Biking
Rock Run Greenway
in Will County
Will County's Rock Run Greenway is in Joliet and starts on Gaylord Road north of Theodore and travels the marsh and a Joliet park. A sidewalk connection along Ingalls Avenue brings you to a loop encircling Rock Run Creek and a dead-end spur south of Black Road. A proposed extension would connect to the southern portion which runs from Route 52 along Houbolt Avenue past Joliet Municipal Airport, around Joliet Junior College, under Interstate 80, and to the Illinois and Michigan Canal State Trail. The I&M is a 55 mile trail which continues west to LaSalle/Peru or east to Rockdale. Before Rockdale, if you turn north onto the Joliet Junction Trail to Theodore Street, you have a loop back to Rock Run Greenway (when the proposed section is finished.)
This is the segment between Black Road and Essington trailheads and is lovely forest, ponds, marsh and wetlands, and the creek, and was extremely heavily used the Saturday I rode it. The trail is well maintained asphalt and has a few small hills. This segment and the Theodore Marsh segment are about a six mile round-trip.
This egret was enjoying Rock Run Creek and the beautiful day, oblivious to the people teeming the trail on the dead end segment south of Black Road. I am always thankful to those who preserve such areas and allow us the privilege of enjoying nature while allowing wildlife the opportunity to dwell in pristine environments.
Trail maps are posted at trailheads and are also available at the website below.