The North Fork Trail in Clinton Lake Recreation Area is a challenging wilderness run that follows a scenic loop trail through hilly wooded terrain and open meadows, over multiple bridges, and along the shores of Clinton Lake. The trail is also used for hiking and equestrian riding. The recreation area offers lots of other recreational activities including camping, picnicing, and fishing and boating on the lake.

Utilizing trails within the Comlara Park trail system, this run offers scenic trails that explore the wooded terrain around Evergreen Lake. The trail has some up and downs that make the run challenging but not too strenuous. The trails are also popular for hiking and mountain biking so watch out for others out on the trail. The park offers multiple other trails that can be combined for an even longer run through the area.

Starved Rock State Park is located on the south side of the Illinois River and offers scenic sandstone canyons for exploration and excellent views of the river from high bluffs. The west section of the park explores multiple sections of canyon and leads to multiple overlook spots. Starting from the visitor center multiple trails can be used to customize a hike of a longer or shorter distance if desired. The trails are very popular, especially during peak season so visiting during the week and off-season may provide a little more solitude. There are sections of trail along exposed cliffs so extra caution is advised.

Hiking along the trails in Matthiessen State Park, hikers will enjoy beautiful scenery as they travel through and above a scenic sandstone canyon that offers lots of solitude and shade. There is a creek running along much of the hike that creates some nice pools and dramatic waterfalls. Some stream crossings may be required, especially to get good views of the waterfalls. There is also Lake Matthiessen along the northern end of the area that makes for a nice place to stop and visit. The state park is less-visited than Starved Rock State Park just a few miles away making it a nice option for hikers looking to avoid the crowds. The state park offers picnic areas and restrooms.

Starved Rock State Park is located on the south side of the Illinois River and offers scenic sandstone canyons for exploration and excellent views of the river from high bluffs. The east section of the park explores multiple out-and-back canyons and follows the cliffs on the river to multiple overlook spots. There are multiple trails and parking lots to access the trails allowing hikers to customize a hike of a longer or shorter distance if desired. The trails are very popular, especially during peak season so visiting during the week and off-season may provide a little more solitude. There are sections of trail along exposed cliffs so extra caution is advised.

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge is a large natural area that offers three manmade lakes and lots of hiking trails for exploring the area. The Rocky Bluff Trail is located on the eastern side of Devils Kitchen Lake and travels through dense woodlands and along the shores of the lake where abundant wildlife and great views of the lake can be seen. There is also a scenic waterfall located along the route. The trail can be muddy with lots of debris and tree roots along sections of the path so be cautious and pay attention when hiking.

The Round Bluff Nature Preserve is located in Ferne Clyffe State Park and offers a loop trail that leads through the natural area that offers interesting rock formations, abundant wildlife, and diverse flora and fauna all year long. The protected area only allows hiking on designated trails and all plants and animals are protected within the preserve. The state park also offers picnic areas, campsites, and lots of other hiking trails outside the boundaries of the nature preserve.

This section of the Des Plaines River Trail travels along the northern section of the trail between the Russell Road parking area just south of the Wisconsin/Illinois border to the Kilbourne Road parking area south of Highway 41. The trail follows the path of the Des Plaines River past multiple lakes and ponds, forest preserves, wetland areas, and natural areas that are home to abundant scenery, wildlife, and plantlife. The trail follows mostly flat terrain that is easy to follow making it a good option for riders of all skill levels. The trail is crushed limestone and dirt surface and is multi-use so watch out for other users along the route. The trail can be done as an out-and-back route or one-way route by shuttling vehicles between the many access areas along the trail.

The mountain bike trails in Kickapoo State Park provide some of the best trails and beautiful scenery Illinois has to offer. The network of trails consists of 5 loops that can be combined for a total of 6 miles of riding. This ride utilizes sections of these trails for a loop through the area but there are obviously many more trip options available. The trails provide lots of ups and downs through wooded terrain that add some fun challenge. The ride also provides some nice scenery as it travels over small creeks and passes by a lake. The trails are well-marked and contain arrows showing recommended direction of travel. Checking out the trail map of the area is advisable to get a good concept of how all the trails can connect.

This rails-to-trails route is one of the best in Illinois for road biking as it travels near a large scenic river, against big bluffs, and offers excellent wildlife and plantlife along the route. Starting from Pere Marquette State Park, the trail follows the Illinois River to its confluence with the Mississippi River and onward through multiple small towns and wildlife refuge areas that are home to abundant wildlife, especially eagles during the winter. Sections of the ride merge with the scenic byway that is known for river scenery on one side and large rock bluffs on the other. The trail ends at Piasa Park where riders can learn about the legend of the Piasa Bird for which the park is named. The ride can be done as a longer out-and-back or a one-way trip by shuttling vehicles between the two trailheads. The route is all asphalt path and paved roadway with some hills, especially in the first 3 miles, that add some challenge to the ride.