3 Favorite Hiking Trails and Walking Paths in Driving Distance of Niles, IL

There are lots of places to enjoy the great outdoors near Niles, IL, with a huge range of excellent hiking trails to choose from. Hiking is a great way to get outdoors and enjoy the fresh air, so why not pile the whole family into your spacious Chevrolet Traverse and set off for a day in nature? Read on for our pick of the best nearby trails.

1. Des Plaines Trail and Schiller Woods

Located along the banks of the Des Plaines River, and just a 14-minute drive from Niles, Schiller Woods is a 280-acre preserve, with verdant open fields and tranquil woodlands just waiting to be explored. Several paths run down to the river from the various convenient parking lots, and there’s a well-maintained greenway that follows its banks through the park. It’s suitable for both walkers and cyclists.

The greenway is actually part of a much longer trail, the 56-mile Des Plaines River Trail. The Des Plains trail runs through many of the most important wetlands and forest habitats of Cook and Lake Counties. While it would certainly be a challenge to walk it all at once, tackling it in stages would be a fun outdoor project for keen hikers.

2. Montrose Park Beach Trail

Montrose Park Beach Trail is almost unique amongst trails in the Chicago area, as it contains a hill (of sorts)! While it might not be a very big hill, it is high enough to offer some amazing views over the city skyline and Lake Michigan. Kids will particularly love the opportunity to see the city from a distance, as well as the chance to play at the nearby Montrose Beach. Half of the trail uses part of the longer, paved, Chicago Lakefront Trail, while most of the eastern half is on cinder trails.

3. North Branch Trail

Following the North Branch of the Chicago River, the North Branch Trail covers almost 20 miles of mostly paved trail which passes very close to Niles. Either join the trail in the middle or take a short drive to one of the trailheads at the Chicago Botanic Gardens in the north or Forest Glen in the south near Caldwell Woods.

If you walk the trail from north to south, it’s possible to take a loop through Skokie Lagoons and Ericson Woods which adds just over four miles to the hike. Despite the traffic noise from I-95, there’s a good chance to see deer in the woodland.

So, there you have it, our top picks for walking trails within a short drive of Niles. Don’t forget to come check out our great new and used inventory when you’ve finished: visit Golf Mill Chevrolet today!

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