Trail history
The 100-acre I&M Canal Trail was leased between 1994 and 2015.
PLAN YOUR ADVENTURE ON THIS TRAIL'S INTERACTIVE MAP
Trail location and access
The I&M Canal Trail travels 7.57 miles from the Joliet Iron Works Historic Site north through Lockport to Romeoville.
The I&M Canal Trail may be accessed from the following locations managed by the Forest Preserve District:
- Joliet Iron Works Historic Site (Columbia Street, Joliet)
- Second Street Access, Lockport (View on a Google Map)
- Schneider's Passage (View on a Google Map)
- Isle a la Cache (Romeo Road, Romeoville, via a 0.57-mile trail connection)
Trail experience and activities
The I&M Canal Trail is a 7.57-mile crushed limestone/paved linear trail in four segments in Will County.
The I&M Canal Trail travels for 0.58 mile along a paved segment from the Joliet Iron Works Historic Site north to Columbia Street in Joliet. From there, the trail travels 2.77 miles from Columbia Street north to Division Street in Lockport. This flat, crushed limestone segment of the trail runs along the I&M Canal through woodland. It is ideal for the following activities:
- Biking
- Hiking/running
- Cross-country skiing
- Snowshoeing
From Division Street in Lockport, a crushed limestone segment of the I&M Canal Trail owned by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Lockport Township Park District travels 1.05 miles north to Second Street in Lockport.
At Second Street in Lockport, the I&M Canal Trail travels north 3.17 miles to Schneider’s Passage/Isle a la Cache in Romeoville. This flat, crushed limestone segment of the trail travels along the I&M Canal through woodland. It is ideal for the following activities:
- Biking
- Hiking/running
- Cross-country skiing
- Snowshoeing
Trail connections
Centennial Trail: This trail extends 3.26 miles from Schneider’s Passage/Isle a la Cache preserve northeast through Romeoville to the Cook County line. It overlaps with the Veterans Memorial Trail at 135th Street in Romeoville and splits off at I-355 heading east into Cook County. Veterans Memorial Trail continues 1.47 miles north through Lemont to Internationale Parkway in Woodridge.
I&M Canal State Trail: Street routes in Joliet connect the south end of the I&M Canal Trail to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' crushed limestone I&M Canal State Trail. The I&M Canal State Trail may also be accessed from the District's Lower Rock Run Preserve – I&M Canal Access in Joliet, McKinley Woods – Kerry Sheridan Grove in Channahon, and McKinley Woods – Frederick's Grove in Channahon.
I&M Canal Trail: In Lockport, the trail connects to the Lockport Township Park District's I&M Canal Trail, which provides access to the Park District's Dellwood Park and Dellwood West.
Old Plank Road Trail: Street routes in Joliet connect the south end of the I&M Canal Trail to the 22-mile, linear paved Old Plank Road Trail.
Wauponsee Glacial Trail: Street routes in Joliet connect the south end of the I&M Canal Trail to the 22.42-mile, linear crushed limestone/paved Wauponsee Glacial Trail.