Navigate the Chicago Lakefront Trail Like a Pro

By Allison Yates

When I first moved to Chicago, I was often told the best thing about living here was the lake with the Chicago Lakefront Trail. As a runner, I’d argue the best thing about living in Chicago is running along the lake.

Chicago’s premier running destination is the Chicago Park District’s 18.5-mile Chicago Lakefront Trail, running north to south from Ardmore Street in Edgewater to 71st Street in South Shore. It’s a flat, well-marked paved route hugging the shoreline, traversing leafy parks and dozens of neighborhoods, and allowing runners a quick mid-run dip.

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Along the Chicago Lakefront Trail (more commonly referred to by locals as the “Lakefront Path” or “LFP”), you’ll see a wide range of runners, from the casual post-work jogger to the dedicated ultramarathoner and everything in between. Many Chicagoans commute by bike using the trail, and it’s common to see intramural sports, picnics, dog meet-ups and beach days, outdoor yoga, and more.

The trail is a welcoming, calming, and ideal place to run or get in a quick nature therapy session. Here’s what you need to know about running on the Chicago Lakefront Trail with tips on etiquette, access points, bathrooms, and more–plus some of my favorite routes.

Chicago Lakefront Trail Tips and Etiquette:

Access Points

Despite being able to see runners and cyclists from various points in the city, it can be challenging for a visitor to know how to access the Chicago Lakefront Trail. There are underpasses, bridges, and highway crossings–and if you’re unfamiliar with the area, you may get stuck. Luckily, the Chicago Park District prepared this map of the designated access points.

If you’re staying in the Loop, the most common access points will be via Ohio Street Beach Riverwalk, Navy Pier, Ohio Street Beach, the entrances along Grant Park, or the Museum Campus.

Getting to Access Points

Several parking areas are along the Chicago Lakefront Trail, but parking fees can be costly, and lots often fill up early. If you drive, park a few blocks inland from Lakeshore Drive and access the path by foot or bike. Chicago’s network of shared bikes, Divvy, is an ideal way to commute to the trail (and experience it on two wheels).

Water Along the Route

There are several public water fountains along the route, but Chicago has a notoriously short season for public water fountains, typically from June to August. Water fountains are more concentrated north of the Loop, while fountains between the Loop and Promontory Point are less frequent. Bring your own hydration to be safe.

Bathrooms

Because the Chicago Park District manages the trail, bathrooms are open at specific times and also closed during the winter months. If you’re visiting the Chicago Lakefront Trail in the winter, keep this Fleet Feet Chicago map handy. They’ve scoured some other great bathroom alternatives near the path.

In general, you can rely on public restrooms at beaches and near harbors (63rd Street Beach, Promontory Point, 31st Street Beach, North Avenue, Theater on the Lake at Fullerton, Belmont Harbor, Montrose, and others) and highly trafficked areas like Navy Pier. You may sometimes find portable toilets at places like Monroe Harbor. It’s important to know that these restrooms may have a mile or two distance between them, so a good rule of thumb is to stop by if you see a restroom, even if you don’t have to. In a worst-case scenario, you may have to exit the path, find somewhere to go, and re-enter.

Food and Drink Along the Lakefront Trail

Luckily for nature lovers, the Chicago Lakefront Trail is mostly a protected space for wildlife restoration, beaches, and harbors, thanks to a 1973 ordinance. However, some are still seasonally operating small restaurants and eateries for refueling after a run. Try Pier 31 at 31st Street Beach, Caffe Oliva at Ohio Street Beach, Shore Club at North Avenue Beach, or Clock Tower Cafe at Montrose Beach.

If you’re downtown, there are plenty of other options at Riverwalk, Navy Pier, around Monroe Harbor, and a concentration of beach bars at Oak Street Beach.

Trail Etiquette

Chicagoans love visitors, and we love showing off our city–especially our lakefront. If you’re visiting from out of town, it’s essential to know that while this path is recreational, it’s also practical. The Chicago Lakefront Trail is not only a refuge for runners detoxing from their days and taking advantage of the flatness for speed work, but it’s also a common way to commute. Cyclists clock high speeds, especially when they’re running late for work.

The trail has two separate paths–one for cycling, one for running or walking–which, at times, hug each other and other times sometimes separate. If you’re unfamiliar, you could accidentally end up on the biking path or vice versa, particularly around the downtown sections.

Be sure to pay close attention to signage. There’s a bike symbol on the paths meant for biking and a walking person on the paths intended for foot traffic. If you’re accidentally running on a bike path, stay as close to the right as possible and be aware of your surroundings. Move to the walking path as soon as you’re able.

