What we’re about
“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.” - Unknown
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” - Robert Frost
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Do you love Hiking and Adventures?
Welcome to the Chicago Hiking, Outdoors, & Social Meetup Group. We strive for adventures, fun, and friendships. This group is for people who enjoy hiking, being outdoors and meeting new people. We feature hikes for all skill levels, canoeing, camping, biking, social gatherings and other outdoor activities. These events are a great way to get out, meet people, and smell some fresh air. If you have a suggestion, please feel free to contact the Organizer or post them on “ideas for meetup” on the calendar page. Most of the activities are pretty tame, but any participation in this group is at your own risk. If you want to meet fun and adventurous people, this group is for you. Come join us. It will be an adventure you won’t soon forget.
Adventures are closer than you think!
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Get Involved:
We need Assistant Organizers and Event Hosts! If you don't see your preferred activity listed or a hike on your side of town, please volunteer by contacting the Organizer! You might be surprised just how many people are looking to do the same activity that you are. Other ways to volunteer would be a Greeter (Greet new members as they join the group.) or Monthly News Letter Editor (Write articles for a Monthly News Letter to be published on the message board.). We welcome Event & Group Sponsors who need some publicity for a great price!
Why not become a Hike Leader?
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Monthly Photo Contest:
We are having a Monthly Photo Contest. You have 1 month to upload your favorite photo. At the end of the month, the Assist Organizers will pick the top 12. We will then have a poll for voting on these 12. The members will be able to rate each picture from 1 to 10 rating. The photo with the highest ratings at the end of this month will win. This photo will then be used as the open page picture for following month. The only thing you receive are bragging rights.
Upload January Photos Here: http://www.meetup.com/ChicagoHOS/photos/799681/
Please name the photo and leave a comment about the photo.
So why not amaze the rest of the members with you photography skills?
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100 Miles Club and 200 Miles Club:
Are you looking for a Goal to reach? We have two clubs for you. You join the 100 Miles Club when you reach 100 Miles hiking a year with this group only (Chicago Hiking, Outdoors, & Social Meetup Group). You join the 200 Miles Club when you reach 200 Miles hiking a year with any Meetup Groups (Windy City Hikers, this group, etc.). Your Meetup Names will be posted in the About Section in this group.
Let’s start counting those miles!
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Dues and Fees:
There are no membership dues to be part of this group. For prepay events, we will sometimes add up to three dollars, normally 1 to 2, to the payment to help out with the Meetup.com monthly fees.
For other events, example hikes, we suggest a 1 or 2 dollar donation at the start of the event. This is totally voluntary. No records will be kept for who donates and who doesn’t.
If you want to make a voluntary donation. Go to the top of this page and click on "Pay Online". Enter the amount you would like to donate. Donate any amount you like. This will be paid with Paypal.
We would personally prefer if people would donate their time as an Assistant Organizer or Hike Leader versus making a donation of money. Any help is very much appreciated.
Thank you!
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Other Recommended Outdoors Meetup Groups: If events are full on this group, why not see what these groups are up to.
The NW Burbs Camping Meetup Group
http://www.meetup.com/NWBurbs-Camping/
Southwest Suburbs Sports, Outdoors, & Social Meetup Group
http://www.meetup.com/SWBurbsSOS/
Chicago Camping & Outdoors Adventure Group
http://www.meetup.com/ChicagoCampers/
Please support Outdoors Meetup Groups!
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See you on the trail!
Kevin
PS: Tell a Friend about us!
Come find us on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=app_2373072738&gi...
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Mother Natures sea of Bluebells @ O'Hara Forest, hike 5 miles or 4O’Hara Woods Preserve, Romeoville, IL
04/18/25 - O'Hara Bluebells just starting to bloom
05/05/24 - O'Hara Bluebells gone!
05/13/23 - O'Hara Bluebells present but fading
05/08/22 - O'Hara Bluebells were at peak bloomI stopped by today and updated the photo. The bluebells are just starting to bloom and peak bloom will be about a week and a half to two weeks.
This hike is cross posted with Trailblazers hiking group
https://www.meetup.com/chicagoland-trailblazers-hiking-group/events/300872870
and my guest RSVP will include members of that group.Summary
For people who do not want to hike 5 miles, its easy to get back to the lot after 3.8 miles. But you'll be missing out on the most scenic mile if you leave.Its a very small preserve and I've managed to get 5 miles out of it this time.
The terrain has some small ravines to admire. There is also a pretty stream that runs thru. This area has been deemed an Illinois Nature Preserve and dogs are allowed.
This is a very easy, mostly flat hike on a variety of surfaces. Its mostly soft wooded trail, some fine gravel trail, some grassy, and small portions concrete.
There are no steep areas except for a few that go down at about a 40 degree angle. I didn't need poles but wanted to mention that's the only part that might be a challenge for people who have only hiked on flat crushed limestone.
