Best Hikes in Illinois

Illinois's best hiking is concentrated in Starved Rock, the Shawnee Hills, and the Galena Territory — modest but genuinely rewarding terrain for a flat state.

Starved Rock: Canyon Loop (8 miles)
A loop connecting multiple canyons along the Illinois River bluffs — St. Louis Canyon (the most dramatic, with a 40-foot waterfall into a sandstone grotto), French Canyon (narrow, mossy walls), and Wildcat Canyon (widest, with spring wildflowers). The Illinois River Bluff Trail above the canyons gives river views. Best in April (waterfalls at peak flow) and January (frozen cascades). The trailhead is at Starved Rock Lodge.

Garden of the Gods Wilderness (Shawnee NF)
The Observation Trail (0.25 miles) to the rock formations is the short essential visit; the River-to-River Trail passes through the area for thru-hikers. The Rim Rock National Recreation Trail (3.5 miles) near Golconda traverses the sandstone rimrock above the Ohio River — the finest hike in southern Illinois.

Giant City State Park: Giant City Trail and Post Oak Trail
The Giant City Nature Trail (1 mile) through the sandstone "streets" is the quintessential southern Illinois hike — moss-covered, cool, and primeval. The Post Oak Trail (3.5 miles) traverses the bluff tops with views.

Illinois Prairie Path (Chicago metro)
A 61-mile trail network on former railroad corridors connecting the Chicago suburbs — the model for rail-trail conversions across the US. The main stem runs from Wheaton to Maywood; branches extend to Aurora, Elgin, and Batavia. Not wilderness, but excellent urban cycling and walking.

Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve (Darien)
A 10-mile loop in a Cook County forest preserve surrounding Argonne National Laboratory — one of the best close-in Chicago hikes, passing a waterfall (Cass Avenue Falls), prairie restorations, and the Des Plaines River.