Forest Preserve's Annual Woods Walk Kicks Off

WILL COUNTY, IL — The Forest Preserve District of Will County will begin its annual Woods Walk challenge, starting Sept. 1 and running through Nov. 30.

Loyal fans of this program, which debuted in 2000 and took a hiatus in 2016 and 2017, enjoy discovering new preserves at their own pace by hiking at least seven of 10 designated trails, according to a release from the preserve.

Brittany Schaller, who now works for the Forest Preserve District as an interpretive naturalist, said Woods Walk was the first program she participated in when she discovered the Forest Preserve back in 2011. She has completed 10 more since then.

“The best thing about this program is that you don’t have to reserve a specific date or time to complete these hikes,” she said in a news release. “You can complete the hikes whenever you feel the urge to be in nature within the three-month time frame.”

Woods Walk entices participants to go where they haven’t gone before, she added.

“It’s a perfect opportunity to check more forest preserves off your list, and an excuse to explore different preserves and have amazing new experiences,” she said. "It is peaceful, calming, and restorative to be in nature. Woods Walk is the perfect no-brainer, just choose a preserve off the list and go!”

Participants who complete the challenge earn a special medallion that can be pinned to a backpack or walking stick. The 2024 medallion will feature a bald eagle for the first time in the challenge’s history, the preserve said.

“We were thrilled at the hatching of seven eaglets in four nests in the preserves this spring and wanted to commemorate the boom,” said Em Wilcher, the Forest Preserve’s recreation coordinator.

This year’s trails are:

• Forsythe Woods Nature Trail at Forked Creek Preserve – Forsythe Woods, Florence Township: 0.5 mile*
• Evans-Judge Nature Trail Loop at Evans-Judge Preserve, Custer Township: 1.5 miles
• Spring Creek Greenway Trail at Messenger Marsh, Homer Glen: 2.2 miles*
• Plum Creek Greenway Trail at Goodenow Road Access, Crete Township: 2.2 miles
• Hickory Creek Bikeway and LaPorte Road Nature Trail at Hickory Creek Preserve – La Porte Road Access, Mokena: 2.2 miles*
• Wauponsee Glacial Trail at Sugar Creek Preserve, Joliet Township: 2.6 miles*
• Normantown Trail at Vermont Cemetery Preserve, Naperville: 2.9 miles
• Rock Run Greenway Trail at Hammel Woods – DuPage River Access, Shorewood: 3.2 miles*
• Old Plank Road Trail at Washington Street Access, Joliet Township: 3.2 miles*
• Spring Creek Greenway Trail at Hadley Valley – Bruce Road Access, Homer Glen: 4.4 miles*

Starred trails feature routes that are easily extended to lengthen a walk. The trail selection was tweaked this year to reflect feedback that previous years’ picks were either too long or too short, Wilcher said in a release.

“This year, each route is between 0.5 and 4 miles, of which six of the selections are out-and-back routes that can easily be extended for folks who want to stretch their miles. Signs with a reminder to check in for Goosechase users will be posted at the official turnarounds, but walkers are welcome to continue as they choose.”

More details, including trail maps, are included in the Woods Walk booklet, available at Forest Preserve visitor centers and online starting Sept. 1.

The deadline to submit a completed travel log is Dec. 8. Funding for Woods Walk is provided by The Nature Foundation of Will County.