





Love beer? Love hiking? Us too.
Trail to Taproom takes you on hike and beer tours in and around the Midwest.
Hey, I’m Erica — Founder of Trail to Taproom.
I’m a beer connoisseur, hiking lover, and all-around adventurous human living in Chicago.
In 2024, I bought an old-school 1992 Toyota commuter van as old as me (literally). Its name is “Urb” (short for Urban van) — and I’d love to adventure in it with you.
Our mission is to help folks discover local hiking trails and nearby taprooms by way of this vintage beauty.
Book a Trail to Taproom Tour.
-
Find an Upcoming Trip and book your spot.
Most trips leave around 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and return at 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
We pick you up at a central location, take you to the trailhead for a hike, shuttle you to a local taproom (brewery, bar, etc.) after for a beer (some tours include food), and then drop you back where the day started.
Trips are limited to (9) guests.
-
Each Trail to Taproom trip includes (1) hiking trail stop, (1) taproom stop, and transportation to and from the hike/taproom.
We're constantly building new Trail to Taproom trip itineraries. Check out our Upcoming Trips.
Our Midwest and Chicagoland trips depart from and return to the location noted in the trip description on our Upcoming Trips page.
Note: Most of our Chicago-based Trail to Taproom trips leave from Bitter Pops in Lakeview. However, some trips may depart from / return to a specific taproom.
+++
Trail Difficulty Rating
Easy: Perfect for beginners and families. Typically, these hikes are more of a meandering walk through the woods on well-maintained paths, offering a relaxing introduction to hiking.
What to wear: Tennis shoes or light hiking boots.
Moderate: Ideal for active hikers, these hikes feature more rolling hills and occasional rocky or root-filled sections of the trail.
What to wear: Broken-in and comfortable hiking boots.
Challenging: For experienced hikers, these trails are more steep and feature longer distances in milage (over 6 miles).
What to wear: Sturdy boots and trekking poles (if desired).
Some of our favorite Chicagoland trips and trails include Ryerson Conservation Area (Easy), Palos Trail System (Moderate-Challenging), South Shore Nature Sanctuary (Easy), and Burnham Wildlife Corridor (Easy).
-
All trips include transportation, a guided hike, and a visit to a local taproom.
Ticket pricing varies depending if food is included, and if it’s a Private tour.
$50 — Tours without food included (buy/bring your own food)
$65 — Tours with food included
$700 – Private, custom trip without food included
$800 – Private, custom trip with food included
-
Every Trail to Taproom trip includes:
Transportation in our vintage van (Transportation will be provided at no charge.)
Local hike
Post-hike taproom visit
+++
Our (3) standard types of tours include:
$60 — Tours without food
(1) trail, (1) taproom, and bring or buy your own food at the brewery.
$75 — Tours with food
(1) trail, (1) taproom, and food provided post-hike.
$700 – Private, custom trip
Build your own trip (1 trail, 1 taproom) for 9 guests with food provided post-hike.
NOTE: Trail to Taproom does not provide alcohol to attendees. Participants must purchase drinks on their own tab. We also do not charge for the transportation portion of our services.
-
Our recommended packing list for Trail to Taproom trips include:
Water bottle — at least 2 liters of water, more on hot days.
Weather-appropriate clothing — moisture-wicking base layer (merino wool), insulating layer, waterproof jacket.
Sun protection — hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, sun shirt.
Comfortable shoes – tennis shoes (for easy trails) or hiking boots (for moderate to challenging trails).
Snacks – trail mix, granola bars, jerky, nuts.
Backpack — if you’d like to carry extra items, layers, etc.
ID — if you plan to partake in drinking beer, cider, etc. at the taprooms we visit.
-
For sure!
Find out more about our Private Trail to Taproom trips – for up to (9) guests.
Our private trips start at $700 (depending on distance, number of stops, and whether food is included or not).
Questions? Let’s Connect!
