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

Chicago, IL: Warren Dunes State Park Loop

Submitted by: Backpacker Magazine
Connect wooded dunes, bottomland forest, and a pristine beach on this 3.7-mile loop along Lake Michigan in Warren Dunes State Park.

Chicago: White River State Trail

Submitted by: Backpacker Magazine
Grab your boots or hop on your bike to hit one of the Dairyland’s newer trails on this 11.8-mile out-and-back along an old railroad trestle.

Chicago, IL: Morton Arboretum Heritage Trail

Submitted by: Backpacker Magazine
Stroll native woodlands on this 1.6-miler through the north side of Morton Arboretum, a living museum that's home to more than 3,400 species of trees and plants.

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore: Ly-co-ki-we Trail

BACKPACKER Review
Explore deep woods, ancient dune ridges, and wetland thickets on sandy trail that loops 9.7 miles through the center of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

Chicago: Glacial Park Conservation Area

BACKPACKER Review
This 4.1-mile hike exposes the wilder side of northern Illinois, an untouched 3,000-acre tract filled with wildlife and a gravel cone formed by an ancient stream.

St. Louis, MO: Sam Dale Conservation Area

BACKPACKER Review
An easy, family-friendly dayhike, this 2.8-mile loop tours the mature forests and wildlife-festooned shores of the Sam Dale Lake Conservation Area.

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.

Chicago, IL: Waterfall Glen Loop

Local Hikes: Chicago, IL

BACKPACKER Review
The best hikes near Chicago.

Local Hikes: Midwest

BACKPACKER Review
The best hikes in the Midwest, as recommended by the region's best hiking clubs.

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Photos + Videos

Packing for a Backcountry Ski Day Kristin Hostetter shows you the essential gear, and how to pack it, for a day of backcountry skiing.	Adjust Your Pack Straps on the Trail Maximize your pack's comfort with a few easy, on-trail strap adjustments.

What makes a backpacker a backpacker? It's not the garage full of gear or piles of guidebooks--it's the experiences, from thru-hiking a long trail to pushing your personal envelope to inspiring a child's love of wilderness. Here we present BACKPACKER's new Life List: 10 experiences to add to your tick-listnow--and the key skills you need to nail them.