Family hikes and nature walks around Chicago
Chicago is flat, which is good news for hiking with kids: almost no climbing, forest preserve trails of crushed gravel wide enough for a stroller, short loops, and something to see within minutes, whether ducks, a waterfall, elk or a mammoth skeleton. Each place says whether to bring the stroller or the carrier.
For a first hike, the classics are the brick Naperville Riverwalk, the Herrick Lake loop and the short nature-center loops at Knoch Knolls and Spring Valley. For water, the little falls at Waterfall Glen are minutes from the lot, and Fullersburg Woods follows the creek to an old mill. Busse Woods has elk, The 606 runs on an old elevated rail line, and the island in Jackson Park is for birds. Kids who can walk two miles should see the canyons at Starved Rock once a year: waterfalls in spring, frozen falls in winter.
- 17 places
- 17 free
- 15 stroller-friendly
- closest is 5 min away
17 places
Drive times from Naperville
Naperville Riverwalk
5.0Naperville · 5 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free on weekends at the Municipal Center (400 S Eagle St) and the Central Parking Facility; use the Van Buren garage when downtown is tight
Knoch Knolls Nature Center and trails
5.0Naperville · 10 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free nature center lot (320 Knoch Knolls Rd)
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center
5.0Willow Springs · 30 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free nature center lot (9800 Willow Springs Rd)
Spring Valley Nature Center and trails
5.0Schaumburg · 40 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free nature center lot (1111 E Schaumburg Rd)
Emily Oaks Nature Center
5.0Skokie · 55 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free nature center lot (4650 Brummel St)
River Trail Nature Center
5.0Northbrook · 55 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free nature center lot (3120 Milwaukee Ave)
Springbrook Prairie
4.0Naperville · 10 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Two free lots, on Plainfield-Naperville Rd and 83rd St
Hidden Lakes Historic Trout Farm
4.0Bolingbrook · 10 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free park lot (419 Trout Farm Rd)
Herrick Lake lakeside trail
4.0Wheaton · 15 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Two free lots, on Butterfield Rd and Herrick Rd
Fullersburg Woods Nature Center and Graue Mill
4.0Oak Brook · 25 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free nature center lot (3609 Spring Rd)
Busse Woods elk and lake loop
4.0Elk Grove Village · 40 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Small lot for the elk pasture at Higgins Rd and Arlington Heights Rd; other entrances along Higgins Rd and Golf Rd
Lake Arlington loop
4.0Arlington Heights · 45 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lakeside lot (off 1330 E Palatine Rd)
The 606 elevated trail
4.0Chicago · 45 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Street parking (metered around Damen / Western Ave); 8-minute walk from the Blue Line Damen station
Chicago Riverwalk
4.0Chicago · 45 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Millennium Park or Grant Park garage (about $20–30 on weekends); 10-minute walk from Metra at Union Station; 5-minute walk from the L at State/Lake
Jackson Park Wooded Island and Japanese garden
4.0Chicago · 45 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free parking on the east side of the MSI and along Hayes Dr; 15-minute walk from the Green Line / Metra Electric 55th-56th-57th station
Waterfall Glen waterfall and woodland trails
3.0Darien · 20 min drive
2 h · carrier recommended
Free · Parking: Bluff Rd lot is closest to the falls; the main Northgate Rd lot is off Cass Ave
Starved Rock State Park canyons
3.0Oglesby · 75 min drive
4 h · carrier recommended
Free · Parking: Large free visitor center lot; expect a line to get in after 10am on spring weekends
💡 Good to know
- The DuPage and Cook County forest preserves all have free parking and open sunrise to sunset; most nature center exhibit halls close on Mondays.
- Chicago dirt trails turn to mud after rain and the mosquitoes are serious in summer; rain boots, bug spray and spare clothes live in the car.