Moraine Hills State Park in Mchenry, Illinois is only a 1 1/2 drive from the Chicago Loop. The Leatherleaf Bog Blue Trail offers a friendly trail to go catch the fall colors and the chance to see some wildlife.
The Moraine Hills State Park Leatherleaf Bog Blue Trail 3.2 miles
This one-way bike and walking trail takes you through the woods and offers glimpses of the bog. The 3.2-mile trek is mostly flat and consists of wide paved or stone-filled paths. The path was mostly clean and clear, except for a few natural elements, including fallen leaves and critters.
Although there were several hikes to choose from we picked this trail for its mid-length millage with an opportunity to connect to a larger loop/second trail. The decision to add on the Lake Trail came toward the end of the hike. We opted to stay on the Leatherleaf Bog Blue Trail.
When we came to this junction where we could choose to add on the second trail there were plenty of signs directing you where to go, with the length of each path. To be fair, the entire hike was clearly marked with mile markers and signs.
There were also informational signs that gave you more information on the plant life and wildlife you might see.
Wildlife at Morine Hills State Park
You are going to find nature while in nature. I personally am not the biggest bug fan. And throughout the walk, we found ourselves with ladybugs on our sleeves and boxelder bugs on our hands. I might have freaked out a bit here and there. However, both of those bugs are harmless to humans. On the path, we also found tons of caterpillars and grasshoppers.
Surprisingly, I also encountered a snake, luckily pretty small, along the path. The snake was just chilling on the black pavement, blending into the walkway. It made me glad I looked down once in a while so that I didn’t step on him/her and could easily avoid them.
I was delighted to see the Sandhill Crane. These larger birds, who have a red crown, were milling about in the bog.
Overall Thoughts and Score
Transportation and Accessibility: 4/5
The park is only accessible via driving but the trail consists entirely of pavement and crushed gravel. The paths were also especially wide and featured sloped access points for wheelchairs.
Difficulty: 1.5/5
Leatherleaf Bog Trail is a perfect hike for beginners with minimal elevation change, though there are not many options to turn back if you feel overwhelmed
Beauty: 3/5 (4/5 in fall)
The trail features excellent views of the Leatherleaf Bog and Lake Defiance, however, this hike isn’t really offering you anything special you won’t find elsewhere in Northern Illinois or Southern Wisconsin. The Fall colors add beauty and depth to the hike, making Autumn the perfect time to visit.
Budget: 4.5/5
The park is free to visit and with its location being only an hour and a half outside of Chicago the fuel bill to get there and back should run you $12-$15.
