Old Plank Road Trail — Washington Street rail return
Illinois · Rail-trail
From the public Washington Street access join the main Old Plank Road Trail and head east toward New Lenox for up to two miles, then retrace. Stop at crossings and actual work barriers. Do not add Joliet street routes to I&M Canal, Wauponsee or Route 30 networks.
Plan your ride
- Location
- Joliet · Illinois
- Ride length
- Up to 4 miles return
- Ride format
- Out and back
- Surface
- Paved main former-rail trail
- Road crossings
- Yield to walkers and slow at junctions. Stop and look at every street crossing; do not use traffic lanes to bypass a closure.
- Elevation
- Mostly former-rail or low-relief terrain, with local rises, bridges, ramps and street crossings. No surveyed maximum grade; walk uncomfortable transitions.
- Starting location
- Old Plank Road Trail public Washington Street access, Joliet, IL
Selected outward cap and the same return; turn earlier at the actual route end or a barrier. Parking walks are extra.
Manager-linked named public Washington Street trail-access reference, not a surveyed entrance or parking stall.
Old Plank Road Trail — Washington Street rail return — detailed guide
Source review: 2026-10-22. A dated source review does not guarantee current-day conditions.
A selected outing on a documented improved bicycle route. Follow the stated public start and course.
Start and parking
Start: Old Plank Road Trail public Washington Street access, Joliet, IL.
Use currently signed ordinary public visitor/trail spaces and walk the parking approach. Reserved events, private businesses, school-day lots and boat-trailer spaces are not assumed available. Posted gate, fee and lot terms govern; no guaranteed stall.
Ride and distance
Selected ride: Up to 4 miles return. Format: Out and back.
Ride: From the public Washington Street access join the main Old Plank Road Trail and head east toward New Lenox for up to two miles, then retrace. Stop at crossings and actual work barriers. Do not add Joliet street routes to I&M Canal, Wauponsee or Route 30 networks.
Selected outward cap and the same return; turn earlier at the actual route end or a barrier. Parking walks are extra.
Surface and effort
Paved main former-rail trail. Mostly former-rail or low-relief terrain, with local rises, bridges, ramps and street crossings. No surveyed maximum grade; walk uncomfortable transitions.
Crossings and shared use
Yield to walkers and slow at junctions. Stop and look at every street crossing; do not use traffic lanes to bypass a closure. Yield to pedestrians, keep right, and slow at blind corners. Stop at barriers; never use a traffic-road detour to bypass a trail closure.
Hours, costs and access
Use daylight and obey posted trail, park and parking hours. Follow current public visitor-parking terms; reserved activities and events have separate conditions.
Reviewed 2026-10-22. Fresh owner profile confirms the 22-mile paved bike route and links the named Washington Street public access point. It explicitly describes several regional connections as street routes; those are excluded. County-owned 11.5 miles and other jurisdiction extents are not added to the whole 22-mile corridor. This is a source review, not a same-day inspection. Recheck the linked manager before travel.
Map and Directions
Use the named public start and its posted parking signs. The map reference identifies the facility or selected trail area; it is not a surveyed parking stall or navigable route line. Bicycle and e-bike rules can differ; only ordinary bicycle use is established unless noted.