It's about 12 miles long, mostly flat, running in an east-west direction through some of the most interesting and varied landscapes in the south and southwest suburbs.

It's the Old Plank Road Trail - and it's the southland's newest and finest asphalt-paved biking/hiking/running trail. If you haven't yet tried it, you're in for a treat.

The Old Plank Road Trail has it all - a wide variety of access points, areas of lush, natural prairie, and lots of wildlife complimented by an historic shopping district, restaurants, a large shopping mall, forest preserve facilites, parks, picnic areas and much more. You name it -- you've got it on the Old Plank Road Trail.

The trail was the result of years of long, hard work by the Old Plank Road Trail Association, a volunteer support group interested in preserv ing the quality prairie that exists along the right-of-way of the trail. Established in 1980, the Association has lobbied extensively for the trail, educating others about the value of the trail and conducting clearing and clean-up activities on the trail. The trail is managed by the Old Plank Road Trail Management Commission, which consists of one voting representative each from the villages of Park Forest, Matteson and Frankfort, Rich Township and the Forest Preserve District of Will County.

The trail's eastern most starting point is at Western Avenue in Chicago Heights, exactly one-half mile south of Route 30/Lincoln Highway. Just to the south and east is the Cook County Forest Preserve's Sauk Trail Woods and bicycle trail -- well-known to anyone who has run the award-winning Park Forest Scenic 10 Mile Run on Labor Day.) Plans are underway to acquire the railroad right-of-way through Chicago Heights to connect these facilities.

There's no place to park at this eastern-most point, however. But heading west from Western Avenue, the trail leads into the village of Park Forest. Logan Park is the next best place to access the trail; parking is available just to the south of the trail.

Continuing west on the trail, you'll pass the Metra Train station. Located between Park Forest and Matteson, Metra provides transporta tion to Chicago's Loop. Parking, bike racks and bike lockers are available at the Park Forest municipal parking lot. (For Metra passenger service informa tion, call 312/ 322~777 weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or contact their travel Information Center evening and weekends at 312/836-7000.).

Continuing west, Governors Trail Park features off-street parking, washrooms, a picnic shelter, playground and baseball diamonds.

If you want to work scone shoppmg into your run, Lincoln Mall shopping center, located immediately north of the trail at Cicero Avenue and Route 30 in Matteson, offers more than 100 retail stores, anchored by JC Penney, Carson Pine Scott, Sears and Montgomery Wards -- as well as many places to stop in for a drink, meal or snack.

Another easy access point for the Old Plank Road Trail is just west of Cicero Avenue, at the Target Store parking lot. Look for the charming gazebo (a nice place to sit and sip some Gatorade on a particularly hot day).

As you head farther west of Cicero Avenue on the trail, you'll be running through the Dewey Halmick Nature Preserve - a 12.83 acre natural area featuring more than 100 species of natural and restored prairie. Enjoy the peace and quiet of nature; there are always some interesting birds by the water area.

Your next available porta-potty stop will be a bit farther west, where Ridgeland Avenue intersects the trail; watch for cars when you cross Ridgeland.

Once you reach LaGrange Road (Route 45), you're in for a real treat as you head into the Frankfort Historic District. Restrooms are available in the Trolley Barn, 11 South White Street; the Trolley Barn is a 45-dealer antique marketplace housed in a renovated turn-of-the-century trolley barn. Enjoy a rest (and water from public water fountains) on Frankfort's Village Green, located right on the trail. You may want to consider a return trip to the 143-year-old village of Frankfort -- just for the shopping, if nothing else. (The Frankfort Fall Festival, scheduled September 5 - 7 this year, attracts throngs of southwest suburbanites every year).

Farther west, the trail heads past Michele Bingham Memorial Park, equipped with soccer and softball fields and temporary toilet facilities.

The trail currently ends at Hickory Creek Junction, which serves as a major access point with ample parking, a forest preserve hiking trail, play field, picnic shelter and restrooms. But the next phase of the Old Plank Road Trail's development will take it even farther west -- as far as Joliet.

As you're running or biking along the Trail, keep you eyes and ears open for wildlife - from deer and skunk to ducks, geese, hawks and more. Be forwarned some areas of the trail are beautifully shaded. Others offer little or no shade.

Just a reminder about trail etiquette - all animals must be leashed, bicycles yield to pedestrians. And all users keep to the right. And lastly, please be sure to announce when you are passing.

The trail is open from dawn to dusk, year around. For a brochure about the Old Plank Road Trail, write or call: Old Plank Road Trail, 3625 West 215th Street, Matteson, IL 60443, 708/748-1559.