8 Perfect Places in the Midwest for Snowshoeing, Winter Hikes, and Snowy Walking Trails

Dec 17, 2024

Today we’re exploring some lesser pursued winter sports activities, such as snowshoeing, winter hiking, skijoring, and nature walks! Sure, skiing and snowboarding may provide you with plenty of thrills and all the chills, but there’s something so restful and rejuvenating about getting back to our roots in nature. We’ve gathered up 8 of the best locations in the area just a short drive away from Waukegan that would make perfect day trips or weekend and winter break getaways. Check it out and let us know in the comments if you’ve got a favorite place to go snowshoeing or winter hiking! Your suggestions may just make it into a future update.

The Sarette Nature Center in Benton Harbor, MI welcomes visitors to its 1,000 acres of winter wonderland including forests, prairies, and frozen wetlands. The terrain here is mostly flat and even, making it a fantastic place to jump into your snowshoeing hobby! There are five designated snowshoeing trails in the area, rentals are optional, and there are public fire-pits available on the weekends. Join in the fun with the Winter Break Escape Challenge by printing out the checklist and following the prompts and questions on the sheet; those who complete the Trivia Challenge may even win a special prize.

Indian Lake County Park in Cross Plains, WI has a beautiful 442 acre lake with a winding trail around it that leads to an incredible historic chapel from 1857. If you’d like to go cross country skiing or snowshoeing, this is the place to be. If you’re looking for ski-joring, seek out trails marked pet friendly and ones that aren’t specifically groomed for x-country skiers. There’s also a designated pet-friendly exercise area on site next to the small boat launch on the west side of the lake.

Interstate State Park in St. Croix Falls, WI area has plentiful multi-use trails to choose from. Please bear in mind that some areas may be off limits to your pet, so always check the signage and keep them on leash as directed by Wisconsin State Park rules. The Winter Recreation Trails are open for snowshoeing, winter hiking, cross-country skiing, and pet friendly activities like walks, trail running, and skijoring; note that the Skyline Trail does prohibit pets when it’s been groomed.

Justin Trails Resort in Sparta, WI has more than 200 acres of open areas and forests just rife with adventure opportunities. You and your pup can enjoy camping on-site, or opt for a more cozy stay in a cabin, and accommodations can be made for up to 3 pets (for a small fee per night.) This is a great location to enjoy skijoring or snowshoeing with your pet for some tandem snowy fun! There are also plenty of options for snowshoeing trails and cross-country skiing as well, and for the kids (and kid at heart!) there are sledding hills and tubing hills, too.

The Blackwell Forest Preserve is another wonderful area, especially if you’re just starting out with your skijoring and dog-in-tow snowshoeing pastime. The trails are perfect for beginners and intermediate snowshoers, but if your dog hasn’t had enough physical activity you can make a stop at the off-leash dog area on site. For those seeking adrenaline and adventure, you’re also welcome to seek out the dog-sledding trails, too.

The Morton Arboretum in Lisle offers 1,700 acres and boundless options for well-groomed hiking trails even in the winter months. It’s a wonderful spot for a winter snowshoe walk, and you can even rent a pair if you’re new to the activity (rentals are on a first come/first serve basis so arrive early and reserve your timed ticket!) On Saturday, December 21st you can sign up for the very enjoyable Winter Solstice Guided Hike and learn about local plants and wildlife during winter, learn to spot nature along the trails, and hear stories about the winter solstice. You can also explore the “Of the Earth” natural art exhibit that is currently on display through Spring 2025, or head over for an evening track through “Illumination: Tree Lights at the Aboroetum” through January 4th

The Waukegan Savanna is a wonderful spot year round, but this 774 acre park really shines in the winter as a ski-joring and dog sledding hot spot! You can bond with your dog over an exhilarating new canine sport like skijoring or canicross through the winter wonderland. And if they’re still bouncing around with energy, there’s an incredible 11-acre off-leash dog park that’s perfect for snowy weather fun like snowball fetch, snowy running, and frosty socials with fuzzy pals.

The Red Oak Nature Center in Batavia offers 40 acres of wintertime fun such as snowshoeing ($5 bargain for snowshoe rentals!). Each year the park also hosts “Frosty Fest” in January, where you can select from multiple self-guided trails featuring different snowman and winter themed stories, artwork, lights displays, and more. At the very end you’ll get to enjoy a cup of hot cocoa and roast marshmallows over the campfire. You can register for tickets to Frosty Fest Online for $10 per person – don’t delay, it sells quickly!