6 Best Hiking Trails in Northern Illinois [List]

You have to admit, the last could of weeks have brought some of the best summer weather to Northern Illinois. Daytime highs in the upper 70's and nighttime lows in the 60's are very conducive to making your hiking experience even better. Now, where to go?

From sand dunes in Indiana to the trails of  Rock Cut State Park here in the Rockford area, there are many great opportunities to take the family out and enjoy nature and enjoy some great hiking time family.

Time-Out Chicago recently ranked the top six family friendly hiking trails in Northern Illinois and Northern Indiana.

1. Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Located along the southern shore of Lake Michigan. The park features 70 miles of hiking trails to explore.

2. Northerly Island in Chicago. Northerly Island is a 91- acre peninsula that juts into Lake Michigan at the heart of the Museum Campus

3. Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in Darien. It is a 2,492-acre resource. It is one of the most ecologically impressive parcels of open space within the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, if not northern Illinois.

4. The Des Plaines River Trail. According to Time-Out Chicago, it is part of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County that makes up more than 69,000 acres of natural land, the Des Plaines River Trail runs along the Des Plaines River.

5. Starved Rock State Park. If you are from the stateline area you are very familiar with this destination. The park features thirteen miles of trails, waterfalls, boating, trolley tours and more is some of what you'll find here.

6. Rock Cut State Park: Right here in our own back yard, you will find 40 miles of hiking trails, 23 miles of mountain bike trails and 14 miles of equestrian trails.

Winter is just five months away, so make some time available and check out these awesome nature spots before the snow starts flying!