Lakefront Trail

The Lakefront Trail is an 18-mile paved path along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Chicago, Illinois, run by the Chicago Park District. It runs from the far South Side to the northern edge of the city, passing beaches, parks, harbors and skyline viewpoints, and is open to walkers, runners and cyclists. Common access points include Navy Pier, Oak Street Beach and North Avenue Beach, and the central stretch from Navy Pier past Oak Street Beach and Lincoln Park offers the best skyline views. Along the route visitors pass the Chicago Riverwalk mouth, Millennium Park area, Museum Campus, Lincoln Park Zoo and numerous beach houses and playgrounds. The trail has separate lanes for walkers and cyclists in much of the central section, and Divvy bike-share stations are located near major access points, making bike rental easy for visitors. A full out-and-back is long, so most visitors choose a segment of one to three hours, such as Navy Pier to North Avenue Beach, which is about four miles each way. The trail is busiest on summer weekends, particularly near beaches and Navy Pier, when it can be crowded with runners, cyclists and families. Early morning and sunset are quieter and offer excellent light for photography. A good photo angle is the skyline from North Avenue Beach and from the curve near the Oak Street breakwater. Winter use is lighter, though the trail stays open, and snow and ice can affect conditions. CTA bus 146 runs along Lake Shore Drive near many access points.