weits Cafe, tasty!.
Tuesday, Feb 27
Morton Arboretum
Morton arboretum and big rock
22
5.4
308'
Easy
Loops
Light
charged $34 for entry to arboretum. Hard to navigate. Don't revisit
Wednesday, March 06
Pratt Forest Preserve
Two loops
10
4.6
100'
Easy
Loop
Light
Good Hikes, all trail only has 2, there are more in the preserve, good to go back to, good for a picnic
Southern Cafe,tasty,pricey
Wednesday, March 20
Blackwell Forest Preserve
Mount Hoy and Prairie View
17
6.9
300'
Easy
Loop
Light
Good Hikes
Hummingbird Cafe. Fun diner. Tasty!
Thursday, March 28
Fermi Lab
Fermi Lab
5.3
59'
Easy
Out & Back
Light
Not a good hike but, with all the rain of late we knew this was a paved hike.
Daddio's Diner. Fun Diner, tasty!
Friday, April 4
Leroy Oaks Forest Preserve
Leroy Oaks
3
5
300'
Easy
Loop
Light
Lots of rain, just decided do the paved trails at Leroy Oaks
Spotted Fox, had a Groupon so good value, tasty burgers.
Friday, April 19
Grant Woods forest preserve
Grant Woods
45
5
250'
Easy
Light
Chain of Lakes, long drive, good hike
Homemade bread and sammies, tasty!
Wednesday, April 24
Herrick Lake Forest Preserve
Herrick Lake
20
6
250'
Easy
Light
Nice hike do it again.
Picnic lunch, tasty!
Monday, April 29
Deer Grove Forest Preserve
Yellow Loop Trail
?
5.7
200'
Easy
Loop
Light
In Palatine close to Jake's house. Most of trail was gravel but about 1 mile was a bit muddy after lots of rain. Good hike to do again with Jake
Jelly Cafe was tasty!
Wednesday, May 8
West Branch & Hawk Hollow FPs
West Branch & Hawk Hollow
8
5.8
200'
Easy
Out&Back
Light
Worth repeating and close to home.
Eggcentric. Lunch was tasty as we sat on the balcony overlooking the fox
river enjoying the weather. Worth repeating.
Friday, May 31
Dick Young Forest Preserve
Nelson Lake Loop
10
4.3
82'
Easy
Loop
Light
Close to home in Batavia. A beautiful 80 deg sunny day with a light breeze.
Trail wanders through woods, prairie and lake views (a little of everything).
Worth repeating and close to home.
Andre'a Restaurant. Lunch was tasty as we sat on the balcony overlooking the fox
river and enjoying the weather. Worth repeating.
Friday, June 07
Oak Ridge Forest Preserve
Upper Loop
20
6.4
150'
Easy
Light
Nice hike on a nice day. Worth repeating.
Picnic Lunch, Tasty!
Wednesday, June 19
Warrenville Grove Forest Preserve
West Branch Dupage River and Ill Prairie
15
6.4
60'
Easy
Light
It was HOT today, the hike was a mix of sun and shade. Limestone and paved.
Picnic Lunch, Tasty! Unfortunately no picnic tables so we just ate in the car.
Thursday, June 27
Lake Herrick FP
Lake Herrick
15
6.4
250'
Easy
Loop
Light
2nd time here. Great, close to home place to hike, can extend or reduce distance, picnic tables. Wide limestone trail, mix of sun and shade.
Picnic Lunch, tasty!
Wednesday, July 3
Saint James FP
St James Farm Trail Loop
12
4.5
141'
Easy
Loop
Light
Great, close place for hiking. All trails route start cuts through the field but otherwise OK, we extended the hike on the ?? Trail.
Lots of shady spots and picnic tables. Tasty!
Wednesday, July 10
McDowell Grove Forest Preserve
McDowell Grove Loop (3.5)+ Extension (1.7)
17
5.2
150'
Easy
Loop
Light
Good Hike. Especially 2nd half more in the woods. Part limestone part grassy.
Picnic tables at parking lot. Tasty!
Wednesday, July 17
Bemis Forest Preserve Cook County
Salt Creek Trail
25
6.2
200'
Easy
Out&Back
Med
Great Trail all wooded, lots of shade, Moderate bike traffic
Picnic tables at parking lot. Tasty!
Wednesday, July 25
Jon Durr FP, Kane
River Bend & Fox River Prtls
8
6.7
300'
Easy
Out&Back
Light
Great trail along the Fox River close to home. Note- all trails parking lot under construction. Park off hwy 31 just past Mclean on the right side.
No picnic tables so went to Leroy Oaks for lunch. Tasty!
Friday, August 2
Fitchie Creek FP
Lp + spur
8
3.3
150'
Easy
Loop+
Light
Paved/Limestone, part prairie, part wooded. Nice!
Picnic Lunch,tasty!
Wednesday, August 7
Muirhead Forest Preserve
Muirhead Springs Loop
10
3.3
300'
Easy
Loop
Light
Limestone, prairie, Nice easy hike!
Picnic Lunch,tasty!
Wednesday, August 14
Shabbona Lake State Park
Snowmobile prtl, Arrowhead, Tomahawk
38
7
400'
Easy
Loop
Light
Great Hike around the lake. Trails well maintained but rest of park not. Mostly grass trail, woods and prairie. Notes- All trails route is a little off but worked out ok. I have a park map.
Picnic Lunch,tasty!
Wednesday, August 21
Les Arens FP
Various, Fox River
12
7.2
200'
Mod
Ob
Light
All asphalt. Small hike in the FP (.4 + .3) then the rest of south on the Fox River Bike Trail. Nice trail but only a 3 rating because of lots of bikes even on a Wed.
Picnic Lunch,tasty!
Wednesday, August 28
Great Western Brown to Hansen
Great Western Brown to Hansen
5
3.2
200'
Easy
Ob
Light
This is a good go to place for a nice walk. Totally shaded but not very buggy and close to home. Travels East and West so usually although wooded you get the breeze.
Picnic Lunch,tasty!
Wednesday, September 4
James O'Breen Nature Area
Various
5
3.2
200'
Easy
Ob,Lp
Light
Good hike but buggy. Close to home. Could be a go to spot outside of bug and muddy season.
Picnic Lunch,tasty!
Friday, September 20
Crab Tree Nature Center
Figure 8
20
4
200'
Easy
Lps
Light
A very nice hike, excellent scenery. Nature Center with well maintained trails. Definitely come back.
Picnic Lunch,tasty!
Friday, September 20
Sag Valley Trail System
Brown and Red
46
5.4
250'
Easy
Lp&Ob
Light
Nice Hike, great early fall weather, trail was mostly gravel(hiking boots best). Mix of sun and shade.
Willow Springs Deli
VIDEO Wednesday, October 2
Shoe Factory Road Woods
Yellow
15
6.1
200'
Easy
Lp
Light
Nice Hike, great early fall weather, trail was mostly gravel(hiking boots best). Mix of sun and shade.
Picnic Lunch,tasty!
Thursday, October 10
Mallard Lake FP
Mallard Lp and Dupage Prtl
12
5.1
250'
Easy
Lp+Ob
Light
Good Hike.
Picnic Lunch,tasty!
Thursday, November 14
James O'Breene Park
Loop + 38 Spur
3
3
150'
Easy
Lp+Ob
Light
Good Hike, Limestone, Some woods, some open
Picnic Lunch,tasty!
Friday, November 29
Leroy Oaks FP
Wood Lp + Lp
2
3
200'
Easy
Lp+Lp
Light
Good Hike.
Picnic Lunch,tasty!
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