Trail Website:
Trail Distance: 20 Miles
Trail Surface: Blacktop/Paved
Type of Use: Tour
Path Hours: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Towns: Chicago
County: Cook
Intensity of Use: Heavy
Located directly alongside the beautiful Lake Michigan, this path is one of the most beautiful in Chicagoland.
Rider's Comments: (From John Trznadel) By far the most interesting and colorful bike trail in the entire area. Lots of use, especially in the summer on nice weekends. The most used portion is from McCormick Place to Belmont, which includes Miegs Field Airport, the Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, Field Museum, Grant Park, Buckingham Fountain (one block west), Burnham Harbor, Navy Pier, Oak Street Beach, and Lincoln Park. People-watching galore makes the trip a fascinating experience. At the far south end at 71st Street, don't miss the restored South Shore Country Club (used in the film "Blues Brothers"). For safety's sake, ride this with a companion.
Courtesy of Pati Wetli: No doubt about it, the lakefront path is one of Chicago's crown jewels. Offering stunning views of Lake Michigan and the city skyline, it also provides concrete-locked residents with open spaces, fresh air and greener pastures. But like the city it serves, the path is no homogenous strip. Three different segments — the north leg, downtown, and south leg — display as many quirks and unique characteristics as Chicago's neighborhoods.
Take the pavement — please: asphalt in some sections, concrete in others, and often in various states of disrepair. Traffic is equally variable. Some points are so choked in the summer with cyclists, skaters, runners, walkers, and tourists that you'd swear you were on the Kennedy Expressway. Other parts (typically the extreme north portion and anything south of McCormick Place) can seem deserted. Runners, particularly women, should be aware of the latter, especially at night.
Concerning security, the path is patrolled by police officers on bikes and in cars, but they tend to be more visible during the summer. If you fall while working out, or witness someone take a spill, the beach houses have first-aid equipment during the summer. After beach hours or in the off-season, use a pay phone to call for help.
Here are some general words of caution, largely applicable during peak times. In-line skaters and cyclists can be a dangerous mix. Some skaters have a tendency to kick their legs out to the side, often crossing into the oncoming lane. And cyclists often exhibit a lack of patience when attempting to pass the slower-moving, be they walkers, runners, or skaters. While "defensive driving" might not get you that ultimate muscle burn, the path is far more enjoyable without collisions.
Runners should take advantage of the gravel path that runs west of Lake Shore Drive. From North Avenue to Belmont Avenue, it's completely separate from the paved path and provides not only the best surface for jogging but also is free of skaters and wide enough to accommodate cyclists.
So, whether you're looking to have the path all to yourself for training runs or you just want to people-watch while jogging, choose from one of three legs of the path. You'll find pavement reports, crowd tips, fun attractions, and good resting spots from Hollywood Avenue all the way to 71st Street.
Lakefront path overview
Northern leg:
Hollywood Avenue south to Fullerton Avenue
Less congested; some of the best pavement
There are some path users operating under the notion that the world ends at Belmont Avenue to the north. Sure, the path is as close as it gets to the lake at Fullerton Avenue, circling the Theater on the Lake. And the asphalt is new between Fullerton and Belmont. But little do they know that the best is yet to come if they head north.
Granted, you'll have to get past the continual cracks that run the width of the asphalt all the way to Montrose, particularly on the northbound side. This is not much of a hassle for cyclists or joggers, particularly as the latter have a gravel path they can take to Recreation Drive and again from Foster to Hollywood, but beginning skaters may struggle. Once beyond Montrose, it's smooth rollin'. Better yet, just when the pavement gets good, the crowd gets thinner.
With loads of free parking available in
Downtown leg:
Fullerton Avenue south to Soldier Field
Fullerton Avenue south to Soldier Field
Most crowded; best attractions
You take the good, you take the bad, and there you have the facts of life on the lakefront path from Fullerton Avenue to
Given those hazards, why bother? Because on Saturday afternoons you can watch old-timers strut their stuff at the
Southern leg:
Soldier Field south to 71st Street
Soldier Field south to 71st Street
Least crowded
With the craziness of downtown behind you—or miles ahead depending on which way you're traveling—the path's far southern portion is the least-used segment. For some, that means not nearly enough distractions to make a workout fun; to others, the solitude and space is just what they need to get their heart rate to extreme calorie-burning levels.
This part of the path also is better suited for the more advanced athlete due to the proximity of the road to the path in certain places. On parts of this segment, only the curb separates the path from the zooming cars—one misstep and you could fall into oncoming traffic. The path also becomes narrow in some places, further adding to the difficulty.
Nearly perfect pavement from Soldier Field to McCormick Place, as well as a quickly diminishing crowd, greets travelers heading south. In fact, the pavement is fairly smooth for much of the way to 57th Street. This leg of the path only sees a few areas of congestion. The first is at 31st Street Beach, which also makes for a good stopping point. In season, washrooms, concessions, water fountains, and picnic areas await those needing a rest.
Once on your way again, you'll pass a postage-stamp sized beach at 49th Street, but not much else. Joggers, skaters and bikers will hit a good stretch of wide pavement from 53rd to 57th streets (watch the gravel, however, around 54th street). For those who have been going since Soldier Field, 57th street is the place to rest. This area provides access to many attractions, from a full day of learning at the Museum of Science and Industry to a walk through the Hyde Park neighborhood and the University of Chicago campus. Or spread out on 57th Street Beach, complete with a new beach house, or walk out to Promontory Point for a skyline view.
Back on the path, the most unnerving section occurs from 57th street south to 63rd Street Beach, as the path butts up against the Lake Shore Drive in many sections. Also, there's broken pavement near 63rd Street Beach, and the narrow path becomes hard to maneuver with summer beachgoers. Ahead, the Jackson Park Harbor makes a nice backdrop. The wooden footbridge near Marquette Drive will slow you down, but it's worth it. Take time to notice the interesting gargoyles on the concrete bridge to the west and wave to the power boaters making their way out to Lake Michigan. If you blew right past 57th and 63rd street beaches and need a break, lie in the grass near La Rabida hospital and Jackson Park Harbor. Or speed right past 67th Street Beach—as best you can on the choppy concrete—to the South Shore Cultural Center, where the path ends unceremoniously. Make your way through the parking lot to the lush lawn, picnic tables, park benches and lake view; it's the perfect place to rest your tired legs or have a quiet conversation with a friend.
Connecting Trails: There is a designated street route at Ardmore that leads to the Evanston Lakeshore Trail. There is a similar street connection to the North Branch Trail beginning at Bryn Mawr.
For Detailed Information Contact:
Cycle Chicago
Bureau of Traffic Engineering
320 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60610
312-744-4686
Parking Areas: 801 S. Canal, 440 S. LaSalle, 227 W. Monroe, 130 E. Randolph, 200 E, Randolph, 35 E. Wacker, 303 E. Wacker, 35 W. Wacker, 225 W. Wacker, and 800 S. Wells as well as various areas on the lakefront.
