Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore follows 15 miles of the southern shore of Lake Michigan and offers “50 miles of trails over rugged dunes, mysterious wetlands, sunny prairies, meandering rivers and peaceful forests.”
Accessibility   Maps and Trails   Phone  219-395-1882  Here is their website.
Here is a description of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore from The Disabled Traveler’s Companion   
Wheelchair AccessiblePortage Lakefront & Riverwalk Trail Systems  0.9 mile paved “access to the lakefront and beach, trails that highlight dune succession, an accessible fishing pier and a restored 900-foot breakwater. ”  Trail Map

Shabbona Lake State Park

Shabbona Lake State Park
This park has “A unique mix of grass-covered meadows, upland mesic woods, bottomland woods, and a native, undisturbed fen, make this an ideal location for natural relaxation and outdoor activity.”  There is a 15-acre seasonal nesting area for migratory waterfowl. “Shabbona Lake is a pilot site for disabled visitor accessibility and the facilities–parking, picnic shelters, water fountains, restrooms, and even a specially designed fishing pier–are totally accessible.”
Here is the park website.    Phone 815-824-2106
Wheelchair Accessibleeyelogo copyTouch the Earth is a 1/8 mile interpretive nature mile trail for blind and visually impaired visitors.  There is a cassette tape guide.  The tapes and players are available at the park office.  The trail is wheelchair accessible.

Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

 Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area is an old cypress swamp “managed as one of the state’s most outstanding waterfowl hunting locales.  While Mermet Lake was developed primarily for duck hunting, Canada, blue and snow geese frequent the area each winter.”  “The shallow lake also is a very productive fishing lake….”  There are also hiking trails and picnic tables.
Here is their website.   Phone 618-524-5577
? The area has two trails said to be easy. The nature preserve has a small half-mile interpretive trail with tree identification markers and a small boardwalk extending into the cypress swamp. Another nature area has a 1-mile interpretive trail with tree identification markers along the way.

Kankakee River State Park

Kankakee River State Park
Following both sides of the Kankakee River for 11 miles, in an area 6 miles northwest of Kankakee, near Bourbonnais, the park is about 4,000 acres.
Here is their website.    Phone 815-933-1383
Wheelchair AccessibleRiver Trail on the north side of the river  7-mile asphalt trail which runs along the Kankakee River and over a 50-foot suspension bridge over Rock Creek Canyon.  The river trail connects walking and biking trails from the River Road Park in south Kankakee to the Kankakee River State Park.

Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area

Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area
Goose Lake Prairie is approximately 50 miles southwest of Chicago and one mile southwest of the confluence of the Kankakee and Des Plaines rivers. More than half of Goose Lake Prairie is a dedicated nature preserve. Vegetation is tall prairie grasses, such as cordgrass which grows to 8 to 12 feet high as well as many flowering plants.  Wildlife includes deer, coyote, red fox, cottontail rabbit, muskrat, beaver and badger. It is a great place for birds, reptiles and butterflies.
Here is their website.    Phone 815-942-2899
Wheelchair AccessibleThe “Tall Grass Self-Guided Nature Trail can be an easy 1 mile or 3.5 miles, depending on the route you take, with one loop of the trail offering a hard-packed, wheelchair-accessible surface.”

Giant City State Park

Giant City State Park
Giant City State Park near Carbondale is in the Shawnee National Forest, Southern Illinois.  The park “…was named for the unique impressions made by its massive sandstone structures and a landscape like none other, with lush garments of fern, moss, flowering mints, hundreds of species of wild flowers and more than 75 varieties of towering trees.”  The Giant City Visitor Center provides interpretive displays on the geology, plants, animals and history of the park, and regional tourism information.  Here is the park website.   Phone 618-457-4836.
Wheelchair AccessibleThe Post Oak Trail is 1/3 mile, partially asphalt-paved. Brochure