With the beginning of spring and weather warming up, outside activities are beginning to be more appealing. Exhausted by the concrete streets and buildings, hiking spots near Chicago provide a good option to get a breath of fresh air while exploring greenery and wildlife.

 Senior Ramsey Radwan recently hiked in multiple national parks across different American states. 

“It is a great way to relax the mind and take a break from the more fast-paced elements of modern life, as well as that it is a great way to appreciate nature,” he said. 

Here are five popular places to hike near Chicago:

Starved Rock State Park: Named after a Native American legend, Starved Rock offers a quick change of scenery just an hour and half from downtown Chicago. It gloats 13 miles of trails and 18 canyons that work alongside streams and waterfalls making for a calm and natural setting. Most popular is its waterfall off St. Louis canyon. However, not all trails are available due to current COVID-19 policies. There is also no more swimming or wading in bodies of water in the park. Still, Starved Rock offers its main trails all the way down each hip of the Illinois River as long as masks are worn and proper social distancing is mandated, making its main geographical attractions still viewable.

Indiana Dunes: Located besides Lake Michigan, Indiana Dunes State Park is not a normal shoreline hike — its many sand dunes integrate a landscape that is both smooth and unique. These unique dunes were formed thousands of years ago by moraines during the Wisconsin Glacial Period. Nowadays, the Indiana Dunes offer a variety of terrain, length and difficulty options with majestic views of Lake Michigan and over 50 miles of trails. 

Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve: Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve offers flat and peaceful traditional forest hiking on their trails. The preserve also offers hundreds of plant and animal species. The main limestone trail is 9.5 miles long made for hikers and bicyclists. The waterfall that the preserve is named for is actually a dam that is blended into its environment.

North Branch Trail System: Built as a bicycle trail, North Branch Trail is a bridge between city and forest life. The trail offers both paved and unpaved trails that wind near city streets and into a quiet forest where deer roam. Its many trees are become vivid green in the spring and mellow orange, brown and yellow shades in the autumn. There are 36.7 miles of trails that are used for a variety of activities such as hiking, walking, biking, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding.

Kankakee River: Hiking trails near the Kankakee River are the furthest away from Chicago on the list, but carries its own flair making the drive worthwhile. The river offers lots of spots to rest and throw stones into the clear water. The trails loop around the park and offer many options for not only hiking but also biking, horseback riding, fishing and even cross-country skiing.

Editor’s note (4:33 p.m. on April 17): This article previously referenced “Starved Rock” as a national park, however it is a state park.