Backpacker Magazine: Illinois: Backpacking and Camping Trips, Hikes, Adventures, Topo Maps, Aerial Photos.

St. Louis, MO: Giant City State Park

Submitted by: Backpacker Magazine
This 9.8-mile loop covers the Shawnee National Forest essentials: lovely waterfalls, scenic sandstone cliffs, singing birds, and colorful wildflowers.

Davenport, IA: Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area

Submitted by: Backpacker Magazine
Follow this 3-miler through glacial moraine and across a man-made dam for panoramic views of Johnson Lake, a snack-bar pit stop, and a sampling of this state recreation area's year-round attractions.

Chicago, IL: Shabbona Lake

Submitted by: Backpacker Magazine
Take a break from baiting hooks and hit the trail for this 4.8-mile loop around Shabbona Lake. You're guaranteed to catch lake views, dense woodland silence, and wetland vistas.

Mount Vernon, IL: Garden of the Gods

BACKPACKER Review
Loop past 230-million-year-old sandstone and into a moss-coated canyon on this 4.6-miler that follows a low-traffic trail in Garden of the Gods Wilderness Area.

Chicago, IL: Deer Grove Forest Preserve

BACKPACKER Review
Link a network of hiking trails in Deer Grove Forest Preserve for a 9.3-mile meadow- and ravine-touring escape from the Windy City.

Chicago, IL: Ryerson Woods

BACKPACKER Review
This 4.3-mile loop follows the Des Plaines River as it winds through stunning forestland chock-full of stately hardwoods and colorful flowers.

Hickory Grove

Hickory Grove Forest Preserve MCCD

Chicago, IL: Highland Park to Wrigley Field

Ride 21.5 miles from Chicago's North Shore communities to a game at Wrigley Field. This north-south route sticks to cyclist-friendly streets near the shores of Lake Michigan.

Biking 8/29/2009 Kewanee to Wenona, IL

Partly sunny,wind NNW 20-30 mph, temp 50s-60s.

Biking 8/29/2009 Kewanee to Wenona, IL

Partly sunny,wind NNW 20-30 mph, temp 50s-60s.

Chicago: Buffalo Creek Loop

Biking 9/1/2009 Monon to Lagro, IN

72 miles, partly cloudy, unrelenting 10 mph headwind.

Quick Escapes: 10 Trails Near Major Cities

BACKPACKER Review
The perfect metro-area trail: close, wild, uncrowded. Here are 10 major city options.

Your Daily Tread: Local Hikes Across the U.S.

BACKPACKER Review
What's better than hiking every weekend? Hiking every day. Here are the best big-city escapes from New York to Los Angeles. Plus: Bill Donahue explores the remote reaches of Portland's Forest Park and discovers secrets even locals don't know.

Ultimate Summer Escapes: The Best Dayhikes and Backpacking Trips Near You

BACKPACKER Review
Coming soon to your city: far-out adventures that are shockingly close to home.

High Points: Charles Mound, Illinois

BACKPACKER Review
Access is limited, but well worth the view.

Best Backpacking In Illinois

BACKPACKER Review
Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Illinois.

Cache River State Natural Area

BACKPACKER Review
Not your laid-back summer holiday -- canoeing and hiking galore.

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Photos + Videos

Gear Lab: Boots Torture Test Can any hiking boot survive 15 minutes in a cement mixer filled with rocks, sticks, dirt, and bricks? Gear Lab aims to find out.	Gear Lab: Tents Torture Test Who wants a mountain tent that buckles under pressure? Not us--so we blasted four top tents with a carwash pressure washer to see which one comes out on top.