Preservation

The 135-acre Old Plank Road Trail was acquired between 1992 and 2006.

Prior to the District’s acquisition of the land, it was an abandoned railroad. Prior to the railroad’s construction, the corridor had originally been secured to build a wagon and horse road using wood planks, but the road was never built.

Trail Location and Access

The Old Plank Road Trail travels 21 miles from Joliet east through New Lenox, Frankfort, Matteson, and Park Forest.

The trail is jointly owned and managed by members of the Old Plank Road Trail Management Commission, which include the Forest Preserve District, the Village of Frankfort, Rich Township, the Village of Park Forest, and the Village of Matteson. The Forest Preserve District owns and manages 11.6 miles of the 14.2 miles of trail in Will County.

The trail may be accessed from the following locations managed by the Forest Preserve District:

• Washington Street Access, Joliet
• Park Road Access, Joliet
• Hickory Creek Preserve - Hickory Creek Barrens (Schoolhouse Road, New Lenox, via street routes)
• Hickory Creek Preserve - Hickory Creek Junction (Route 30, Mokena, via a 0.65-mile trail connection)

Trail Experience and Activities

The Old Plank Road Trail is a flat, paved linear trail and travels 21 miles through prairie. It is ideal for the following activities:

• Biking
• Hiking/Running
• In-Line Skating
• Cross-Country Skiing
• Snowshoeing

Download a map and guide to the Old Plank Road Trail.

Trail Connections

Grand Illinois Trail: The Old Plank Road Trail is part of the Grand Illinois Trail, which travels the northern quarter of Illinois.

American Discovery Trail: The Old Plank Road Trail is part of the American Discovery Trail, which travels coast-to-coast.

Centennial Trail/I&M Canal Trail: Street routes in Joliet connect the west end of the Old Plank Road Trail to the 10.81-mile, linear crushed limestone/paved Centennial Trail/I&M Canal Trail.

Wauponsee Glacial Trail: Street routes in Joliet connect the west end of the Old Plank Road Trail to the 22.29-mile, linear crushed limestone/paved Wauponsee Glacial Trail.

I&M Canal State Trail: Street routes in Joliet connect the west end of the Old Plank Road Trail to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ crushed limestone I&M Canal State Trail.

Download a map of Joliet area bike trail connections.

Hickory Creek Bikeway: A street route in New Lenox and a trail connection in Mokena connect the Old Plank Road Trail to the 3.68-mile, linear paved western segment of the Hickory Creek Bikeway. Street routes in Mokena connect the Old Plank Road Trail to the 2.9-mile, linear paved eastern segment of the Hickory Creek Bikeway.

Thorn Creek Trail: Street routes in Park Forest and Chicago Heights connect the east end of the Old Plank Road Trail to the Forest Preserve District of Cook County’s Thorn Creek Trail.

Programs and Events

The Old Plank Road Trail provides a portion of the route for the annual "Cruise the Creek" family bike ride and festival at Hickory Creek Preserve - Hickory Creek Barrens in October. View a video from the 2012 event on our YouTube Channel.

Photograph Courtesy of Glenn P. Knoblock