Sections of the I&M Canal State Trail and the Lake Chaminwood Preserve loop trail in Channahon are closed for a Forest Preserve District trail connection project.

A 3-mile portion of the I&M Canal State Trail is closed from the Interstate 55 frontage road to West Knapp Street. The back section of the Lake Chaminwood Preserve loop trail that is closest to the canal trail also will be closed for the duration of the project. Barricades and signs have been posted on both trails. Anyone who disobeys the closure signs and barricades could be ticketed. 

The closures are necessary as work takes place to construct a 0.25-mile paved path extension that will link the Forest Preserve District's Lake Chaminwood loop trial to the 61.5-mile, state-owned I&M Canal trail via a 90-foot bridge over the canal. 

Lake Chaminwood is the planned southern terminus of the DuPage River Trail. Connecting Lake Chaminwood to the I&M Canal State Trail now will allow for the regional DuPage and I&M Canal trails to be connected in the future. 

Also, as part of the Lake Chaminwood project, two new accessible fishing piers will be built, one on the east lake and one on the west lake.

Weather and other factors could affect the project timeline. Updates will be posted here as necessary. 

This is the second phase of Forest Preserve District improvements at Lake Chaminwood Preserve. Phase one, which was completed in June 2023, included a larger parking lot, a new entrance, an accessible kayak launch and a welcome plaza. 

The improvements at Lake Chaminwood are being made possible with support from The Nature Foundation of Will County.