Map of bike paths / walking paths in the Will County area

Recreational trails for walking, running and cycling in Will County, Illinois

Will County is located to the southwest of the Chicago Metro Area in Northeastern Illinois. Will County is located to the south of DuPage County, north of Kankakee County, to the east of Grundy County and just west of Lake County in Indiana. The major cities withing Will County are Aurora, Naperville, Plainview and Joliet.

This section of Illinois has numerous forest preserves and large parks as well as an extensive system of recreatonal trails for bike riding, running and walking. These trails travel alongside the rivers, creeks and channels, through forest preserves and local parks, alongside major roadways, along abandoned railroad corridors or through residential neighborhoods.

Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail

The Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail is a 96-mile long unpaved pathway that extends from LaSalle to Romeoville, north of Joliet in Western Will County. The trail is also known as the I & M Canal Trail. The route goes through a number of state parks and past several local communities. The trail follows the route of the old tow path along the canal, which is adjacent to the Illinois River.

Read more about the Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail

Wauponsee Glacial Trail

The Wauponsee Glacial Trail is a 22.3-mile long paved and unpaved pathway located near Joliet in Will County. The trail has a surface of compacted crushed limestone.The trail passes through wide open farmland and crosses a number of creeks and rivers. The route of the trail follows an abandoned railroad right-of-way and travels through the communities of Preston Heights and Manhattan.

Read more about the Wauponsee Glacial Trail

Kankakee River Trail

The Kankakee River Trail is a 10.6-mile long paved and unpaved pathway that is located in Kankakee River State Park. The park is located in Southern Will County and Northern Kankakee County along the banks of the Kanakaee River to the northwest of the city of Kankakee. The trail wanders through the thick forests and has numerous trailheads along the way. The park has many other activities such as fishing, boating, equestrian trails, hiking trails, picnic facilities and an archery range.

Old Plank Road Trail

The Old Plank Road Trail is a 22-mile long paved path that extends from Joliet to Campbell Heights in Will County. The trail was constructed along the route of an abandoned railroal right-of-way and travels through the residential neighborhoods and goes parks and natural areas.

Read more about the Old Plank Road Trail

Rock Run Greenway Trail

The Rock Run Greenway Trail is a system of paved pathways that extends for over 10 miles located on the west side of Joliet. The trail connects with the Joliet Junction Trail on Theodore Street and Cypress Lane and comes close to the Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail on Hollywood Road south of Interstate 80. The trail meanders through Rock Run Preserve, Middle Rock Run County Forest Preserve and past Joliet Junior College.

Joliet Junction Trail

The Joliet Junction Trail is a 4.4-mile long paved pathway that connects to the DuPage River Trail at Theodore Street on the west side of Joliet. The trail allows for an easy connection to the Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail to the along S. Larkin Avenue to the south of Interstate 70.

DuPage River Trail

The DuPage River Trail is a segmented system of mostly paved trails located in DuPage County and Will County on the western side of the Chicago Metro Area in Northeast Illinois. The DuPage River Trail is a planned 40-mile long trail system that is supported by 12 agencies in DuPage and Will County. Several separated sections of the system have been constructed. The trail system includes the Naperville Riverwalk that is located just south of Jefferson Avenue and west of Benedeti-Wehrli Stadium.

Read more about the DuPage River Trail

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Resources

Following are links to official off-site resources to find out more details about the recreational trails located in Will County, Illinois.