Cross-Country Skiing

Couple cross skiing through the woods

Outdoor recreation fun in your forest preserves doesn't end when winter arrives. Nearly 189 miles of challenging and scenic cross-country skiing trails await beginners and skilled enthusiasts as soon as snow flies.

Hours and Locations

Preserve trails are open 6:30 am–sunset, daily. Extended hours are available during daylight savings time along solar lighted trails at Old School in Mettawa and along a section of the Millennium Trail in Wauconda. The illuminated trails and adjacent parking lots remain open after sunset until 9 pm, daily, early November–early March.

Designated Trails

When conditions allow, skiers can use the dedicated equestrian trails at Lakewood and Raven Glen and most forest preserve hiking trails, except at the Ryerson Conservation Area in Riverwoods. At Ryerson, a 4-inch snow base is required in order to protect sensitive habitat at this Illinois Dedicated Nature Preserve site.

Groomed trails are available at the Lakewood Winter Sports Area, Fort Hill Trail, Ray Lake blue loop, Old School and Des Plaines River Trail between Old School and the Wright Woods Canoe Launch. Grooming is typically done one to two days after a large snow to set the trails up for both classic and skate-style skiing. Check the map below for trail updates.