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Beyond the steel and asphalt await natural spaces that are easy to access and balm for the soul. Lindsay Welbers's guide tells readers how to use Chicagoland's extensive public rail system to reach forests, prairies, wetlands, dunes, and Lake Michigan. Designed to take up minimal space in a backpack, Chicago Transit Hikes provides train-to-trailhead information for thirty nature treks with features that include:
Chapters with hikes organized by each rail line on the Metra, the South Shore train, and the CTA;
Information on everything from accessibility to dog-friendliness to flora and fauna;
Detailed descriptions of every destination;
Practical tips on packing lists and itineraries.
Up-to-date and user-friendly, Chicago Transit Hikes connects Chicagoans and visitors alike with excursions for every season and level of difficulty.
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Introduction
Why Take the Train if I Already Have a Car?
How Cars Ruined My Hike: A cautionary Tale
What You Need
What to Bring
What Not to Bring
Apps to Download
Outdoors Safety
COVID Safety
Trail Etiquette
Leave No Trace Practices
Levels of Difficulty
Transit Hubs
Metra
CTA
South Shore Line
Divvy
A Note on Maps
Hikes in Chicago
Chicago Lakefront Trail
Museum Campus/11th Street: Northerly Island Park
The 606
Conservatory Green Line: Garfield Park Conservatory
Rosemont Blue Line: Des Plaines River Trail, Catherine Chevalier Woods, and Chippewa Woods
Union Pacific North
Hubbard Woods: Skokie Lagoons
Fort Sheridan: Fort Sheridan Nature Preserve and Openlands Lakeshore Preserve at Fort Sheridan
Zion: Illinois Beach State Park and Campground
Milwaukee District North
Forest Glen and Edgebrook: LaBagh Woods and the North Branch Trail
Morton Grove: Frank Bobrytzke Forest and the North Branch Trail
Northbrook: Somme Preserves
Libertyville—Prairie Crossing: Des Plaines River Trail, Old School Forest Preserve
Round Lake: Hart's Wood Park
Round Lake: Nippersink Forest Preserve
Ingleside: Grant Woods Forest Preserve
Union Pacific Northwest
Des Plaines: Des Plaines River Trail, Camp Ground Road Woods
Barrington: Baker's Lake Nature Preserve
Barrington: Citizen's Park and Cuba Marsh Forest Preserve
Palatine: Deer Grove and Camp Reinberg
Crystal Lake: Veteran's Acres and Sterne's Woods and Fen
Woodstock: Emricson Park
Woodstock: Ryder's Wood Park
Milwaukee District West to Elgin
River Grove: Des Plaines River Trail, Schiller Woods
Itasca: Springbrook Nature Center
Itasca: Songbird Slough Forest Preserve
Hanover Park: Mallard Lake and Hawk Hollow Forest Preserve
National Street: Fox River Trail
Union Pacific West
River Forest: Thatcher Woods
Geneva: The Fox River Trail
Elburn: Elburn Forest Preserve
BNSF Railway
LaGrange Avenue: Salt Creek Woods, Possum Hollow Wood, and Bemis Woods
SouthWest Service and Heritage Corridor
The Big Palos Adventure Camp—From Palos Heights and Palos Park—SouthWest Service to Willow Springs—Heritage Corridor
Rock Island District
Major Taylor Trail
Blue Island: Cal-Sag Trail
Oak Forest: Midlothian Meadows and Oak Forest Heritage Preserve
