Hike Lake County, stunning views of deep ravines, includes Fort Sheridan 6 miles

Note
No restroom facilities where we meet but next to Mobile gas station & Starbucks

Optional lunch at Noon-O-Kabob Highwood
244 Green Bay Rd, Highwood
Thank you Shelley for the recommendation!
No reservations required, separate checks ok
https://order.toasttab.com/online/noon-o-kabob-3-242-green-bay-rd
https://www.yelp.com/biz/noon-o-kabob-highwood-highwood-2

Summary
This is one of the best kept secrets in Lake County featuring views of Lake Michigan and ravines 25 to 100 feet deep! We hiked here last year and kudos to Traci from Lake County Hikers Facebook group for info she provided last year. I was able to piece together enough information to organize a hike.

Visit 4 different ravines in two areas on this hike and walk along the shore of Lake Michigan, then wrap it up with a hike around Fort Sheridan. Jean and John Greene Nature Preserve has 3 ravines, McCormick Ravine, Deromedi Ravine and part of Janes Ravine.

The 4th one runs along Fort Sheridan and is the Hutchinson Ravine.

This hike is cross posted with Trailblazers Hiking group and my guest rsvp includes members of the group
https://www.meetup.com/chicagoland-trailblazers-hiking-group/events/305027430

Shorter ~4 mile Hike Options on your own:

• Option 1: Avoid walking on the gravel shore of Lake Michigan and turn around in Greene Nature Preserve to go back the same way.
• Option 2: Include the shore of Lake Michigan but shorten Fort Sheridan portion so it comes out to 4 miles

Hike Summary:
Its an easy hike with no elevation changes except going down lots of steps, about as many as Swallow Cliff. We'll walk along the top of the ravines then down easy wooden steps with railings. Trails are either boardwalk, fine crushed gravel, deep gravel, or grass.

Hike Details:
.75 miles: Train station parking lot down Robert McClory Bike Path along Sheridan road to the entrance. This is one of only two ways to get to the entrance of Jean and John Greene Nature Preserve. No public parking is available, its by permit only. Cross Sheridan road to get to the entrance.

1.5 miles (2.25 cumulative): Hike in Jean and John Greene Nature Preserve. This area is a little bit of paradise very well hidden in a busy Chicago suburb! Come see for yourself the hidden gem that few know exists.

Upon entering we'll walk on alternating boardwalks and natural surface trails. This area is all woodland with areas of filtered sunlight.

Trail initially goes along Fort Sheridan cemetery for a bit since the two preserves border each other. Do a few loops on the Ridge and Woodland trails which offer a view of three different ravines.

Finally reach the stairs down. Stop off at the different landings and get some great photos of Lake Michigan from up high. View the creek from up high as it runs off into Lake Michigan. Make your way down unhurried taking in the views. The wildflowers will still be in bloom along the creek. We'll follow a narrow trail at the bottom along the creek a short way before reaching the shore of Lake Michigan.

.4 miles (2.65 cumulative) At the bottom of the stairs walk along the rocky shore of Lake Michigan until we reach Fort Sheridan

1.25 miles or 3.5 miles (4 miles cumulative or 6 miles cumulative) Fort Sheridan Hike Mostly full sun on crushed limestone or grass trails, small portions asphalt. As we exit the rocky shore of Lake Michigan and enter Fort Sheridan we'll start walking on the paved Hutchinson trail.

This part is partially shaded and has views of Hutchinson Ravine on the left. Many Prairie flowers in full bloom throughout the entire hike and listed in the wildflower section below.

For a 4 mile hike (on your own), continue on the Hutchinson trail ~.25 miles until you reach Sheridan road. Cross at the light and make your way back to the parking lot. It will be across the street, look for the Mobile gas station.

For a longer hike we'll follow a crushed limestone trail around the preserve and view many prairie plants listed below.

Come to another little iron bridge to cross over for a final ravine view. We'll take a few very narrow footpaths that are available here for some extraordinary views of Lake Michigan amongst tall reeds and wildflowers. Not bushwhacking but they are 1 foot wide and have tall vegetation. These narrow trails are very short in length.

Location:
We are meeting in a Metra Fort Sheridan Train station Parking lot which is free to park on Sundays. Parking lot is the north one across from Mobile station

461 Old Elm Rd Highwood