You can also familiarize yourself with the pedestrian and bike trails on the trail section maps on the Chicago Park District website.

Running in groups is wonderful and very common. Stay two by two along the path to make room for others to pass and in narrow sections when bikes zoom alongside walkers and runners.

Other Safety Tips

Like anywhere, be alert and aware of your surroundings, especially at night. Most people will feel safe along the path any time of day, but it’s best to avoid it in the middle of the night or extremely early in the morning.

If you’re running at night, wear appropriate high-visibility gear and use a headlamp or flashlight. Lamps illuminate the path in many sections, but you could easily find yourself in complete darkness in others.

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The lake is always a few degrees cooler, and the wind feels stronger, so bring layers if you’re running in the winter. With so much wind, the waves can be aggressive, so stick to the designated running path on blustery weather days to avoid getting wet or engulfed in the lake.

Best Running Along the Chicago Lakefront Trail

No matter where you may find yourself along the trail, you’ll be surrounded by nature, whether by the sound of crashing waves, the rustling of leafy trees, or the expansive green lawns and ponds of Chicago’s parks. In other words, it’s magical.

But if you’re looking to satisfy a particular craving or lean into a specific interest, here are a few of my favorite areas, depending on what I’m looking for. This list is undoubtedly just a start–ask runners and Chicagoans you meet about their favorite spots. You never know what you might discover!

Best routes for walking

If you’re planning to walk instead of run, stick to a portion of the trail with easy access to inner paths or parks, like the section from Montrose to Fullerton on Chicago’s North Side, which includes easy access to the nature trails at the Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary and several harbors for boat admiring and people watching.

Best area for nature escapes

While much of the trail north of the Loop is heavily trafficked, the 100-acre ribbon of nature preserve running south from McCormick Place to 47th Street called The Burnham Wildlife Corridor is a welcomed spot of tranquility. You’ll see swaths of native wildflowers and a healthy dose of birds, insects, and animals.

Best for lake dips

Whether it’s mid-run, post-run, or a daring polar plunge, the crisp waters of Lake Michigan are guaranteed to refresh. Though you’ll run alongside the Middle Coast, not all areas are conducive to lake dips. I personally avoid sand–who wants to put on socks and sneakers with grainy bits in their feet?–and instead opt for rocky shores or deeper areas. My go-to spots are at the AIDS Garden Chicago (formerly Belmont Rocks) in Lakeview, Promontory Point in Hyde Park, near the Chess Pavilion just south of North Avenue Beach (bonus: great skyline views), and the south-facing edge of Montrose Point, south of the harbor.

Best route for hills

Chicago is notoriously flat, but there are a couple of small hills to do repeats. Try Cricket Hill at Montrose (and read this history), the sledding hill at Soldier Field, and bridges south of the Loop like 35th Street and 41st Street. Local run groups like 7onSundays even host group training hill repeats on the 41st Street Bridge.

Best spots for photo opportunities

The Chicago Lakefront Trail is a prime location for getting great skyline views. The lakefront path near Montrose Point, Diversey Harbor, Oak Street Beach, 31st Street Beach, and Promontory Point all feature great views of downtown, depending on how distant you prefer the buildings.

Best for sunrise runs

Since the lake is east of the city, almost every part will be beautiful at sunrise (hoping the cloud coverage doesn’t obstruct the view!). I prefer to stick to areas of the path where I’m closest to the water, like Diversy to Ohio Street Beach, or with easy access to hop off the path and run directly along the edge of the lake, like the concrete steps between Diversey and Belmont.

Best for public art

According to the Chicago Tribune, there are nearly 40 works of art along the lakefront–if you look hard enough, you’re bound to spot some. If you love murals, admire this Jeff Zimmerman art at this repurposed building north of Hyde Park on your route from Promontory Point and on the North Side, ponder the history of “Chevron,” a 50-foot blue windmill at Diversey Harbor.

Best for history

Jump off the lakefront path south of Hyde Park to explore Jackson Park,, the over 550-acre park featuring a Japanese Garden, Wooded Island, and nearby museums. This was also the site of the famed 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, the world’s fair that gave us the Ferris Wheel, the zipper, and Wrigley chewing gum–and the setting of the bestselling historical non-fiction book The Devil in the White City.

Allison Yates is the founder and organizer of Read & Run Chicago. She works in education by day and spends her free time traveling, freelance writing, running, reading, and jumping in Lake Michigan (when it's not freezing!), among other hobbies.

Chicago Lakefront Trail Running Tips from a Local