. . . on the trails of Pilcher Park!
Yet another hiking adventure is in the books! This time we headed out to the Joliet/Lockport area and wandered along the paths at Pilcher Park. If you’re looking for several path options, this place is for you. Here’s what we found:
The Nature Center is the hub for all the trails and has real restrooms. 🙂 There are a couple of large maps highlighting all of the different paths throughout the preserve. Some are paved, so if you need or prefer level, smooth terrain for your bike, stroller, or wheelchair you’ll be able to enjoy the park easily. Other paths are packed, crushed stone that are easy to navigate and include a few mild hills. They’re fairly easy to follow as well since they’re marked with colors that correspond to the different paths. All of the trails meander through a canopy of maples, oaks, and other greenery. We did wear our bucket hats just in case anything decided to drop down from the trees, insects or . . . other things. 
We didn’t really run into too many people on the paths, but then again we took the outer loop which was a bit more hilly than the ones along the Interpretive Path. It was so very peaceful and quiet. The sun was out, the temperature was climbing but the canopy kept us cool as we trekked through the woods. Birds were everywhere, even some squirrels, but we met a couple of new friends along the way:
According to AllTrails, the Pilcher Park Loop Trail is an easy 2.4 mile loop that takes less that an hour to complete. That’s just one of the trails they have to offer. (We logged 2.2 miles on the Outer Loop.) One bit of advice: look online to see if there are any events happening at the Nature Center before you go. We ran into major parking issues due to the book drop-off/donation/resale event last Saturday. We were lucky to find a spot about 1/4 mile down the road and backtracked to the trail head.
No matter which trail you choose to explore I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Just remember to dress appropriately for the weather, wear a hat, and bring plenty of water. I imagine you could spend the majority of a day there winding along several different trails and having a picnic at one of the tables outside the Nature Center. We hope you enjoy this area as much as we did!
#happyhiking
#pilcherparklooptrail
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