If You Live In Chicago, You Must Visit This Amazing State Park
By Elizabeth Crozier|Published October 15, 2017
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Elizabeth Crozier
Author
An Illinois transplant who grew up and went to school in Indiana for 22 years, Elizabeth holds a BFA in creative writing and has enjoyed traveling across the country and parts of Europe. She has visited half of the states, as well as parts of Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and regularly travels home to the Hoosier State to see friends and family. With more than five years of writing experience, Elizabeth’s articles have been featured on several websites, and her poetry and short stories have been published in multiple literary journals.
If you’ve lived in Chicago your whole life, you probably already know about this nearby state park that is a must-visit for anyone living in the area. Be it spring or fall, this gorgeous oasis of natural beauty is a lovely place to spend the day or camp or all weekend. If you haven’t been yet, you’re definitely missing out.
Don’t forget to bring your camera on this trip. Keep scrolling to see why this is the perfect place for your next getaway.
Chain O'Lakes State Park is located 60 miles northwest of Chicago near the Wisconsin border. It spans Lake and McHenry counties totaling 2,793 acres, plus an additional 3,200 acres of conservation area.
This Illinois State Park is located at the inlet of the Fox River, 20 miles west of Lake Michigan. It contains three natural lakes: Grass, Marie, and Nippersink, and is connected via the Fox River to another set of seven lakes, which make up the chain of its namesake.
Chain O'Lakes became a recognized park in 1945. Guests enjoy playground equipment, picnic areas with tables, water fountains, and grills, as well as boating and water skiing.
There are also ample hiking opportunities. The park contains four trail systems: an eight-mile equestrian trail, a six-mile biking and hiking trail, as well as short 2.25-mile and .25-mile hikes with easy terrain.
This natural oasis is beautiful anytime of year. During winter, visitors enjoy sledding, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing. There is a large assortment of wildflowers and other plants in the spring.
Guests can stay as long as they like. There are camping grounds and cabins to rent on-site.
Locals enjoy seasonal events here and can even rent picnic areas for their own parties. The park is open until sunset or 9 p.m. daily other than on Christmas.
The area this park resides on was originally settled by the native American tribes of the Miami, Mascouten, and Potawatomi. It was traversed by European explorers as early as 1673, and the first European settlement was at Fort Hill, near Mundelein.
