Hiking

Group hike at Buckley Homestead

Take a hike!

With over 100 miles of trails across 11 park sites, we have a hiking path that's perfect for you! 

Looking for a map of the trails? Each park has a page with an interactive map located at the bottom of each page. 

Buckley Homestead

  • 2+ miles of easy hiking trails
  • 1 mile bark chip loop running from the visitor center, over to the school house, back around the log cabin and up along the backside of the barn. 
  • 1.5 mile trail around the perimeter of the back 80 acres. A hilly mix of open fields with some woods. (mixed use, pedestrian and horses!)

deep river

  • 5+ miles of moderate hiking trails
  • Please be aware, most Deep River trails do not loop, and can be wet when the river is high.
  • 2.5 miles of wooded trails north of the visitor center. (parking access at Wood's Historic Grist Mill lot, or County Line Road entrance-- Hiker and horse only access to Sulky Track area)
  • 2.6 miles of mixed use trails north of Ainsworth Rd. at Big Maple Lake.
  • For an easier walk-
    • Explore the grounds around Wood's Historic Grist Mill along the brick path. 
    • Venture up to Big Maple Lake and walk the new gravel trail around the lake. 

gibson woods

  • 3 miles of easy hiking trails
  • Accessible boardwalk entrance into trail system
  • Flat, looped trails throughout the dune and swale topography. 
  • Due to the significant natural habitat, we ask please no pups, horses, bikes, or off-trail activities at Gibson Woods. Thank you for helping us preserve this special environment. 

grand kankakee marsh

  • 30 miles of easy, flat trails
  • Mixed use trails along levees through woods, along the river, and into wetlands
  • Trails may be wet when water is high
  • Closed during hunting season.

lake etta

  •  2 miles with a short hard surface trail surrounding the playground 
  • About 1/2 mile through natural wetlands with native vegetation that attracts numerous wildlife
  • Additional trails near the swimming and fishing lakes lead to the Little Calumet River.

lemon lake

  • 1 mile paved trail around Lemon Lake and the surrounding woods
  • 5+ miles of primitive trails in hilly terrain provides a varied view of open and wooded areas.

oak ridge prairie

  • 5 miles of natural surface trails in flat terrain through woods, marsh and prairie overlooking the water. 
  • Oak Ridge Prairie is the trailhead for the Oak Savannah Trail. USBR Number 36*

oak savannah trail

  • 10 miles of asphalt trail from Oak Ridge Prairie County Park to the Prairie Duneland Trail at the Lake/Porter County Line Road in Portage. 
  • Trail goes through savannahs, remnant prairies, wetlands, lakes, parks, and residential neighborhoods. USBR Number 36*

stoney run

  • 8 miles of trails, with both flat and hilly terrain. 
  • Interior trails are mostly wooded with a couple of them leading to ponds. 
  • 3 mile perimeter trail is a mixed use horse/pedestrian trail April through December. It is closed to equestrians in the winter.

three rivers

  • 1 1/4 mile asphalt trail follows the lake edge with flat terrain. 
  • The east side of the trail is wooded. 
  • While Bellaboo's is under construction, trail does not loop.

turkey creek golf course

  • Golf with a pull cart and walk the course (during off peak times).

cedar creek golf course

  • Cedar Creek features an executive 9 hole course with approximately 1 mile of cart trails. Pull a cart for enjoyable exercise.

erie lackawanna trail

  •  About 1 1/2 miles of this 12-mile asphalt trail are maintained by the Lake County Parks.
  •  Currently roadway access is available from Oak Ridge Prairie; however future plans include a connection between the Oak Savannah Trail and the Erie Lackawanna Trial from Oak Ridge Prairie.