Wauponsee Glacial Trail

Wauponsee Glacial Trail
Name	Wauponsee Glacial Trail
Location	Will County, Illinois, United States
Length mi	22
Surface	Asphalt, crushed stone
Use	Hiking, cycling, horseback riding

Wauponsee Glacial Trail The Wauponsee Glacial Trail is a regional multiuse rail-trail in Will County, Illinois near Joliet, Illinois and Coal City, Illinois, linking suburban Chicago, Illinois corridors with open-space preserves and Heritage Corridor (Metra). The trail follows a former railroad right-of-way through landscapes shaped by the Wisconsin Glaciation, connecting municipal parks, Des Plaines River, and conservation sites managed by Forest Preserve District of Will County and local park districts.

Overview

The Wauponsee Glacial Trail runs approximately 22 miles through Mazon Creek Fossil Beds, Kankakee River State Park, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie adjacency, and urban edges of Naperville, Illinois and Plainfield, Illinois, offering paved and crushed-stone surfaces suitable for hikers, bicyclists, equestrians, and cross-country skiers. The corridor intersects transportation Metra (commuter rail) corridors, Interstate 55 (Illinois), and county roads, while passing near Illinois Route 53 and U.S. Route 52 (Illinois). Interpretive signage and trailheads are coordinated with Will County Forest Preserve District initiatives and local Will County Public Works planning.

History and Development

The alignment originated as part of 19th-century railroad expansions by companies such as the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad and later lines associated with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, reflecting regional industrial growth tied to Joliet Correctional Center logistics and Coal mining in Illinois operations. Rail abandonment in the late 20th century prompted conversion efforts supported by federal programs like Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 and state grant awards administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Local advocacy by groups including the Will County Trails Coalition and municipal governments of Channahon, Illinois and Morris, Illinois shaped phases of construction, with key milestones coordinated with National Trails System principles and regional planning by Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning.

Route and Geography

The route traces glacial landforms deposited during the Wisconsin glaciation epoch, crossing moraines, outwash plains, and restored prairie parcels near Mazon Creek, famous for Tully Monster fossils, and adjacent to wetlands conserved under the Ramsar Convention-influenced priorities. Major crossings link downtown Joliet to Diamond, Illinois and traverse tributaries feeding the Des Plaines River and Kankakee River, while proximity to Lockport, Illinois and the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal frames hydrological context. Elevation changes are modest, reflecting postglacial flattening characteristic of northeastern Illinois landforms.

Trail Features and Amenities

Trailheads provide parking, bicycle repair stations, restrooms, and informational kiosks with exhibits referencing regional history at sites like the Joliet Iron Works Historic Site and interpretive panels about the Mazon Creek Fossil Beds. Wayfinding signs coordinate with National Recreation Trails standards and display connections to local parks such as Pioneer Park (Joliet) and the Des Plaines River Trail. Surface types include asphalt suitable for road bicycles and ADA-compliant sections, plus crushed-stone segments used by equestrian groups affiliated with the Illinois Equine Council. Picnic shelters, benches, and native-plant restoration plots are maintained by partners including Citizens for Conservation and township park districts.

Recreation and Use

Users include commuters linking to Metra stations, recreational cyclists training for events coordinated by League of American Bicyclists affiliates, hikers accessing birding hotspots noted by Audubon Society (United States), and equestrians organized through United States Equestrian Federation-affiliated clubs. Seasonal programming features cross-country ski grooming managed by township recreation departments, interpretive walks with Illinois State Museum educators, and charity rides benefiting organizations like Will County Community Hospice. Usage policies balance multiuse access with safety regulations enforced by county ordinances and volunteer trail stewards.

Conservation and Management

Management responsibilities fall to the Forest Preserve District of Will County, municipal park districts, and nonprofit stewards working under conservation frameworks promoted by the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory and the Environmental Protection Agency. Habitat restoration emphasizes tallgrass prairie reconstruction inspired by practices at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie and invasive species control coordinated with Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Funding streams include state recreation grants, federal transportation enhancement funds, and private donations routed through foundations such as the Chicago Community Trust.

Access and Transportation

Primary access points are at trailheads near Joliet Union Station (Joliet) and municipal lots in Coal City, Illinois and Diamond, Illinois, with public-transit links to Metra Rock Island District and road access from Interstate 55 and Illinois Route 53. Bicycle commuters can connect to regional networks via the Des Plaines River Trail and municipal bike lanes in Naperville, Illinois and Plainfield, Illinois, while long-distance cycle tourists integrate the route into itineraries that include Great Rivers Greenway and adjacent state park systems.

Category:Trails in Illinois Category:Protected areas of Will County, Illinois