Beautiful and historic, Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve, offers several hiking paths including the Birding Loop. This Lake County Forest Preserve is also public transportation friendly near a Metra stop. With stunning views of Lake Michigan and beautiful prairie land, this is one forest preserve you don’t want to miss out on.
Difficulty
The Birding Loop is a 1.7-mile flat hike. However, this nature preserve offers additional paths allowing you to extend your time here.
Getting to Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve
From Chicago Union Station you can take the UP-NW Metra Train to Fort Sheridan Train Station. It is a 16-minute walk to get to the Birding Loop. However, the walk is along the Hutchinson Trail, part of the forest preserve.
The Birding Loop is accessible from both parking lots. Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve is about an hour’s drive from Downtown Chicago.
Beauty & Wildlife at Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve
The blue of Lake Michigan stood out against the golden prairie plants on a beautiful winter day.
We could hear the songs of the birds throughout our hike. However, we didn’t see many birds close to the trail. Perhaps if you have the right equipment, stay still and quiet you might luck out and see the birds. We passed plenty of people with binoculars searching for the wildlife.
Know Before you go
The Birding Loop is for pedestrians and cross-country skiing. No bikes are allowed on this trail.
There are bathrooms by the parking lots. Although they may look like indoor bathrooms, they are still really just port-a-potties. These bathrooms were open during the winter season when we went.
Throughout the path there are benches. Allowing for the opportunity to sit in nature and wait/watch for wildlife including birds.
Even though we went in the winter, we still found it to be a busy place.
We have been here and done this walk!