Do you have a favorite place to walk?

While there are a handful of picturesque trails scattered throughout Illinois, only one is revered as the best place to hike.

Be it beautiful lake views, a glimpse at a glowing sunset sinking below a distant mountain range, or a birds-eye view of the sunrise making the dew painted on the leaves of a hundred trees sparkle around you, something about this trail sets it apart from the rest, so much so, that it's become a Illinois recommendation.

Some trails are traversed for their history, while others are admired for their peaceful lack of crowds. Regardless of why you choose to hike a trail, there is one glorious Illinois gem you must add to your list!

According to a list compiled by Backpacker Magazine, the best hike in Illinois is the 8-mile Swallow Cliff Woods trail.

Here's what Backpacker Magazine (via hiker David Gleisner) had to say about the absolute best place to hike in the state:

"To do the loop, start from the Swallow Cliff Woods North parking lot, head east on the yellow trail, following the bottom of the bluff under La Grange Road and across Kean Avenue before you swing around and climb up to the top. Once you cross under La Grange a second time, stay on the yellow trail to enter the second part of “Double Loop,” crossing Willow Springs Road and heading back down the bluff (along “Forever Hill,” as it was known to us). After conquering a series of steep rollers and going over Willow Springs Road again, the trail returns to the bottom of the bluff and deposits you once again at the parking lot. You’ll head back to the surrounding urban sprawl having passed through the most remote place in Cook County with sore quads and a smile on your face."

For a continued list of the best hikes in all 50 states, check out backpacker.com!

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Sonya Blakey