60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Chicago: Including Aurora, Northwest Indiana, and Waukegan [Paperback]

Ted Villaire (Author)

Book Description

Series: 60 Hikes within 60 Miles | Publication Date: June 28, 2008

Focusing on the Chicago area’s urban and rural areas and everything in between, this book features classic hikes at such lovely spots as Starved Rock State Park, as well as gems like the LaSalle Fish and Wildlife Area in northwestern Indiana. Extensive key-at-a-glance information makes it a snap to choose a hike based on length, difficulty, and scenery. Helpful lists highlight the best hikes for children, for wildlife viewing, and other categories. This edition includes five new hikes.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for the series:
"To help take the sweat out of finding a trail near you...buy one of the "60 Hikes Within 60 Miles" guidebooks."--"Newsweek"

From the Back Cover

It's time to take a hike!
Chicago residents grab your boots and get outside! Using clear and entertaining narrative, 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Chicago eliminates doubts about where to hike and what to expect when you get to the trailhead. To locate and assess the best hikes within a 60-mile radius of the Chicago area, this guide is indispensable.
60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Chicago blows the lid off the myth that you can't have a great trek close to home. The Windy City may be an ever-expanding metropolis, but there are still plenty of thrilling hiking options. Choose among short and long hikes, hikes for children, hikes for dogs, hikes for birding, for wildflowers and for waterfalls, historic and scenic hikes, and many others.

" Trail Descriptions allow you to assess each trail before you hike it.
" GPS-based Trail Maps provide you with accurate trail information.
" Elevation Profiles help you visualize each trail's altitude gains and losses.
" Detailed directions lead you to the trailheads.

Whether you live in Chicago, Aurora, Joliet, or Elgin, 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Chicago provides you with the information you need to choose the perfect day hike in your area, including trail lengths, hiking times, and trail difficulty. So lace up those boots, sling that daypack, and hit the trail!

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 295 pages
• Publisher: Menasha Ridge Press; 2nd edition (June 28, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0897326636
• ISBN-13: 978-0897326636
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,067 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #31 in Books > Travel > United States > Regions > Midwest

More About the Author

I received a bachelors degree in English and journalism from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and received a master's of arts in writing from DePaul University in Chicago. I'm currently working on four more regional outdoor guidebooks that focus on bicycling and camping within the Chicago region and throughout Illinois. I've lived in Chicago resident for the past 10 years, and have worked for various daily and weekly newspapers. I've had freelance articles appear in The Chicago Tribune and the Des Moines Register. Recently, I worked for seven years as a publications editor for a large non-profit organization headquartered in Chicago.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great resource!, September 4, 2007

By 

A. Kozdron (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Chicago: Including Aurora, Elgin, and Joliet (Paperback)

The title of the book caught my eye, and the book itself more than lived up to it! I live in downtown Chicago and was looking for hikes that could be done as day trips - the 60 hikes included are within this distance. The book makes it easy to search by type - for example, river hikes, lake hikes, hikes for wildlife viewing, hikes with children, and then also by distance (1-3 miles, 3-6 miles, and 6+ miles). Each hike has a trail map, directions, a full description, and key info at a glance (e.g. length, configuration, difficulty, scenery, facilities, and even exposure - shady, sunny etc.).

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Buy the Book, January 11, 2008

By 

Tin Tan "TNT" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Chicago: Including Aurora, Elgin, and Joliet (Paperback)

I almost finished writing my review, hit the wrong button and lost it. Just to sum up, you will not find information so thorough, accurate and well-written on the subject. Mr. Villaire is the closest thing to a personal guide.I've lived in Chicago all my life and am pleased to have discovered and rediscoveredl so many worthwhile nature areas. Author Ted Villaire is obviously passionate about sharing his information with fellow nature lovers. Everytime I Google one of the recommended hikes, I find little that adds to the info found in the book. And forget Mapquest- this book gets driving directions right every time. The book is hardly pocket-sized, and the detailed trail guides will have you pulling the book out of your backpack often. My solution is to copy the pages and take those with. (Whoops- did I just confess to copyright violation?)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars good for day hikers, December 17, 2007

By 

J. Neer - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Chicago: Including Aurora, Elgin, and Joliet (Paperback)

I bought this book as a referrence for a planned trip. I was so pleased with the graphics and format that I am buying more books in the series. The maps and desciptions are clear and informative. The hikes seem do-able for casual day hikers.