Lakefront Trail North
This fully paved path runs alongside Lake Michigan’s scenic shoreline and is the perfect car-free way to check out some of the city's most popular beaches.
A ride along the Northern half of the Lakefront Trail is the best way to take in Lake Michigan, explore parks and beaches, visit the zoo, and more.
Since the Trail covers so much of the city, it’s easy to ride for as long as you'd like and hop off when you're done. You can enter at any point, with many Divvy stations located on or very close to the Trail itself. Dock your bike along the way to see various attractions, and pick one back up when you're ready to ride again!
Here's our favorite North Side ride:
- Grab a bike at the Michigan Ave & Oak St Divvy Station, conveniently located just off Michigan Avenue near Water Tower Place.
- Head down the access ramp located just west of the station to get onto the Lakefront Trail. You’ll join the trail at Oak St Beach, one of the most popular in the city.
- Continue riding north on the trail. You’ll see great beach and skyline views.
- About a mile north from your starting point, you’ll pass North Avenue Beach and Lincoln Park. You can stop off here, docking at our Lake Shore Dr & North Ave or Theater on the Lake stations to explore the Chicago History Museum, Lincoln Park Zoo, Fullerton Beach, or Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.
- When you’re ready to continue your ride, grab a bike from one of the two stations listed above and continue heading north on the trail. Head another mile north, taking in the sights of sail boats along the way.
- When you’re ready to end your ride, dock at our Lakeshore Dr & Belmont Ave Station to visit Belmont Harbor, access the Boystown neighborhood, or make a detour off the trail to Wrigley Field.
Popular attractions along Lakeshore Trail North:
- North Avenue Beach (Lake Shore Dr & North Blvd station)
- Lincoln Park and Lincoln Park Zoo (Clark St & Armitage Ave, Cannon Dr & Fullerton Ave station)
- Fullerton Beach (Theater on the Lake station)
- Belmont Harbor (Lake Shore Dr & Belmont Ave station)
- Montrose Harbor, Cricket Hill, and Montrose Beach (Montrose Harbor station)
Nearby Stations
- Michigan Ave & Oak St
- Lakeshore Dr & Belmont Ave
- Richie Ct & Banks St
- Clark St & North Ave
- Clark St & Lincoln Ave
- Clark St & Armitage Ave
- Cannon Dr & Fullerton Ave
- Stockton Dr & Wrightwood Ave
- Lake Shore Dr & Diversey Pkwy
- Lake Shore Dr & Wellington Ave