https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/lakefront-trail
The 18-mile Chicago Lakefront Trail sets a high bar for urban rides in America. Linking the neighborhoods of Edgewater and South Shore, where the trail ends one mile from the Obama Presidential Center, this route is beloved for its combination of city views and Lake Michigan beaches. The ride passes through an energizing landscape that includes the Montrose Beach Bird Sanctuary, bustling harbors, Navy Pier, the Field Museum and peaceful hideaways like La Ronda Parakata Gathering Space. “The vibrant blues of the lake contrast with the greenery found along the trail, and as you ride north from the South Side and come around the bend, the looming skyline reminds you that you are very much still in Chicago,” said Alex Valladares, a program manager at Blackstone Bicycle Works, a nonprofit that offers free bicycle education to young people.