Best Forest Preserves and Hiking Trails in the Southwest Suburbs (Easy, Scenic, and Bike-Friendly)

by Brian Wittman

One of the quiet perks of living out here is how much protected green space is within a short drive, and the local term for most of it is not "hiking trails," it is "forest preserves." The catch is that they are not interchangeable. Some are flat, paved, and perfect for a stroller or a first bike ride; some are hilly, wooded, and made for a real hike; and one is basically an outdoor stair gym. So instead of a generic list, here are the best forest preserves and trails in the southwest suburbs sorted by what you actually want to do, with honest notes on the ones I have been to myself and the ones I am still working through.

What Are the Best Forest Preserves and Hiking Trails in the Southwest Suburbs?

For flat and easy, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie near Wilmington and the paved Old Plank Road Trail through Frankfort and New Lenox are the standouts. For scenery, Waterfall Glen in Darien has an actual waterfall. For real hiking, the Palos and Sag Valley preserves in southwest Cook County hold the biggest and hilliest trail system in the area, and Swallow Cliff Woods there is home to the famous stair workout. Nearly all of it is free, which is a big part of why these preserves are such an underrated reason to settle in this corner of the suburbs.

What Are the Best Easy, Flat Trails for Families and Bikes?

If you want an easy walk, a stroller-friendly path, or a low-key bike ride, start here.

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (Will County). This is my favorite of the bunch and it is practically in our backyard, sitting between Manhattan, Elwood, and Wilmington. It is the first national tallgrass prairie in the country, built on the old Joliet Army arsenal, and today it has more than 30 miles of trails across roughly 9,000 acres open to the public. What makes it special for families is how flat and easy it is: the hiking trails are mowed grass or mulch, and about 22 miles are open to bikes on crushed-limestone and gravel surfaces. It also has a herd of bison, which is not something you can say about many suburbs. A few honest notes: it is prairie, so there is little shade, bring water and sun protection, and plan to bring your own bike since rentals are not something I would count on. I have taken it easy here a couple of times and it is genuinely one of the easiest, most peaceful outings in the area. If you are eyeing a move to Manhattan, IL, this is practically a hometown trail.

Old Plank Road Trail (Will and Cook Counties). A 22-mile flat, paved rail-trail that runs right through New Lenox and Frankfort, with Frankfort's historic downtown as its literal centerpiece, archway, shops, restaurants, and a Sunday farmers market right off the path. It is one of the most-used trails in the entire state, and it connects onward to the Hickory Creek preserve near Mokena. I have not ridden the whole thing yet, honestly it is near the top of my own list to try, but as a flat paved route through the heart of your roster towns it is hard to beat for a casual ride or a long walk. One fair caveat: it has street crossings in spots, so it is better for confident families than for turning a toddler loose. If you are thinking about a move to Frankfort, IL, the trail running straight through downtown is a genuine perk.

Which Trail Has an Actual Waterfall?

Waterfall Glen (DuPage County, a short drive north). This is the one with the scenery, named for the Rocky Glen waterfall, a tiered falls on Sawmill Creek that the Civilian Conservation Corps restored back in the 1930s. The main loop is about 9.5 miles of crushed limestone through rolling, wooded terrain, and it surrounds Argonne National Laboratory. Here is my honest firsthand take: it is beautiful, but it is popular, and it gets packed. We get out there about once a year, usually cover a mile or so, and finding picnic space near the entrance can be a challenge on a nice day. Two tips that make it better: go early or on a weekday to beat the crowd, and if the falls are your goal, park at the Bluff Road lot for the short walk instead of the 2.5-mile trek from the main entrance. It sits just north of the core roster, so think of it as the worth-the-short-drive standout.

Where Is the Best Real Hiking (and the Famous Stair Workout)?

For actual hilly, wooded hiking rather than a flat stroll, the Palos area is the answer, and it is the biggest trail system around.

Palos and Sag Valley Preserves (Cook County). At roughly 15,000 acres, the Palos preserves are the largest concentration of forest preserve land in Cook County, with more than 20 miles of connected, mostly unpaved trails winding through hilly woods, sloughs, and some of the highest-quality natural areas in the county. The Sag Valley Yellow Loop, around 8 miles, passes through Cap Sauers Holding Nature Preserve, which is officially the point farthest from a road in all of Cook County. The Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center makes a good family anchor within the same system. This is where you go when you want to feel like you actually got out into nature. These preserves sit right next to Orland Park, so if you are considering a move to Orland Park, IL, the biggest trail system in the area is minutes from home.

