Lake County Forest Preserve trails provide opportunities for you and your family to exercise, relax, and spend quality time outdoors together in peaceful, natural settings.
Go for a hike, jog, bike, ride your horse, cross-country ski, snowmobile or relax on a trailside bench and watch nature along 209 miles of trails in forest preserves throughout the county. In preserves where allowed, please keep dogs leashed and on trails at all times, and pick up after them. Learn about our Off-Leash Dog Areas (permit required).
Before heading out, click the button below to check the current status (open/closed) of trails and underpasses.
Launch the Interactive Trail Map Countywide Map and Guide Check Status of Trails
Trail Surfaces and Accessibility
The majority of our preserve trails are between 8–14 feet wide.
Most preserve trails are crushed gravel, which is considered an accessible surface.
These preserves have accessible paved trails:
These preserves also have short mowed grass or woodchip trails, which are not considered accessible surfaces:
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Captain Daniel Wright Woods, Mettawa |
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Dog Sled Area, Wadsworth |
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Fort Sheridan, Highland Park |
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Fourth Lake, Lake Villa |
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Gander Mountain, Antioch |
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Half Day, Vernon Hills |
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Lake Carina, Gurnee |
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McDonald Woods, Lindenhurst |
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Middlefork Savanna, Lake Forest |
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Pine Dunes, Antioch |
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Raven Glen, Antioch |
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Ryerson Woods, Riverwoods |
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Van Patten Woods, Wadsworth |
Longer Trails
Des Plaines River Trail and Greenway
This gravel trail spans nearly the entire length of Lake County for 31.4 miles as it winds through 12 forest preserves. It is open for hiking, bicycling, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, and snowmobiling (between Russell Road and Wadsworth Road only).
The trail follows the river's edge from Russell Road in Wadsworth south to Lake Cook Road where it connects to the Cook County Forest Preserve trail system. Bridges and underpasses from Wadsworth Road south make it possible to travel without crossing any major roads.
The Des Plaines River Trail is also a key link in a regional network of trails that includes the Lake County Division of Transportation’s (LCDOT) North Shore Bike Path and McClory Trail, and our Millennium Trail. Find regional connections on LCDOT's website.
Shorter Trails
In many preserves, you'll find loop trails that are suitable for shorter hikes. Van Patten Woods, Nippersink, Old School, Pine Dunes, Hastings Lake, and Wright Woods are locations that offer shorter loop trails.
Bike Rental
Rent a variety of bikes at the marina at Independence Grove Forest Preserve in Libertyville and enjoy the paved trail that loops around the preserve's 129-acre lake. Trails here have fun inclines that are not too difficult.