The Best Lake County Forest Preserves: Hiking, Biking & Picnics

One of the biggest advantages of living in the Mundelein area is how much open space is within a short distance. The Lake County Forest Preserve District has been the guardian of the city’s natural areas for the last 50+ years. Managing over 31,000 acres, this forest preserve has everything from hiking trails, places to fish, paddling, and a million ways to spend a day outside. For those who want to live close to the city but also need to be in proximity to wildlife, Mundelein sits in the perfect intersection of the two. If you’d rather spend your Saturday hiking than in traffic, you will have easy access to one of the state’s best forest preserves. See below for the best Lake County forest preserves for hiking, biking, and picnics, where there’s a spot for everyone to enjoy the great outdoors in their own way. 

Lakewood Forest Preserve

If we could only tell you about one forest preserve near Mundelein, it would be Lakewood. Standing at over 2,800 acres in the nearby city of Wakanda, it is the largest forest preserve in all of Lake County, with a huge variety of things to do. Directly from the district’s own words, its landscape is “a mixture of oak woods, wetlands and fields. You’ll also find farmlands and groves of evergreens. A lot of wildlife lives here, and if you’re observant, you may even spot one of the bats from the colony living near Shelter. 

If you don’t feel like planning an entire day outside and just need a couple of hours in nature, the Schreiber Lake Loop is a local favorite. This easy 1.7-mile route past the water has a 4.6-star rating across hundreds of your views for hiking trails. If you just want to go and have a picnic outdoors, they are well looked after in the Lakewood Forest Preserve – Tons of shelters, ponds, and garbage cans throughout, so you’re able to enjoy your time outside and respect it.

Independence Grove

Southeast of Mundelein in Libertyville lies Independence Grove, a beloved local treasure trove filled with opportunities for fun in the sun. 

According to LCFPD.org, at Independence Grove, “7.5 miles of walking trails circle the lake and run through scenic natural areas. Roughly 6.4 miles are available for biking and 3.8 miles for in-line skating. Trails here also connect to neighboring communities and provide walk-in access to the preserve. Don’t miss their summer concert series, “in the Millennia Plaza overlooking the lake. Pack a picnic or buy dinner and beverages at the café. Enjoy a variety of musical genres by bands playing originals and classics. 

Perks of the Preserve: 

• Marina with options to kayak, boat, paddleboard, or rent a pedal boat.
• A cafe and a seasonal beer garden that make all the adventuring worth it.
• Playgrounds, picnic areas, apple fishing, and volleyball courts for those looking to get competitive. 
• The beer garden deserves its own mention – After walking on the trails, the beer garden is the perfect spot to take the opportunity to sit down and recuperate from the burned calories with a cold beer. 

Old School Forest Preserve For Biking

Not just describing something, this forest preserve is actually called Old School and is one of the most popular spots in the area. Offering miles of trails and great bass fishing, this is a particularly popular destination for cyclists because of its 1.5-mile paved roadway with a dedicated bike lane that also hosts inline skating and other peddled equipment. There’s also a 2.7-mile gravel loop through the woods that many bikers enjoy. From the Old School Forest Preserve, you can ride south all the way to Lincolnshire without crossing any major roads. Many people use this path to get to and from the local neighboring suburbs.

It’s also genuinely full of history and recognized as one of the first forest preserves in Illinois to combine native prairie restoration with recreation. Constantly improving, Old School Forest Preserve is a spot for everyone to enjoy. Also a popular birding destination where you can spot bluebirds and screeching owls, this forest preserve is filled with nature and beauty.

The Millennium Trail

One of the largest parks and trails in Lake County, Millennium stretches roughly 30 miles and is accessible right in Mundelein along Midlothian Road.

Why you should visit:

• Terrain for all: surfaces ranging from stone to pavement to grass and water, whether you’ve come to bike, rollerblade, walk, or swim, this preserve has it all. 
• According to traillink.com, the  Millennium Trail is incredibly scenic with the preserve winding through “Indenhurst’s Forest View Park. From there, the trail heads south, traveling through the gently rolling hills of McDonald Woods Forest Preserve and into Bonner Heritage Farm, first settled by Scottish immigrants in 1848.”
• The accessibility of the trail is unlike any other, with ample parking, ramps, water fountains, restrooms, and more to cater to all needs. 

Why It’s Worth Living Close

The real luxury of living near Lake County and all its forest preserves isn’t just a single spot. It’s the option to visit any of them. Whether you’re seeking a giant 2,800-acre preserve or a lakeside destination with a beer garden, or even a cyclist’s dream paved loop with views and wildlife to match, you can access it all from Station 250.