Swallow Cliff Woods (Cook County, Palos). You cannot write about this area without Swallow Cliff, and I have done it firsthand, so let me be straight about what it is: it is a stair workout, not a hike. The famous limestone staircase climbs a 100-foot bluff, and it is one of the most popular outdoor-fitness spots in the county, which means it is packed, especially on weekends. It is a fantastic workout and a bit of a local rite of passage, but if you came for a nature walk, the payoff is that the top of those stairs feeds you right into the Sag Valley trail system for the real hiking. One heads-up for dog owners: dogs are not allowed on the stairs portion, though they are welcome on the rest of the trails.

What Are the Best Paved Trails for Biking?

Beyond Old Plank, the southwest suburbs are laced with paved and crushed-limestone rail-trails that are ideal for cycling. The Hickory Creek Bikeway connects to Old Plank near Mokena and New Lenox and winds through a forest preserve. The Cal-Sag Trail runs a paved route through the Palos Heights area and past Lake Katherine. And for a longer adventure, the crushed-limestone I&M Canal State Trail stretches for miles along a genuinely historic canal corridor. Midewin's crushed-limestone trails round out the bike options, and a fat-tire or hybrid bike handles those surfaces best.

Which Preserves Are in My County?

Since people around here often search by county, here is the quick map. In Will County, you have Midewin, the bulk of the Old Plank Road Trail, and the Hickory Creek preserve near Mokena and New Lenox. In Cook County, the Palos and Sag Valley preserves and Swallow Cliff are the big draw. And just north in DuPage County, Waterfall Glen is the scenic short-drive standout. All of them are managed by their county forest preserve districts and, in Midewin's case, the U.S. Forest Service.

The Bottom Line

The best part of all this is that nearly every one of these preserves is free, which makes them one of the most underrated quality-of-life perks of living out here. Match the preserve to your day, flat and paved for an easy ride, Palos for a real hike, Waterfall Glen for the scenery, and you will use them far more than you expect. A great trail ten minutes from your door is a small thing that quietly makes a town feel like home over the next 5 to 10 years. I am still working my way through this list myself, so if you have a favorite preserve I should take my family to, tell me, because I am always looking for the next one.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best forest preserve for an easy, flat walk or bike ride?

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie near Wilmington is the top pick for flat and easy, with mowed and crushed-limestone trails and little elevation, plus a bison herd. The paved Old Plank Road Trail through New Lenox and Frankfort is the other great flat option, ideal for a casual bike ride, though it has some street crossings to watch with young kids.

Where can I find a waterfall to hike to near the southwest suburbs?

Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in Darien, a short drive north in DuPage County, is home to the Rocky Glen waterfall. If the falls are your main goal, park at the Bluff Road lot for a short walk rather than starting from the main entrance, and try to go early or on a weekday, because it is a very popular preserve and can get crowded.

What are the Swallow Cliff stairs, and are they a hike?

The Swallow Cliff stairs are a limestone staircase up a 100-foot bluff in Swallow Cliff Woods in the Palos preserves, and they are primarily an outdoor-fitness workout rather than a nature hike. The trails at the top connect into the Sag Valley system for actual hiking. Note that dogs are not allowed on the stairs portion, only on the rest of the trails.

Are the forest preserves and trails free?

Yes, the county forest preserves and their trails are generally free to visit, which is one of their biggest advantages. Some connected amenities or programs may have fees, and a few splash-related or special sites charge, but hiking and biking the preserves themselves does not cost anything.

Which forest preserves are best for mountain or trail biking?

The Palos and Sag Valley preserves in Cook County have the largest unpaved trail network for mountain biking. For paved and crushed-limestone riding, the Old Plank Road Trail, the Hickory Creek Bikeway, the Cal-Sag Trail, and Midewin's multi-use trails are all strong options. A hybrid or fat-tire bike is best for the crushed-limestone surfaces.

Brian Wittman is a licensed real estate broker (Real Broker LLC), mortgage loan originator (NMLS #2646598, NEXA Mortgage, LLC, Equal Housing Lender), and life insurance producer (Levinson & Associates). For full disclosures, visit https://bluejeanbroker.com/disclosures.