Hidden in rural Cook County, Illinois, is a forest that seems like something out of a fairy tale. The entire place is stunningly beautiful, like you've stepped into a storybook, and the hiking here is like nowhere else in the state. This is the Swallow Cliff Woods, home to one of the finest hiking trails in Illinois: the Sag Valley Yellow Trail Loop.

At 8.4 miles long, this moderately challenging hike is incredibly rewarding. It offers up some truly wonderful wildflower views, woodland wonders, a river, and so much more. It's a whole adventure all wrapped up in one not-so-little hike, and I find it immensely grounding. There's something so very tranquil about it, and that's the fastest way to get me to fall in love with a trail. Illinois is beautiful, and this trail proves it with every single twist and turn.

With beautiful views of the Cal-Sag Channel and truly amazing autumn colors every single year, this hike is a nature lover's wonderland. There are so many little details to see and experience that one could easily get lost for an entire day. It's open all year long, and each season brings with it a million more reasons to adore this hike.

The Swallow Cliff Woods are spellbinding in their beauty, and the 100-foot bluff you'll find along the way is nothing short of incredibly impressive. Most folks don't really think about mountains, cliffs, or bluffs when they're thinking about Illinois, but perhaps they should. There are some genuinely surprising landscapes in this amazing state and the Sag Valley Yellow Trail Loop does an excellent job of showcasing it in all its splendor.

If I'm being honest, I'm not sure which season I enjoy hiking the most in: each one brings with it some kind of raw, earthen magic that I can never quite put my finger on that makes it utterly enchanting. Spring comes with snowmelt, rushing rivers, waterfalls, and wildflowers. In the summer, more wildflowers arrive at the party, and the entirety of the woods are lush and emerald.

In the fall, the brilliant colors the surrounding foliage turns are nothing short of stunning: golds, oranges, and crimson reds paint fire across the steely blue Illinois sky, offering endless views of some of the United States' most jaw-dropping autumn displays. Winter, of course, comes with the promise of snow - and with the promise of snow comes the delight of a legitimate winter wonderland. If you've never done winter in Illinois, you definitely should at least once.

For more information about the Swallow Cliff Woods, be sure to check out the official Forest Preserves of Cook County website. For more information about this amazing hiking trail in Illinois, check out its official AllTrails listing. Need some top-notch hiking gear to crank your trail game up to 11? Check out all the cozy offerings from our friends at The North Face.

Do you have a favorite hiking trail in Illinois? Let me know all about it!