A project of the Village of Machesney Park, opened in 1997, this path begins at Harlem High School on North Alpine Road in Machesney Park and extends east along the creek 1.57 miles into Rock Cut State Park. Features along the path include a link to Harlem Community Park, Project Playworks, SkateWorks and Dennis Johnson Park (just west of Forest Hills Road) with playground and tennis courts.
 
Plans call for a marked lane through residential areas between the high school and Machesney Park Mall where the Willow Creek Path will link to the Bauer Path. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources added a 1.25 mile paved path through Rock Cut State Park at Perryville Rd. to the Pierce Lake Dam. Path users can continue east for 2.3 miles on park roads to Olson Beach.
 
Parking is available at Harlem High School, Harlem Community Park and Rock Cut State Park.