Where to hike in Will County Illinois

Where to hike in Will County Illinois. There are so many places to hike in Illinois that I had to break out the City of Chicago and then each collar county into separate posts. This is installment five. I can’t attest to any of these trails since my hiking is limited to walking around on city streets. These all require a car to access. Generally Illinois is flat but I would go through the links below for the trails you’re interested to make sure they meet your difficulty level. Enjoy!

Where to hike in Will County Illinois

The Forest Preserve District of Will County (FPDWC) offers thirteen inter-connecting trails that traverse over 125 miles. Trail are crushed limestone and asphalt trails. Most are open to hikers, joggers, cross-country skiers, snowshoeing, in-line skating and wildlife-watchers, but a handful may have seasonal or site-specific restrictions such as pet access and horseback riders, restrictions. Some offer fishing, boating and picnicking. Interactive map for all trails. Also each trail has an Interactive Trail map.

Centennial Trail: The trail may be accessed from the either Schneider’s Passage (View on a Google Map) or Isle a la Cache (Romeo Road, Romeoville, via a 0.32-mile trail connection). The Trail is 3.26 miles from Schneider’s Passage in Romeoville northeast to the Cook County line.

DuPage River Trail: This trail is a work in progress. Currently there are 8.56 miles completed by FPDWC. The southern segment may be accessed from the following locations: Hammel Woods – Crumby Recreation Area (Black Road, Shorewood), Hammel Woods – DuPage River Access (Black Road, Shorewood), and Hammel Woods – Route 59 Access (Route 59, Shorewood). A northern segment may be accessed from Whalon Lake (Royce Road, Naperville).

Hickory Creek Bikeway: The Bikeway consists of two segments within Hickory Creek Preserve, totaling 6.65 miles. The western segment may be accessed from: Hickory Creek Preserve – Hickory Creek Barrens (Schoolhouse Road, New Lenox) or Hickory Creek Preserve – Hickory Creek Junction (Route 30, Mokena). The eastern segment may be accessed from Hickory Creek Preserve – LaPorte Road Access (LaPorte Road, Mokena).

I&M Canal Trail: The Trail is7.57 miles from the Joliet Iron Works Historic Site north through Lockport to Romeoville. The Trail may be accessed from: 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) and Isle a la Cache (Romeo Road, Romeoville, via a 0.57-mile trail connection).

Joliet Junction Trail: The Trail is 4.36 miles from Crest Hill south through Joliet. The trail may be accessed from the following locations: Theodore Marsh (Gaylord Road, Crest Hill) or Joyce Road/Walmart Parking Lot, Joliet (View on a Google Map).

Lake Renwick Bikeway: The Bikeway travels 3.35 miles through Lake Renwick Preserve. The trail may be accessed from the following locations: Lake Renwick Preserve –Turtle Lake Access (Lockport Street, Plainfield) and Lake Renwick Preserve – Plainfield Township Access (View on a Google Map).

Normantown Trail: Trail travels 2.6 miles from Vermont Cemetery Preserve south to 119th Street in Naperville. The northern 2.43 miles of this trail segment are paved, and the 0.17-mile southern portion is a shared-use road which allows vehicles to access Rockwell Lane from 119th Street. The trail may be accessed from Vermont Cemetery Preserve. Wolf Creek Preserve, located south of 111th Street in Naperville.

Old Plank Road Trail: The Old Plank Road Trail travels 22 miles from Joliet east through New Lenox, Frankfort, Matteson, Park Forest and Chicago Heights. The trail may be accessed from the following locations: Washington Street Access, Joliet (View on a Google Map), Park Road Access, Joliet (View on a Google Map), Hickory Creek Preserve – Hickory Creek Barrens (Schoolhouse Road, New Lenox, via street routes) and Hickory Creek Preserve – Hickory Creek Junction (Route 30, Mokena, via a 0.65-mile trail connection),

Plum Creek Greenway Trail: The Greenway Trail travels 3.15 miles through Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve, with a separate 1-mile stretch at Plum Valley Preserve. The trail may be accessed from Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve, Plum Valley Preserve, or from a horse trailer parking area on Goodenow Road (view on a Google Map).

Rock Run Greenway Trail: The Rock Run Greenway Trail travels 11.24 miles from Crest Hill south through Joliet. The trail may be accessed from the following locations: Theodore Marsh (Gaylord Road, Crest Hill), Rock Run Preserve – Paul V. Nichols Access (Essington Road, Joliet), Rock Run Preserve – Black Road Access (Black Road, Joliet), Colvin Grove Preserve/Joliet Junior College South Lot (Houbolt Road, Joliet) and Lower Rock Run Preserve – I&M Canal Access (Hollywood Road, Joliet).

Route 30 Bikeway: The Route 30 Bikeway travels 7.56 miles from Walona Avenue in New Lenox through Mokena to 78th Avenue in Frankfort. The trail may be accessed from: Hickory Creek Preserve – Hickory Creek Barrens (Schoolhouse Road and New Lenox), Hickory Creek Preserve – Hickory Creek Junction (Route 30, Mokena).

Spring Creek Greenway Trail: The Greenway Trail consists is 8.45 miles within Hadley Valley and Messenger Marsh. The western segment may be accessed from: Hadley Valley – Gougar Road Access (Gougar Road, Joliet), Hadley Valley – Route 6 Access (Route 6, Joliet) and Hadley Valley – Bruce Road Access (Bruce Road, Homer Township). The eastern segment may be accessed from Messenger Marsh (South Bell Road, Homer Glen).

Tall Grass Greenway Trail: Greenway Trail travels 4.04 miles from Vermont Cemetery Preserve east to Naperville-Plainfield Road in Naperville. The trail may be accessed from Vermont Cemetery Preserve.

Veterans Memorial Trail: Veterans Memorial Trail begins at 135th Street in Romeoville where it overlaps Centennial Trail and travels north 3.26 miles to Interstate 355. Centennial Trail 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. Veterans Memorial Trail may be accessed from Centennial Trail – Schneider’s Passage in Romeoville. (View on a Google Map).

Wauponsee Glacial Trail: The trail is 22.42 miles from Joliet south through Manhattan, Symerton and Florence and Wesley townships to Custer Park. The trail may be accessed from: Sugar Creek Preserve (Laraway Road, Joliet), Manhattan Road Access (View on a Google Map), Midewin-Wauponsee Trailhead (View on a Google Map), Symerton Access (View on a Google Map) and Forked Creek Preserve – Ballou Road Access (Ballou Road, Wesley Township).