Directions/Walk Details: This is off of Sand Lake Road just West of Route 45. We’ll be walking North on the Millennium Trail into the back entrance of McDonald Woods Forest Preserve. I have a 1-, 2-, and 3-mile walk planned. The longest walk will have two fairly steep hills (down into a ravine and back up again). It is an absolutely beautiful path down there but somewhat challenging. The 2-mile route skips the ravine. Paved, crushed gravel, and woodchips. Mostly flat. Pets allowed. Restrooms available.
Directions/Walk Details: This is just South of Hawthorne Mall and across from Vernon Hills High School. We’ll meet in the parking lot of a lovely outdoor amphitheater. That specific area is beautiful and wonderful to just sit and think. It connects to a longer trail in Deerpath Park. That trail is paved, mostly flat, and almost no shade. 3-mile loop (if you only want a mile stay in the Arbortheater area). Pets allowed. We’ll be walking by a very cool outdoor playgrounds so you might want to bring the kids. The playground is called “Kids Castle” and is part of the Vernon Hills Park District if you want to look it up.
Directions/Walk Details: 3.2-mile crushed gravel path (East to Gilmer and back). Mostly flat. Not much shade. Pets welcome. Restrooms at the trailhead.
Directions/Walk Details: Once you enter the preserve, go to the ring road and turn right (it’s one-way). We’ll meet in the 1st parking lot on the right(It’s titled as a picnic ground). We will be walking NORTH on the Des Plaines River Trail to about Route 176 and then turn around. Crushed gravel. Quite flat. Some shade. May be buggy, bring protectant. Pets welcome. Restrooms at the picnic ground.
Directions/Walk Details: Packed gravel trails with gently rolling hills. 2 interconnected looping trails. The main trail is 1.5-miles. If you take the side path North to Nippersink Road & back, you will add another 1.5 miles. Pets allowed. Restrooms available. Not much shade. NOTE: Park in the 1st parking lot to the RIGHT by picnic Shelter A.
Directions/Walk Details: This is just a tad South of the intersection of Route 43 & Route 176. It is a mostly flat gravel trail with almost no shade. We’ll be heading South along the Millennium Trail to an old train bridge which was built by the original owner of the land, J. Ogden Armour (think hot dogs). The walk is 1.3 miles to the bridge and on the return trip we’ll take a small side loop allowing us to see the underside of the bridge. That will make for a 2.8-mile round trip. Port-a-pottie at the entrance. Pets allowed.
Directions/Walk Details: A beautiful 2.5- mile path around the big lake but there is a bridge allowing you to cut the walk in half. Crushed gravel. When you enter the preserve, follow the road to the LEFT. We will meet in the 1st parking lot you encounter on the WEST side of the lake. Pets allowed.
Directions/Walk Details: Some gravel, some paved. Mostly flat except if you want to walk down the hill to the edge of Lake Michigan (and then back up again). 2 inter-connecting loops. 2 miles plus another mile for a total of 3 miles. Besides the beach at Lake Michigan, this hike will take us past a National Cemetery, past a human-sized Red-Tailed Hawk’s nest, and much more. About 50% shaded. Pets welcome.
Directions/Walk Details: Mostly gravel but some paved. Mostly flat but the closer you get to Milwaukee you’ll find a bit of an incline. We’ll make a 2-mile loop by walking up to Dilleys, down to Milwaukee, and back to the park. For an added ½ mile and neat adventure we can also head over to Prairie Oaks Park then back to Betty Russell. Not much shade. Pet friendly. Restrooms available.
Directions/Walk Details: You’ll have the option of doing both for a nice 3-mile walk. (to Route 120 & back is 1.5 miles and then to the subdivision on the East side of Wilson Road & back is another 1.5 miles). Fully paved. Some hills. Pets allowed.
900 N Hunt Club Rd
