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Recreational Activities
Find Out What Activities Our Preserves Offer

Hiking/Running   Hiking/Running

News You Can Use
The Centennial Trail is being periodically closed between 135th Street in Romeoville and the Cook County line. View more information.
Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve and Plum Creek Nature Center in Beecher are closed for preserve improvements. View more information.
Hiking/Running

Our preserves provide hikers and runners with beautiful trails throughout the county, making them convenient no matter where you live.

Regional trails run through a number of communities. Our oldest regional trail, the Old Plank Road Trail, was built along an abandoned rail line and runs 21.5 miles from Joliet eastward into Cook County. Access to the trail is provided in Joliet at Washington Street and at Park Road, and in Mokena at Hickory Creek Junction. The trail is part of the Grand Illinois Trail, which circumnavigates the northern quarter of Illinois, and the coast-to-coast American Discovery Trail.

Other regional trails managed by the Forest Preserve District include:

  • The Wauponsee Glacial Trail, which runs 22.25 miles from Joliet south to the Kankakee River in Custer Park (access at Laraway Road in Joliet, Manhattan/Arsenal Road in Manhattan, and Commercial Avenue in Symerton);
  • The Centennial Trail/I&M Canal Trail, which consists of three segments that travel 12.5 miles between the Cook County line and the City of Joliet (access at Keepataw Preserve in Bolingbrook, Isle a la Cache Preserve in Romeoville, and Joliet Iron Works Historic Site in Joliet);
  • The Hickory Creek Bikeway, which runs 4.6 miles through New Lenox and Mokena (access at Hickory Creek Barrens, Hickory Creek Junction, and Hickory Creek Preserve - LaPorte Road Access);
  • The Rock Run Trail and Joliet Junction Trail, which create a 16-mile looped trail through Joliet, Rockdale, and Crest Hill (access at Rock Run Greenway - Theodore Marsh Access, I&M Canal Access, Black Road Access, and Paul V. Nichols Access);
  • The Spring Creek Greenway Trail, which currently travels 4.85 miles in New Lenox and Homer Glen (access at Messenger Marsh and Hadley Valley Preserves);
  • The Lake Renwick Bikeway, which runs 2.9 miles through Plainfield (access at Lake Renwick Preserve - Turtle Lake Access);
  • The DuPage River Trail, which is being expanded but currently consists of a 2.35-mile segment at Whalon Lake Preserve; and
  • The Hammel Woods Bikeway, which spans 1.7 miles in Joliet and Shorewood (access at Hammel Woods).

Nature preserves offer trails that lead through beautiful natural settings. Nature preserves are given the highest degree of protection because of the rare natural treasures they contain. Find nature preserve trails at Braidwood Dunes and Savanna Nature Preserve (0.5-mile), Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve (0.4-mile), Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve (3 miles), Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve (0.5-mile), Messenger Woods Nature Preserve (2 miles), and Thorn Creek Woods Nature Preserve (2.75 miles). Please note that dogs are not allowed in nature preserves.

Hiking trails are available in virtually every forest preserve. A few of the more scenic trails are found at McKinley Woods (2.5 miles), Rock Run Greenway - Black Road Access (1 mile), Hickory Creek Preserve - LaPorte Road Access (2.8 miles), Messenger Marsh (3.5 miles), and Isle a la Cache Preserve (0.25-mile).

Photograph Courtesy of Stephen White

You can enjoy this activity at the following locations:

Preserves
Braidwood Dunes and Savanna Nature Preserve (Braidwood)
Centennial Trail / I&M Canal Trail (Romeoville/Lockport/Joliet)
DuPage River Trail (Naperville/Shorewood)
Evans-Judge Preserve (Custer Township)
Forsythe Woods (Wilmington)
Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve (Beecher)
Hadley Valley Preserve (New Lenox)
Hammel Woods (Shorewood)
Hammel Woods Bikeway (Shorewood)
Hickory Creek Bikeway - East Branch (Mokena)
Hickory Creek Bikeway - West Branch (New Lenox)
Hickory Creek Preserve - Hickory Creek Barrens (New Lenox)
Hickory Creek Preserve - Hickory Creek Junction (Mokena)
Hickory Creek Preserve - LaPorte Road Access (Mokena)
Hunters Woods (Frankfort)
Isle a la Cache Preserve (Romeoville)
Joliet Iron Works Historic Site (Joliet)
Joliet Junction Trail (Joliet)
Keepataw Preserve (Bolingbrook)
Lake Renwick Bikeway (Plainfield)
Lake Renwick Preserve - Copley Nature Park (Plainfield)
Lake Renwick Preserve - Heron Rookery Nature Preserve (Plainfield)
Lake Renwick Preserve - Turtle Lake (Plainfield)
Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve (Lockport)
McKinley Woods (Channahon)
Messenger Marsh Preserve (Homer Glen)
Messenger Woods Nature Preserve (Lockport)
Monee Reservoir (Monee)
Old Plank Road Trail (Park Forest/Frankfort/Mokena/New Lenox/Joliet)
Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve (Monee)
Riverview Farmstead (Naperville)
Rock Run Greenway - Black Road Access (Joliet)
Rock Run Greenway - I&M Canal Access (Joliet)
Rock Run Greenway - Paul V. Nichols Access (Joliet)
Rock Run Greenway - Theodore Marsh (Crest Hill)
Rock Run Rookery (Joliet)
Rock Run Trail (Joliet)
Sauk Trail Reservoir (Frankfort)
Spring Creek Greenway Trail (Homer Glen)
Sugar Creek Preserve (Joliet)
Teale Woods (Joliet)
Thorn Creek Woods Nature Preserve (Park Forest)
Veterans Woods (Romeoville)
Wauponsee Glacial Trail (Joliet/Manhattan/Symerton)
Whalon Lake (Naperville)
Visitor Centers
Environmental Learning Center (Mokena)
Four Rivers Environmental Education Center (Channahon)
Isle a la Cache Museum (Romeoville)
Lake Renwick Heron Rookery Visitor Center (Plainfield)
Monee Reservoir (Monee)
Plum Creek Nature Center (Crete)
Sugar Creek Administration Center (Joliet)
 
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17540 W. Laraway Road, Joliet, IL 60433
815.727.8700 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Weekdays
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