Hiking trails in Illinois

Hiking trails in Illinois span every kind of public land the state has to offer — state parks, national forests, recreation areas, county preserves, and a few NPS units. Trail Compass currently lists 6 trails across 1 parks in Illinois, organised by difficulty so you can land on the right route in a few clicks.

Browse by difficulty using the four filter cards directly below, or scroll to the full state trail table. Easy and moderate routes dominate near the population centers; hard and expert routes cluster in the higher, more remote corners of the upper Midwest forests, lakes, and bluffs.

Best hiking season across Illinois is generally May through October for most trails; winter snowshoe travel is popular on flatter routes. Shorter walks at lower elevations stay accessible longer than alpine routes — if you are hiking in a shoulder month, lean toward state-park trails near urban centers and save the high country for peak season.

Expect to share the trail with white-tailed deer, gray wolves in the northern reaches, bald eagles along the lake shores, beavers in the wetlands, and loons calling at dusk. Carry bear spray where signage advises it, store food properly, and remember that the wildlife was here first.

Pick a difficulty tier from the filter cards below, or jump straight to a specific park.