Explore Two Breathtaking Backcountry Lakes On This Exhilarating Illinois Hike
By Elizabeth Crozier|Published August 15, 2020
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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.
Take a lake hike when you encounter the Palos Trail System. This fabulously interwoven web of trails leads to all sorts of wonders that are worth the journey. Don’t let summer pass you by without visiting this natural oasis.
The Palos Trail System in northeast Illinois is full of unpaved paths that are ideal for walking, running, and biking. Those who uncover these hidden trails also find ponds and lakes.
There are more than 40 miles of trails all together that wind through Palos Forest Preserve, which spans 15,000 acres. It is tucked away in the southwest corner of Cook County where you'd least expect to find this much green.
In addition to several ponds and sloughs, there are two lakes found on this hike. Bullfrog Lake and Maple Lake are both accessible from the Blue Single Track.
The Blue Single Track trail is just under two miles, makes a loop, and connects to other paths within the system. It is accessible by Wolf Road via 95th Street.
There are all sorts of interesting things to find within this system of trails. The lakes are fun if you love the water, but true adventure seekers will want to dive deeper into the forests.
The trails loop through hilly brambles. The unpaved and rarely marked paths, which are often quite thin, will make you feel like you're really out in the country.
Abandoned bridges, wooden structures, huts, and more are found within these woods. This may become your new favorite place to get away from the real world.