There were dozens of deer on this hike. We saw a racoon scurry past us, Blue Heron, White Great Egret, and the usual geese and mallards.
Meet in front of the tennis courts at 10. We'll start walking at 10:10.Location
1034 W 135th St, Romeoville
or use this map pinhttps://goo.gl/maps/CVACmDbujWt7Ufdy5
https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/preserves-trails/preserves/ohara-woods
A Story about my first encounter with O'Hara
As we made our way down the trail, a woman approached from the other direction gently smiling. She must have seen the look of astonishment on my face. She said to us, "Its like walking thru a fairy tale, isn't it?". Indeed it was. I asked, "did someone plant these here? She said nope, they all grew there naturally.Optional Lunch
Prairie Bluff Restaurant
Located on Prairie Bluff Public Golf Course
19433 Renwick Rd, Crest Hill
https://www.prairiebluffgc.com/dining/
They have an outdoor patio and people enjoyed it last year - Bailly Homestead Trail/ Cowles Bog Trail – Indiana Dunes National Park Free DayIndiana Dunes National Park Chellberg Farm, Porter, IN
Bailly Homestead Trail/ Cowles Bog Trail – National Parks Free admission Day
Join us for 2 hikes great hikes at Indiana Dunes National Parks. It is a free admission day at National Parks.
The 1st hike is Bailly Homestead, Chellberg Farm, Little Calumet River and Mnoké Prairie Trails. It is an easy to moderate, 3.4 miles in length.
The 2nd hike is Cowles Bog Trail. It is a moderate to rugged, 4.7 miles in length.
We will meet at Bailey-Chellbery trailhead parking lot at 10:00 Central/11:00 Eastern.
Bailly-Chellberg Lot (main): North of U.S. Highway 20 on Mineral Springs Road, Porter, IN 46304. GPS: 41.624679, -87.089502
FYI: In 2025, National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission on six designated days: January 20 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), April 19 (First Day of National Park Week), June 19 (Juneteenth), August 4 (Great American Outdoors Act Signing Day), September 27 (National Public Lands Day), and November 11 (Veterans Day).
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Bailly Homestead, Chellberg Farm, Little Calumet River and Mnoké Prairie Trails
Featured hike: Easy to moderate, 3.4 miles in length, est. hike time of 2 hours.
The Little Calumet River, Mnoké Prairie, Bailly Homestead, Chellberg Farm and Bailly Cemetery trail system reveals the rich natural diversity that has drawn people to this area for over 10,000 years. Hike through a forest dominated by maple, beech, basswood and oak trees. Follow a stretch of the Little Calumet River, once a critical transportation route for early regional travelers and explore the recently restored Mnoké Prairie for a glimmer of the vast stretches of pre-settlement grasslands. Explore the historic Bailly Homestead and Chellberg Farm.Trail Features: River Crossings, Historic Homes, Birding, Fall Colors, Wildflowers and Wildlife
Must See Gems: Bailly Homestead, Chellberg Farm, Mnoké Prairie, Bridge over the Little Calumet River
Trailhead Parking Lot - Bailly-Chellberg Lot (main): North of U.S. Highway 20 on Mineral Springs Road, Porter, IN 46304
Trailhead GPS Coordinates - Bailly-Chellberg Lot (main): 41.624679, -87.089502 (Decimal Degrees)
https://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/bc16.htm
https://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/images/Bailly-Homestead-Chellberg-Farm-Calumet-Map2.jpg?maxwidth=1300&maxheight=1300&autorotate=false
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Cowles Bog Trail
Featured hike: Moderate to rugged, 4.7 miles in length, est. hike time of 3 hours
The Cowles Bog Trail highlights an area of such outstanding plant diversity that it was designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1965. This location, where Dr. Henry Cowles conducted much of his early work in plant ecology and succession in the early 1900s, remains an important focus for scientific study today.Explore several distinct habitats along this 4.7-mile trail including ponds, marshes, swamps, black oak savannas and beaches. Steep sand dunes near Lake Michigan can make this a strenuous journey. Many visitors pack a lunch to enjoy at the shoreline while resting for the return trip (don't forget to "pack out" your trash). Make sure to bring plenty of water, sun protection, and extra clothing layers as the the weather at the lake can be very different than at the parking lot.
Trail Features: Fall Colors, Lake, Views, Wildlife
Must See Gems: Lake Michigan
Trailhead Parking Lot - Main Lot (north): 1450 North Mineral Springs Road, Dune Acres, IN 46304
Trailhead GPS Coordinates - Main (north): 41.645191, -87.084633 (Decimal Degrees)
https://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/cb16.htm
https://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/images/Cowles-Bog-Map-North-2022-web.jpg?maxwidth=1300&maxheight=1300&autorotate=falseThese are great hikes. I hope you can make it.
Kevin
