The Chicago Outerbelt Loop Trail In Illinois Lets You Hike All The Way Around America's Third Most Major City
By Elizabeth Crozier|Published August 31, 2019
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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.
There’s a city loop trail that goes all the way around our biggest city that you’d never believe. This giant system of parks, trails, and natural attractions is truly something spectacular. Check it out:
Beginning at Buckingham Fountain at Grant Park in downtown Chicago, The Chicago Outerbelt is a trail that loops 210 miles around the city allowing hikers to enjoy just about every bit of nature there is in Chicagoland.
You'll never believe that there is a way to never leave a nature trail and still enjoy the Windy City. Other attractions near the east side of the city include Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, Navy Pier, North Avenue Beach, and the Lincoln Park Zoo.
There is also plenty of green space around the Calumet, Hyde Park, and Blue Island regions of the city where you'll find excellent views of Lake Michigan and the river.
Further north, the Chicago Botanic Garden is a lovely place all its own to roam, and it is surrounded by many other forests with campgrounds, trails, and more.
Schiller Woods, the Des Plaines River Trail, and many other parks and trail systems contain oases that make getting outdoors and into nature more exciting.
The best part about this city loop trail is that you're never far from civilization. Shops, restaurants, convenience stores, and neighborhoods are within reach of the natural attractions on this trail.
For more details about, including a full map of, the Chicago Outerbelt, check out the Outerbelt Alliance website here. If you’ve ever attempted to hike this city loop trail, we’d love to hear from you. Please share your experiences and photos with us below in the comments.