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Recreation

Hiking/Running   Hiking/Running

News You Can Use
An access area development project, including a dog park, campground, and picnic shelter, is taking place on the Wauponsee Glacial Trail at Ballou Road in Wilmington in 2012 and 2013. View more information.
Celebrate the grand opening of Forked Creek Preserve - Ballou Road Access in Wilmington on August 10! View more information.
The Lake Renwick Heron Rookery Nature Preserve is closed to the public through August 15 for the bird breeding season, except during scheduled programs. View more information.
A portion of the DuPage River Trail at Whalon Lake in Naperville is closed for flooding repairs. View more information.
Enjoy hiking the trails of Will County's forest preserves with the 13th annual "Woods Walk" program! View more information.
Grinton Grove at Hammel Woods - Route 59 Access in Shorewood is closed for site improvements. View more information.
Hiking/Running

The forest preserves provide hikers and runners with beautiful trails throughout the county, making them convenient no matter where you live.

Hiking/Running Regulations

While hiking or running, please be aware of other trail users, and exercise proper judgment for the safety of everyone.

Travel at safe speeds, and proceed at a slower pace when the trails are in heavy use. Slower traffic should stay to the right of the trail. Faster traffic, such as runners, should pass on the left, politely warning others of their approach from behind.

Do not block the trail. Use no more than half of the trail width when in a group, and be sure to watch and listen for other trail users.

Power-driven mobility devices are allowed on Forest Preserve trails for qualified individuals, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. These devices include wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and electronic assistive mobility devices (EPAMDs). Specifically excluded are riding lawn mowers, golf carts, and gasoline-powered devices. The District offers a special use permit (free of charge) to qualified individuals who request to use a power-driven mobility device in the preserves. View more information about accessibility or request accommodations on-line.

Dogs are welcome on most trails, but they must be on leashes that are no greater than 10 feet in length. Dogs should be kept to their owner’s right and should remain at the owner’s immediate side. Cleaning up dog waste is required by the Forest Preserve's General Use Ordinance No. 124. By state law, dogs are not allowed in any designated State Nature Preserve.

For more information on Forest Preserve regulations, download the District's General Use Ordinance No. 124 or call 815.727.8700.

Hiking/Running Trail Locations

The Forest Preserve's regional trails offering hiking and running opportunities include:
Many preserves also offer trails for shorter hikes. View the list below for all Forest Preserve locations that provide hiking and running opportunities, and click the name of a preserve or trail for more information.

Photograph Courtesy of Stephen White
You can enjoy this activity at the following locations:
Preserves
• Braidwood Dunes and Savanna Nature Preserve (Braidwood)
• Centennial Trail/I&M Canal Trail (Romeoville/Lockport/Joliet)
• Colvin Grove Preserve (Joliet)
• DuPage River Trail (Naperville/Shorewood)
• Evans-Judge Preserve (Wilmington)
• Forked Creek Preserve - Forsythe Woods (Wilmington)
• Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve (Beecher)
• Hadley Valley - Bruce Road Access (Homer Glen)
• Hadley Valley - Gougar Road Access (Joliet)
• Hadley Valley - Route 6 Access (Joliet)
• Hammel Woods - Crumby Recreation Area (Shorewood)
• Hammel Woods - DuPage River Access (Shorewood)
• Hammel Woods - Route 59 Access (Shorewood)
• Hickory Creek Bikeway (New Lenox/Mokena)
• Hickory Creek Preserve - Hickory Creek Barrens (New Lenox)
• Hickory Creek Preserve - Hickory Creek Junction (Mokena)
• Hickory Creek Preserve - LaPorte Road Access (Mokena)
• Hunters Woods (Frankfort)
• Isle a la Cache (Romeoville)
• Joliet Iron Works Historic Site (Joliet)
• Joliet Junction Trail (Joliet)
• Keepataw Preserve (Lemont)
• Lake Chaminwood Preserve (Minooka)
• Lake Renwick Bikeway (Plainfield)
• Lake Renwick Preserve - Copley Nature Park (Plainfield)
• Lake Renwick Preserve - Heron Rookery Nature Preserve (Plainfield)
• Lake Renwick Preserve - Turtle Lake Access (Plainfield)
• Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve (Lockport)
• Lower Rock Run Preserve - I&M Canal Access (Joliet)
• McKinley Woods - Frederick's Grove (Channahon)
• McKinley Woods - Kerry Sheridan Grove (Channahon)
• Messenger Marsh (Homer Glen)
• Messenger Woods Nature Preserve (Homer Glen)
• Monee Reservoir (Monee)
• O'Hara Woods Preserve (Romeoville)
• Old Plank Road Trail (Park Forest/Frankfort/Mokena/New Lenox/Joliet)
• Plum Creek Greenway Trail (Crete)
• Prairie Bluff Preserve (Lockport)
• Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve (Monee)
• Riverview Farmstead Preserve (Naperville)
• Rock Run Greenway Trail (Joliet)
• Rock Run Preserve - Black Road Access (Joliet)
• Rock Run Preserve - Paul V. Nichols Access (Joliet)
• Rock Run Rookery Preserve (Joliet)
• Sauk Trail Reservoir (Frankfort)
• Spring Creek Greenway Trail (Homer Glen)
• Sugar Creek Preserve (Joliet)
• Teale Woods Preserve (Joliet)
• Theodore Marsh (Crest Hill)
• Thorn Creek Woods Nature Preserve (Park Forest)
• Veterans Woods - Roy F. Hassert Grove (Romeoville)
• Veterans Woods - Traders Corner (Romeoville)
• Wauponsee Glacial Trail (Joliet/Manhattan/Symerton)
• Whalon Lake (Naperville)
Visitor Centers
• Four Rivers Environmental Education Center (Channahon)
• Isle a la Cache Museum (Romeoville)
• Lake Renwick Heron Rookery Visitor Center (Plainfield)
• Monee Reservoir Visitor Center (Monee)
• Plum Creek Nature Center (Beecher)
• Sugar Creek Administration Center (Joliet)
 
Copyright © 2013 The Forest Preserve District of Will County
17540 W. Laraway Road, Joliet, IL 60433
815.727.8700 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Weekdays
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