Where to hike in Bloomington

Fall in Bloomington is the best time to be here. The weather is nice and cool from 50 to 70 degrees. The leaves start to turn a variety of warm colors and then they start to fall. When you walk around you always have that satisfying crunch under your feet. It’s also the perfect time to go hiking and Bloomington has a wide range of places you can go hiking. If you need some time to relax and enjoy the beauty of fall, here are some trails you can visit.

The first trail and the one closest to campus is Griffy Lake Nature Preserve Loop Trail. This trail surrounds Griffy lake and is a 2.4-mile loop. The beginning of the trail has a new wooden walkway and staircase to make it easier and safer for hikers. For an easier hike, the Cascades Park Trail is a nice small hike. Located next to Lower Cascades near Cascades golf course, this trail is a little less than a mile long. It’s a good hike for anyone who needs flat surfaces and at the end of the trail, there is a nice waterfall that makes it worth the trip. If you’re looking for more of a challenge then the North Shore Loop Trail is a great option. Also located at Griffy lake, this trail is 3.1 miles long with some pretty steep hills. If you are a beginner hiker, this trail may be a bit difficult, so I would recommend one of the more moderate trails.

There are so many places around Bloomington that you can take a hike. About 15 minutes out of Bloomington there is the McCormicks Creek State Park. There is a small fee to get in, but there are so many trails that have beautiful scenery like waterfalls, creeks, canyons, and more. Griffy lake also has several more trails to explore and is very close to campus. For more information about trails around Bloomington or anywhere, I would recommend downloading AllTrails. It’s a free app that will give you the difficulty, length, and people’s reviews of the trail.

Happy hiking!