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