Kid-Friendly Hiking Trails & Nature Walks

Explore the best kid-friendly hiking trails & nature walks options for kids and families in Gary

Lakefront Trail - Fullerton - 2400 N

Lakefront Trail - Fullerton - 2400 N

Lengthy waterfront pathway with views. This 18-mile-long route features separate lanes for walkers & cyclists, plus views of Lake Michigan.

Bloomingdale Trail Park

Bloomingdale Trail Park

Elevated bike & walking path. This 2.7-mile elevated former rail track is open to both cyclists & walkers.

The 606

The 606

Recreational trail on a former rail line. Created on a former rail line, this elevated, 2.7 mile landscaped trail draws runners & bikers.

Miller Meadow

Miller Meadow

Visit this great place for kids and families!

Lakefront Trail - North Trailhead - Ardmore Ave - 5800 N

Lakefront Trail - North Trailhead - Ardmore Ave - 5800 N

Visit this great place for kids and families!

West Ridge Nature Park

West Ridge Nature Park

Green space with paved trails & a pond. Walking, bird-watching & fishing are popular in this lush, outdoor area with a large pond.

Brezina Woods

Brezina Woods

Forest preserve with various trails. State park features forested areas, a creek & a system of trails for hiking, biking & horse riding.

Salt Creek Woods Nature Preserve

Salt Creek Woods Nature Preserve

Large preserve with hiking & birding. This iconic 245-acre forested nature preserve features hiking trails & birdwatching.

Thatcher Woods

Thatcher Woods

Nature walks in a floodplain forest. 245 acres of floodplain woodlands with a natural history museum & an unmarked trail system.

Bemis Woods South

Bemis Woods South

Visit this great place for kids and families!

LaBagh Woods

LaBagh Woods

Nature observation, hiking & picnicking. This wooded area is a popular spot for nature observation & offers trails & picnic areas.

Forest Glen Woods

Forest Glen Woods

Wooded walking trails & a picnic shelter. Nature & recreation area featuring paths amid woods & wildlife, plus a picnic pavilion.

Waterfall Glen Main Parking

Waterfall Glen Main Parking

Visit this great place for kids and families!

Dean Nature Sanctuary - Oak Brook Park District

Dean Nature Sanctuary - Oak Brook Park District

Visit this great place for kids and families!

Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve

Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve

Visit this great place for kids and families!

York Woods Forest Preserve

York Woods Forest Preserve

Bird watching, picnicking & hiking. County's oldest forest preserve, with 71-acre oak woodlands housing picnic shelters, trails & birds.

Schiller Woods-East

Schiller Woods-East

Visit this great place for kids and families!

Schiller Woods-South

Schiller Woods-South

Riverside park with a multi-use trail. Wooded riverside park with trail access for hiking, cycling, cross-country skiing & dog walking.

Schiller Woods

Schiller Woods

Wooded space with fishing ponds & deer. Fishing for bass & catfish, plus walking trails, picnic areas & roaming deer in protected woodland.

Keepataw Preserve

Keepataw Preserve

Visit this great place for kids and families!

Catherine Chevalier Woods

Catherine Chevalier Woods

Urban natural area for picnics & hiking. This expansive tract features a variety of nature habitats, plus areas for picnicking & hiking.

Maple Grove Forest Preserve

Maple Grove Forest Preserve

Visit this great place for kids and families!

Lyman Woods & William F. Sherman, Jr. Interpretive Center

Lyman Woods & William F. Sherman, Jr. Interpretive Center

Forested wetlands with walking trails. Tranquil mid-city nature retreat featuring oak forest, marshlands & walking paths on 150 acres.

Redmond Reservoir

Redmond Reservoir

Visit this great place for kids and families!

Greene Valley

Greene Valley

1,414-acre space for hiking & camping. Massive park with trails for hiking & cross-country skiing, plus picnic areas & camping facilities.

Hidden Lake Forest Preserve

Hidden Lake Forest Preserve

Scenic area with fishing & hiking spots. This tranquil destination features trees & ponds, plus kayaking, fishing, hiking & picnicking.

Knoch Knolls Park

Knoch Knolls Park

Visit this great place for kids and families!

Danada Forest Preserve

Danada Forest Preserve

Preserve with a lake & equestrian center. Nature preserve offering a lake with fishing, an equestrian center & trails through varied habitats.

Riverview Farmstead Preserve

Riverview Farmstead Preserve

Visit this great place for kids and families!

Springbrook Prairie

Springbrook Prairie

Bird habitat, biking & running trails. Expansive natural area including meadow & prairie habitat for birds plus running & biking trails.

St. James Farm Forest Preserve

St. James Farm Forest Preserve

612-acre preserve for fauna & flora. Hikers, bikers & horseback riders can explore a protected area of woodlands, prairies & wetlands.

McDowell Grove Forest Preserve

McDowell Grove Forest Preserve

Leafy destination with trails & fishing. This 465-acre wooded area has multi-use trails & recreation such as fishing, boating & picnicking.

Warrenville Grove

Warrenville Grove

Fishing & 131 acres of multi-use trails. Woodland park featuring areas for picnicking & fishing, plus a trail network for hiking & biking.

Blackwell Forest Preserve

Blackwell Forest Preserve

Woodlands with trails, camping & boating. Scenic area with 9 miles of trails, picnic sites, fishing & boat rentals, camping, tubing & more.

West DuPage Woods Forest Preserve

West DuPage Woods Forest Preserve

Visit this great place for kids and families!

Oakhurst Forest Preserve

Oakhurst Forest Preserve

55-acre lake & marsh area for wildlife. This large marsh with lake offers wildlife viewing, fishing, picnic areas, a boat launch & trails.

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