Skokie Lagoons

Great place for hiking, fishing, kayaking, overall enjoying free time. It is located in the northern suburbs and is a real gem in our neighborhood.

The lagoons feel expansive and calm, with water, trees, and trails that make it easy to forget you are anywhere near Chicago. Great for walking, biking, or just sitting quietly by the water. Well maintained but not overdesigned. Plenty of space to breathe, especially compared to city parks. A really good spot if you want nature, silence, and a slower pace without driving far.

I always have a great time running here and this week I had a great time cross country skiing. Nice trails. It is very pretty though sometimes there is a fair amount of road noise, especially in the winter.

If you wanna have a great adventurous and peaceful picnic near Chicago THIS IS THE BEST SPOT ; YOU COULD RIDE YOUR BILE, CHILL AND HAVE A PICNIC WITH THE TENT, GO FISHING, WALKING AND ALSO CAN ENJOY THE BEAUTY OF BOTANICAL GARDEN 🪴

I parked along Forestway Dr. near Lagoon No. 5. It's not the greatest parking as it's gravel and you kind of have to back into the road to get out, but it's virtually empty in the morning. I walked the northern loop (about 4 miles total to do that loop) and it's a well-maintained, paved trail. I really enjoyed the east side of the preserve as there are lots of good, wide views of the lagoons. The west side offers only a few views and there is significant noise pollution from the 94. Personally I would skip walking the west side (unless you're going for mileage) and stick to the east if you prefer a quieter walk like I do. Lots of deer and birds who also seemed to prefer the east end.