8 Best Running Trails in Chicago for 2026

1. Lakefront Trail

The Lakefront Trail stretches 18.5 miles along Lake Michigan from Ardmore Street (5800 N) on the north end to 71st Street on the south end. Since the 2018 separation project, there are dedicated pedestrian and bicycle lanes for most of the route, making it significantly safer for runners than it used to be.

The trail is completely flat with zero elevation change, making it ideal for tempo runs, long runs, and speed work. Water fountains and restrooms are available at most beach houses along the route. The busiest sections are from North Avenue Beach to Navy Pier — if you want solitude, run the south section from 31st Street to 71st Street, which sees a fraction of the traffic. Parking is available at multiple beach lots ($2-5/hour metered) or you can take the CTA Red/Brown/Purple lines to Fullerton, Belmont, or other stops within blocks of the trail.

Best for: Long runs, tempo work, marathon training. The open lake views and flat terrain make miles disappear.

2. Bloomingdale Trail (The 606)

Built on a former elevated rail line, The 606 runs 2.7 miles from Ashland Avenue on the east end to Ridgeway Avenue on the west, passing through the Wicker Park, Bucktown, Humboldt Park, and Logan Square neighborhoods. The trail sits roughly 17 feet above street level, which means no street crossings and uninterrupted running with views of the surrounding neighborhoods.

At 2.7 miles, it's a short trail — but it's perfect for interval work (out-and-back gives you 5.4 miles) and as a connector to neighborhood runs. The rubberized surface is joint-friendly and well-maintained. Access points with ramps are at Ashland, Damen, Western, California, Kedzie, and Ridgeway. The trail gets crowded on weekend afternoons with walkers, cyclists, and families; early morning (before 8 AM) or weekday evenings are the best times for an uninterrupted run. Opens at 6 AM and closes at 11 PM.

Best for: Easy runs, intervals, casual shakeout runs. The car-free elevation makes it feel like running on a track above the city.

3. Chicago Riverwalk

The Riverwalk runs along the south bank of the Chicago River's main branch from Lake Shore Drive to Lake Street, with extended sections continuing west. The main 1.25-mile section is the most scenic urban running route in Chicago, passing under iconic bridges with downtown skyscrapers towering on both sides.

This is not a trail for long training runs, but it is an unmatched experience run. The surface is primarily stone and concrete, well-maintained and flat. Restrooms and water are available at several points. For a longer loop, connect the Riverwalk to the Lakefront Trail at its east end, then loop back via the north bank path — this gives you roughly a 4-5 mile loop through the heart of downtown. The Riverwalk gets extremely crowded during lunch hours and summer weekends. Early morning runs (before 7 AM) give you the trail nearly to yourself with spectacular sunrise light bouncing off the buildings.

Best for: Recovery runs, sightseeing runs, visiting runner photo ops. Pair with the Lakefront Trail for a downtown loop.

4. Lincoln Park Running Paths

Lincoln Park stretches seven miles from North Avenue to Ardmore, making it the largest park in Chicago at 1,208 acres. The internal path network offers over six miles of running routes through diverse landscapes: the South Pond area near the zoo, the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool, the North Pond Nature Sanctuary, and shaded tree-lined paths that feel worlds away from the surrounding city.

Unlike the Lakefront Trail, Lincoln Park paths wind through green spaces with some gentle undulation (nothing dramatic, but enough to vary the terrain). Many paths are gravel or packed dirt, offering a softer surface than the paved lakefront. The park connects seamlessly to the Lakefront Trail at multiple points, so you can combine miles freely. Free parking is available in lots near the Lincoln Park Zoo (free admission too, if you want to cool down with a post-run walk). Restrooms are available at the zoo, the field houses, and at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.

Best for: Easy runs, long runs with varied scenery, soft-surface running. Less crowded than the Lakefront Trail even on weekends.

5. North Branch Trail

The North Branch Trail follows the North Branch of the Chicago River from Caldwell and Devon Avenues in Chicago north through the Cook County Forest Preserves to the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe. The full trail is over 20 miles, making it one of the longest continuous trails in the Chicago metro area.

