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Riverwalk & River North

The River That Runs Backward

40stops
3.2miles
2h 27mwalking
$2.99in the app

Chicago exists because of this river. A short portage linked it to the Mississippi, so the spot where it met Lake Michigan was the door into the middle of a continent. The city then treated it badly: for a century it was a sewer, a harbor and a back alley, and in 1900 engineers made it run backward. Today the south bank is the Riverwalk, a promenade one level below the traffic, with boats, cafes and a skyline on both sides. This walk takes you from a newspaper tower studded with pieces of famous buildings past the corncob towers and the scene of the city’s worst disaster, and into River North for Italian beef, a gangland cathedral and the restaurant where deep dish began.

Nearest water taxi
Michigan Avenue · Shoreline Water Taxi · 2 min walk to the start
Nearest 'L' station
Grand Red · 5 min walk to the start
Map of the Riverwalk & River North walking route with its 40 stops
The route of the Riverwalk & River North walk. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

The first 3 stops

Try these stops for free in the app. The full stories and directions are waiting for you there.

  1. 1Tribune Tower

    Look closely at the walls at street level.

  2. 2Billy Goat Tavern

    Down on Lower Michigan Avenue, the street underneath the street, is the grill that cursed the Chicago Cubs.

  3. 3Wrigley Building

    The chewing gum king William Wrigley Jr. built his headquarters at the north end of the bridge, in two towers finished in 1921 and 1924.

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37 more stops to discover

In the app, Riverwalk & River North will be $2.99 for the full 3.2 mi route: every stop's photos and stories, and GPS guidance that tells you when you've arrived.

Coming soon to the PaveTrail app. The Chicago walks are on their way; New York's 26 walks are in the app now.

Also on this walk: DuSable Bridge, The Chicago Riverwalk, Marina City and more

Sights

  • 150 North Riverside
  • 330 North Wabash
  • 333 West Wacker Drive
  • Carbide & Carbon Building
  • Chicago Architecture Center
  • Chicago Motor Club Building
  • Driehaus Museum
  • DuSable Bridge
  • Eastland Disaster
  • Heald Square Monument
  • Holy Name Cathedral
  • Jewelers Building
  • LondonHouse
  • Marina City
  • McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum
  • Medinah Temple
  • Merchandise Mart
  • Poetry Foundation
  • Reid Murdoch Building
  • River North Gallery District
  • St. James Cathedral
  • The Chicago Riverwalk
  • Trump International Hotel & Tower
  • Wendella Boats
  • Wolf Point
  • Zolla/Lieberman Gallery

Food and drink

  • City Winery Riverwalk
  • Doughnut Vault
  • Eataly
  • Gene & Georgetti
  • Green Door Tavern
  • Lou Malnati’s
  • Mr. Beef
  • Pizzeria Uno
  • Pops for Champagne
  • Portillo's

Shops

  • Ikram

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Riverwalk & River North · Coming soon to the appAll Chicago walks