The One Loop Trail In Illinois That's Perfect For A Short Day Hike, No Matter What Time Of Year
By Melissa Mahoney|Published February 01, 2022
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Melissa Mahoney
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I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and have a deep love for photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world. Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream!
If you’re an avid hiker, you probably have no problem hitting the trails in any season and maybe even in any kind of weather. For the rest of us, well, we tend to stick to hiking when the weather is warm and the skies are clear. But there are some year-round hikes that just about anyone can do including one particular short loop hike in Illinois.
Hastings Lake is located in Lake Villa, Illinois and is part of Lake County Forest Preserves. Covering 270 acres, Hasting Lake offers four miles of hiking trails through fields, wetlands, and woodlands. A variety of recreation can be experienced here like hiking, biking, rollerblading, fishing, and even cross-country skiing.
You can also take your dog, although you must keep it on a leash. And there is plenty of nature to be found here in every season.
Within this preserve is an 80-acre lake with 12,000 feet of shoreline. The lake is filled with plenty of fish like bluegill, largemouth bass, and carp. Fishing is common here and there is even a wheelchair-accessible fishing pier.
The Hastings Lake Loop is a 2.2-mile loop trail that is relatively flat, accessible, and perfect for year-round use. It's one that everyone should consider hiking in any season.
And in the winter, you can experience peace and quiet as you go for a hike or cross-country skiing. Isn't it a wonderful thing when you can find a trail that can be used year-round?
As for accessibility, the Hastings Lake Loop is a mix of paved pathways and boardwalks with a gentle grade that's good for most wheelchairs and strollers. The boardwalk also has a barrier along the edge. And in the parking lot off of West Gelden Road, there are five designated accessible spots.
Have you gone for a hike at Hastings Lake? What is your favorite short loop hike in Illinois? Let your fellow readers know in the comments. For more information on the Hastings Lake Loop, visit AllTrails.
If you want to explore more of the great outdoors, you can also check out 12 scenic trails in Illinois, one for each month of the year.
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