Wauponsee Glacial Trail
Location
The Wauponsee Glacial Trail travels 22.42 miles from Joliet south through Manhattan, Symerton and Florence and Wesley townships to Custer Park.
Hours
Sunrise-sunset
Phone
815-727-8700
Wauponsee Glacial Trail is a 22.29-mile paved/crushed limestone linear trail consisting of two segments.
The northern segment of the trail travels 2.80 miles from Sugar Creek Preserve north to Rowell Avenue in Joliet. This flat, paved segment of the trail travels through woodland, prairie and wetland. It is ideal for the following activities:
- Biking
- Hiking/running
- In-line skating
- Cross-country skiing
- Snowshoeing
The southern segment of the trail extends an additional 19.49 miles from Sugar Creek Preserve south to the Kankakee River. This flat, crushed limestone segment of the trail travels through prairie. It is ideal for the following activities:
- Biking
- Bison viewing
- Horseback riding (trailer parking available at Sugar Creek Preserve, theMidewin-WauponseeTrailhead andForked Creek Preserve – Ballou Road Access)
- Hiking/running
- Cross-country skiing
- Snowshoeing
Trail connections
I&M Canal Trail: Street routes in Joliet connect the north end of the Wauponsee Glacial Trail to the 7.57-mile, linear crushed limestone/paved I&M Canal Trail.
I&M Canal State Trail: Street routes in Joliet connect the north end of the Wauponsee Glacial Trail to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' 61.5-mile, linear crushed limestone I&M Canal State Trail.
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie trails: South of Manhattan, the Wauponsee Glacial Trail connects to the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie trail system managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Old Plank Road Trail: Street routes in Joliet connect the north end of the Wauponsee Glacial Trail to the 22-mile, paved linear Old Plank Road Trail.
Trail history
The Wauponsee Glacial Trail was acquired between 2004 and 2016.
Prior to the District's acquisition of the land, it was two abandoned railroads: Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific from Joliet to Manhattan and the Wabash/Norfolk Southern from Manhattan to Custer Park.
Frequently asked questions
Electric-assist bicycles are allowed within the preserves as long as they meet certain requirements. The bikes must:
- Be low speed (an electric motor of less than 750 watts).
- Have a maximum speed of less than 20 miles per hour.
- Have functional pedals.
- Have a rider who is 16 years of age or older.
Per the District's General Use Ordinance, persons riding a bicycle must conform to federal and state bicycle laws.
Call 911 in an emergency. Non-emergency safety concerns should be directed to the Laraway Communications Center dispatch at 815-727-6191 (option 9) to have a Forest Preserve District officer dispatched. Non-emergency and past concerns can also be reported to the District's police department by calling 815-727-8700 or through the online form.