Hiking
Hiking and walking are popular activities in the forest preserves! All totaled, FPWC’s preserves offer 100 miles of hiking trails in a wide variety of terrain. Most of the trails are flat and Headquarters, Severson Dells, Klehm, and Blackhawk Springs Forest Preserves offer paved trails.
Favorite Forest Preserve Hikes – descriptions of some of our most popular trails routes
General Information
Hiking in the forest preserves is an excellent way to reconnect with family and the natural world. Remember, hiking is excellent exercise too! A 150–pound person burns 200-475 calories and gains cardiovascular conditioning in an hour of vigorous hiking. So, refresh, reconnect and get fit – Take a hike!
Three of our most scenic preserves offer paved, handicap accessible trails. Blackhawk Springs, Severson Dells and Klehm Arboretum have paved trails so that people using walkers, strollers and wheelchairs can enjoy the outdoors. The paved paths at these locations are cleared during the winter when special events are taking place. Headquarters Forest Preserve also offers a paved loop trail, which is the trailhead for the Rock River Recreation Path.
A free Recreation Path Guide is available showing length, locations and surfaces of trails throughout the county, call (815) 877-6100 to receive a copy.