Palos Forest Preserves

I feel safe giving the Palos Forest Preserve a high rating, even though it will entice you to visit. Palos is so huge, we are still not likely to see each other, especially since I take the paths you don’t. I go farther into the woods than 100 feet. I walk the gravel and worn-​down paths, and then I see it – there’s a small path into the woods, with no signage, and hardly any footprints. That’s where I go, ducking through the underbrush, side-​stepping around muddy bogs, and occasionally, stopping to hug a huge tree and thank it for being there.
Palos is a 45-​minute drive from the north side of Chicago, down Lake Shore Drive to the Stevenson, when the traffic is good. I plan my trips to Palos at non-​rush hour times, since being stuck on the Stevenson Expressway for hours will destroy all the woods relaxation you’ve found.
Exit on LaGrange Road south. Keep following Lagrange (¹²⁄₂₀) to the right where Archer branches off. Go to 95^th street and turn right. You can access two wonderful hiking areas from there.
If you want an easy hike and access to flush toilets, take 95^th east to the first stoplight and go left/​south. That will take you to the Little Red Schoolhouse and the new Nature Center. You can find flush toilets and water fountains there. But more important to me are the two easy loop trails. One trailhead at the Nature Center takes you on a 1 ²⁄₃ mile walk alongside the slough, through the woods, and back again. There’s a little elevation change, but not much.
Across the parking lot from the Nature Center is the Black Oak trail. It’s a 1-​mile long loop. It’s a lovely walk through the woods.
If you’re a little more adventurous, turn off at the Old Country Road parking area, on the south side of 95^th. You’ll find several picnic groves there and lots of parking, and a couple pit pots. But I prefer to enter the Country Road on the north side of 95^th. It leads into several other trails through the woods. You can walk for hours, and sometimes, I do.
You can find trail maps at the Forest Preserve District (f[
) site. Look for the bike trails maps, and print those out at home. The trails do have decent trail markers, so you won’t get lost easily. It is a good idea to know where the trails lead before you leave, however, since some go on for miles, and most of these are not loops.
You will see mountain bikers and horses on these trails. Some trails are marked mixed use, and others specifically forbid horses. That means you have to watch out for piles of horse manure, but they really are easy to avoid.
Bring a water bottle and a snack. Once you’re deep into the woods, you won’t want to turn back. Extend your stay. Breathe in the woods air. Enjoy the silence. In most of the park, you won’t hear any traffic noises. The only modernity you’ll notice is the Southwest airlines heading into Midway. The park is on a major flight path.
My only complaint about Palos is that it’s not in my backyard. Otherwise I would be here almost every day.

I’ve been mountain biking to Palos several times over the past few years and it’s an absolute blast. The trails are gorgeous and there are over 80 miles of biking. CAMBr does a great job building and sustaining new trails. There are many other things to do here, like hiking, fishing, or boating.