The southern sections are paved; the northern sections transition to crushed limestone. The trail passes through dense forest preserve land, along the river, and through open meadows. Compared to the Lakefront Trail, the North Branch feels like a completely different world — tree canopy, wildlife, and relative solitude. You'll share the trail with cyclists, but traffic is far lighter than the lakefront.

Parking is free at numerous forest preserve lots along the route: Miami Woods, Linne Woods, Harms Woods, and Skokie Lagoons are popular starting points. The trail connects to the Chicago Botanic Garden at its north terminus — a satisfying destination for a long run. Restrooms are available at most forest preserve picnic areas.

Best for: Long runs, ultra training, runners who want tree cover and nature. The 20+ mile distance supports marathon-distance runs on trail.

6. Cal-Sag Trail

The Cal-Sag Trail runs over 26 miles along the Calumet-Sag Channel and the Cal-Sag Channel in the south and southwest suburbs. The trail connects to the Major Taylor Trail, the I&M Canal Trail, and eventually the Centennial Trail, creating a network that stretches over 100 miles if you link them all.

The trail is completely paved, flat, and follows the waterway for its entire length. It passes through Blue Island, Alsip, Worth, Palos Heights, Lemont, and Romeoville. The scenery alternates between industrial canal corridors and forest preserve land. It never gets as crowded as the Lakefront Trail, even on perfect-weather weekends. This is a trail for runners who want long, uninterrupted miles without traffic lights, intersections, or crowds.

Parking is available at trailheads in Worth (111th Street), Palos Heights (Harlem Avenue), and several points in Lemont. There are limited water fountains and restrooms along the route, so carry hydration for runs longer than 6 miles.

Best for: Marathon training, ultra-distance runs, out-and-back long runs. The flat, uninterrupted miles are perfect for pace work.

7. Busse Woods (Ned Brown Preserve)

Busse Woods sits in Elk Grove Village, roughly 25 minutes northwest of downtown Chicago off I-90. The main loop trail is 11.2 miles around Busse Lake, with shorter interior loops available. This is a Cook County Forest Preserve gem that many city runners overlook because it requires a drive.

The trail surface is mostly paved with some packed gravel sections. The terrain is flat to gently rolling with dense tree cover that provides shade in summer. Busse Woods is home to a herd of elk (yes, real elk) visible from the trail's northwest section near the elk pasture. Water and restrooms are available at several picnic areas around the loop. The 11.2-mile loop is a natural long run distance and can be shortened by cutting through interior paths.

Parking is free and abundant at the Grove 16, Grove 18, and Busse Lake Boating Center lots. Weekday mornings offer near-complete solitude; weekends bring families to the picnic areas but the trail itself stays manageable.

Best for: Long runs, tempo loops, runners who want nature and solitude without driving to Wisconsin. The elk are a bonus.

8. Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve

Waterfall Glen in Darien/Lemont is arguably the best trail running destination within 30 minutes of downtown Chicago. The 9.5-mile loop circles Argonne National Laboratory through dense oak-hickory forest, past limestone bluffs, across boardwalks over wetlands, and by the trail's namesake waterfall (Rocky Glen, a modest but scenic cascade).

Unlike the flat lakefront and canal trails, Waterfall Glen has real elevation change. The rolling terrain includes some steep but short climbs through ravines. The surface is primarily crushed limestone with some packed dirt sections that can get muddy after rain. This is the closest thing to trail running that you'll find near Chicago without driving to Starved Rock or beyond.

The main parking lot is off Cass Avenue just south of I-55. It fills up on perfect-weather weekends by 10 AM, so arrive early or come on weekday mornings. There are no water fountains on the trail — carry your own hydration. Restrooms are available only at the main parking lot. The trail is shared with hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders, so stay alert on blind corners.

Best for: Trail running, hill training, runners who want to escape pavement. The 9.5-mile distance is perfect for a hard effort on varied terrain.