Lake County residents form a hiking group

Lake County Hikers was formed in January 2022 by Vernon Hills resident Traci Fein and has since added more than 1,000 members.

Fein loved hiking in the Lake County Forest Preserves, but felt uneasy hiking alone and decided to create a group of like-minded individuals with a love of outdoors.

The group hikes year-round and has a weekly 5- to 6-mile hike in a different Lake County forest preserve every week, followed by a beverage and/or lunch at a local restaurant.

The group consists of people 18 and older with a love of the outdoors. Moms who take a couple hours of "me time," college students that are interested in conservation and local indigenous plants, and empty-nesters looking for a new activity. Both novice and experienced hikers are welcome.

Spending even a few minutes outdoors has been shown to lower cortisol, improve blood pressure and reduce stress levels, and many of the group members look at hiking outdoors as an investment in their physical and mental well-being.

Each week, the hikes attract anywhere from five to 20 people. Some come every week, and some drop-in once a month. Several times a year Lake County Hikers team up with Cook and McHenry County Hikers and hike in a Lake County forest preserve.

The group can be found on Facebook as "Lake County Hikers" at www.facebook.com/groups/lakecountyhikers.