The Forest Preserve District has launched a campaign to get people to stop creating and using unauthorized trails in preserves. 

In the past several years, illegal trails have been created in sensitive natural areas, even though it is against the Forest Preserve District’s ordinance, and it is harming the ecosystem. 

Signs have been installed at Hickory Creek Preserve that mark the areas that are not for biking and hiking. 

“We’re asking everyone to stay on designated paths that are designed to protect the preserves, wildlife and path users,” said Cindy Wojdyla Cain, the Forest Preserve District’s public information officer. “Do the right thing and stop creating or using illegal trails that harm nature.”

Causing damage

Dave Robson, the Forest Preserve’s natural resource management supervisor, said the unauthorized trails do serious damage to the preserves. 

“They are essentially wounds slicing across the ecosystem,” he said. “The damage takes many forms such as direct physical harm to plants, fragmentation of habitat, soil compaction and erosion. The erosion can lead to sedimentation of streams, wetlands and the seasonal depressions important to amphibians.”

The unauthorized paths also can spread invasive species and disease, Robson added. 

“Protected natural areas contain many uncommon plant species that do not tolerate disturbance very well,” he said. “They are not dandelions that will simply grow back if you pull them out. If a population of a conservative plant species is trampled or the soil moved to construct a trail feature, it will not grow back. It has essentially been exterminated and will likely be replaced by something far less desirable.”

That is why these areas are protected by the Forest Preserve. 

“A bare dirt linear corridor void of vegetation through the woodlands is obviously not how woodlands naturally grow and can only be described as damage since we know it has been caused by human activity and not wildlife movements,” Robson explained. 

Illegal paths in the preserves can cause:

Erosion Damage – Unauthorized trails contribute significantly to erosion, especially in sensitive habitats. This erosion disrupts natural drainage patterns, damages soil structure, and threatens the stability of nearby ecosystems.

Habitat Fragmentation – Wildlife depends on uninterrupted habitats. Creating new trails can divide habitats, making it harder for animals to find food, shelter, and mates, ultimately endangering their populations.

Native Plants Under Threat – Trampling from unauthorized trails can crush and kill native plants that are essential for the ecosystem. These plants provide food and shelter for insects, birds and other wildlife.

Disturbance to Wildlife – Animals are sensitive to human presence. Unapproved trails and biking activities can disrupt breeding, feeding, and nesting activities, leading to stress and declining populations.

Safety and funding concerns

The illegal trails also cause safety concerns for visitors and the use of taxpayers funds to rectify these trails or repair damage. 

“Users of unauthorized trails can easily startle other preserve visitors when they suddenly appear out of the woods unexpectedly,” Robson said. “Bikers and joggers may have to quickly alter their course which could lead to collisions, equestrian riders may quickly find themselves on top of a spooked horse and dog walkers could have difficulty controlling their pets after being surprised.”

The harm caused by unauthorized trails causes the Forest Preserve’s conservation department to divert resources toward controlling invasive species and performing other restoration activities along the trails, time that would have otherwise been spent elsewhere, Robson said. 

Taxpayer money funds the Forest Preserves police and operations departments that protect and maintain the preserves. 

“Investigating illegal uses detracts from those priorities,” Robson said. “Further, emergency response services are not designed to respond quickly to areas well away from authorized use areas. As a result, they may have difficulty finding an injured person along the remote, unmapped illegal trails in the event of an accident. Unauthorized trails, especially when used by mountain bikers, unnecessarily inflate the resources needed to maintain those amenities and public safety.”

Robson said he wonders how people who cause this damage would feel if someone came to their home and trampled their vegetable or flower garden. 

“For people who care about natural areas for what they are, the home of the flora and fauna, it is the same outcome,” Robson said. “Where is the respect?”

Join the fight

Path users should stay on designated trails, educate others and spread awareness about trail etiquette and environmental conservation. They also should report unauthorized trails by calling 815-727-8700 so the District can assess and address the situation promptly. If you see someone using an illegal path, call Forest Preserve police dispatch at 815-727-6191, option 9, to report the activity. 

“We thank members of the community in joining this fight to protect and preserve the natural beauty of Will County's preserves," Cain said. "By following designated trails and respecting the environment, you're helping to ensure that future generations can enjoy these natural treasures as much as we do today.”