Take a Walk in the Park Day: Local Parks, Nature Trails, and National Historic Sites in Illinois

Mar 30, 2022

National Take a Walk in the Park day comes around every year on March 30th! Celebrated a week after the Spring Equinox, it’s a great opportunity to explore local parks and trails and experience the great outdoors. After spending a few months indoors hiding from the snow, sleet, and ice, this is the perfect time to reconnect with nature! Did you know that there are dozens of parks, trails, and preserves right in your own neighbourhood? We’ve got a great list of suggested destinations to explore with your friends and family, and many of them are even pet friendly! So grab your hiking boots, your water bottles, and your cameras and let’s enjoy a walk in the park together.

Local Parks, Trails, and Preserves in Lake County/Greater Chicago Area

Lyons Woods Forest Preserve in Waukegan
Waukegan Savanna Forest Preserve in wadsworth
Lake County Forest Preserve in North Chicago
Lake Carina Forest Preserve
Des Plaines River Trail and Greenway in Wadsworth
McDonald Woods Forest Preserve in Lake Villa
Captain DAniel Wright Woods Forest Preserve in Mettawa
Lakewood Forest Preserve in Wauconda
Nippersink Forest Preserve in Round Lake
Van Patten Woods Forest Preserve in Wadworth
Old School Forest Preserve in Libertyville
Rollins Savanna Forest Preserve in Grayslake
Grant Woods Forest Preserve in Ingleside
Raven Glen Forest Preserve in Antioch
Sun Lake Forest Preserve in Lake Villa
Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve in Long Grove
Middlefork Savanna Forest Preserve in Lake Forest
Millennium Trail and Greenway in Mundelein
Moraine Hills State Park in McHenry
Marl Flat Forest Preserve in Round Lake
Fort Hill Trail in Mundelein
Grassy Lake Bike Trails in Tower Lakes
Gander Mountain in Antioch
Edward L. Ryerson Conservation Area in Deerfield
Hastings Lake Forest Preserve in Lake Villa

Did you also know that Illinois is home to some incredible “national parks?” You’ve got to check them out! Although they’re not congressionally recognized National Parks, they are national historic sites with beautiful land and trails to explore.

Great National Sites and Trails in Illinois

Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail – This connects 16 different states and commemorates the 1804-1806 journey of the Lewis and Clark Expedition!
Lincoln Home National Historic Site – Explore the four block wide historic neighbourhood, and take a tour of the Lincoln family home, now a national historic site.
Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail – After the death of Joseph Smith, Mormon successor Brigham Young organized a 500+ wagon train from Illinois through Iowa and into Utah; there are 5 stopping points located in Illinois: Nauvoo Landing, Nauvoo State Park & Museum, Carthage Jail & Visitor Center, Nauvoo National Historic Landmark, and the Joseph Smith Historic Site
Pullman National Monument – This site memorializes the labor strike at the Pullman Company in 1894.
Trail of Tears National Scenic Trail – A grand total of 5,043 miles cross 9 different states following the 1838 xodus of 16,000+ Cherokee Native Americans from their homelands in Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, and Georgia at the behest of the US Army and Government; 60 miles of which stretch through the southern portion of Illinois.