Woods Walk hiking challenge
Lace up your hiking shoes and hit the trails
Our annual fall walking challenge is back for its 24th year, and once again this year we've made participating as easy as ever with the Goosechase app.
These walks will take you through a variety of habitats and trail types across Will County, giving you another reason to venture out into the preserves and get some exercise whiel surrounded by nature.
This year’s 10 Woods Walk trails are as follows:
- Forked Creek Preserve — Ballou Road Access: 4.25 miles
- Hickory Creek Preserve — Hickory Creek Barrens: 3.5 miles
- Hidden Oaks Preserve: 1.25 miles
- Joliet Iron Works Historic Site: 2.5 miles
- Keepataw Preserve: 0.5 mile
- McKinley Woods — Kerry Sheridan Grove: 1.5 miles
- Monee Reservoir: 2.25 miles
- Plum Valley Preserve: 2 miles
- Prairie Bluff Preserve: 2.75 miles
- Rock Run Preserve — Paul V. Nichols Access: 2 miles
Earn a hiking medallion
People who complete seven of the 10 Woods Walk trails before Nov. 30 will receive a 2026 Woods Walk hiking medallion. The deadline to submit a paper copy of the completed travel log is Monday, Dec. 7.
How to participate
Woods Walkers can track their progress in one of two ways. Simply download the Goosechase app either on iOS or Android devices and search for the 2026 Will County Woods Walk Challenge or use the code FMZJVN. The app will have all the information you need to complete the 10 hikes. This year, there is no online form for submitting your completed walks; the Goosechase app is the online submission component.
If you use the app, remember to check in at the designated spot for each trail to mark it completed in Goosechase. Hike completions are reviewed weekly. After completion of your seventh trail has been recorded, you will be contacted via email to select whether you want to receive your medallion via mail or by visiting a Forest Preserve visitor center.
As in past years, walkers can also pick up a travel log at one of five Forest Preserve visitor centers: Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon, Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook, Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville, Plum Creek Nature Center in Crete Township or Sugar Creek Administration Center in Joliet. You can track your progress in the booklet's travel log, which must be submitted by Monday, Dec. 7, to receive the commemorative medallion. You can bring the completed back page of your 2026 Hiking Guide or digital printout to any of the above visitor centers to receive your medallion. You can also mail the back page of the completed 2026 Hiking Guide or digital printout to Woods Walk c/o Sugar Creek Administration Center, 17540 W. Laraway Road, Joliet, IL 60433. Mailed submissions must be received by Monday, Dec. 7.
Getting started
All you need to get started on your 2026 Woods Walk adventure is a good pair of walking or hiking shoes, but we have a few suggestions to help you enjoy your experience and make the most of the walks.
- Dress for the weather. Fall can feel more like summer or winter, so be prepared for the day's weather when you head out on a hike. Check the forecast and dress appropriately. Consider layers if you are walking in the morning or evening, when temperatures can rise or fall quickly. And don’t forget the sunscreen.
- Bring plenty of water. No matter the temperature, it’s important to stay hydrated, even on short hikes. If you don’t want to carry a water bottle, look for one you can clip onto your clothing or a backpack. At the very least, make sure you have water waiting in your car.
- Bring your phone or camera and snap photos along the way to document your experience. Snap a picture-perfect moment? Enter it in our Preserve the Moment photo contest.
- If you have binoculars, bring them along so you can get a better look at the birds, insects and more you see in the distance. If you’re trying to learn more about the natural world, consider bringing a field guide — on birds, insects, wildflowers, etc. — to help you uncover more about what you are seeing in front of you.
- Have a plan and share it. If at all possible, don’t walk alone. If you are doing a Woods Walk hike alone, let someone know where you are going and when to expect you back. Have your phone with you when you walk, and make sure not to leave any valuables in your car.
Hit the trails
Walkers must complete seven of the 10 Woods Walk trails to complete the challenge and receive the 2026 commemorative medallion. Here’s a closer look at some of the trails you can choose from this year.
Hidden Oaks Preserve
This 1.25-mile out-and-back hike starts in the wooded wonderland outside Hidden Oaks Nature Center and carries you down to Hidden Lakes Trout Farm and over to Whalon Lake before you reach the turnaround point. As you walk, you’ll see seasonal changes in the woods and around the wetlands. This is a hillier walk than most, so be prepared for steep inclines on your return.
McKinley Woods — Kerry Sheridan Grove
Your 1.5-mile stroll here will have you circling the prairie, where the fall colors are a little different but no less splendid than they are in the woods. Parts of the trail here offer views of the surrounding rivers, so keep an eye out for herons, ducks, pelicans and more. Maybe you’ll even see an eagle soaring overhead.
Hickory Creek Preserve — Hickory Creek Barrens
This 3.5-mile hike is the second longest in this year’s Woods Walk, and it shows off some of the best scenery. The winding paved path starts in the prairie before quickly entering a beautiful woodland. The out-and-back hike is a great place to experience the seasonal changes across different habitats.
Funding for Woods Walk is provided by The Nature Foundation of Will County.
Hit the trails
Walkers must complete seven of the 10 Woods Walk trails to complete the challenge and receive the 2026 commemorative medallion. Here’s a closer look at some of the trails you can choose from this year.
Hidden Oaks Preserve
This 1.25-mile out-and-back hike starts in the wooded wonderland outside Hidden Oaks Nature Center and carries you down to Hidden Lakes Trout Farm and over to Whalon Lake before you reach the turnaround point. As you walk, you’ll see seasonal changes in the woods and around the wetlands. This is a hillier walk than most, so be prepared for steep inclines on your return.
McKinley Woods — Kerry Sheridan Grove
Your 1.5-mile stroll here will have you circling the prairie, where the fall colors are a little different but no less splendid than they are in the woods. Parts of the trail here offer views of the surrounding rivers, so keep an eye out for herons, ducks, pelicans and more. Maybe you’ll even see an eagle soaring overhead.
Hickory Creek Preserve — Hickory Creek Barrens
This 3.5-mile hike is the second longest in this year’s Woods Walk, and it shows off some of the best scenery. The winding paved path starts in the prairie before quickly entering a beautiful woodland. The out-and-back hike is a great place to experience the seasonal changes across different habitats.
Funding for Woods Walk is provided by The Nature Foundation of Will County.