The 606 with a stroller

Walking The 606 feels like a secret: you roll up a ramp, and suddenly you’re above the traffic, gliding past treetops, back porches and city views. It’s one of the most stroller-friendly ways to see four of Chicago’s favorite neighborhoods.

The 606 runs along the Bloomingdale Trail for 2.7 miles between Ashland Avenue and Ridgeway Avenue, on what used to be the Bloomingdale freight line. It connects Humboldt Park, Wicker Park, Logan Square and Bucktown, and it’s named for the first three digits of every Chicago zip code. The elevated trail opened on June 6, 2015, and today it links four ground-level parks, an observatory and public art.

At a glance

• Length2.7 miles one way
• SurfacePaved center with soft running tracks
• ShadeSome trees, mostly open
• HillsGentle ramps up and down
• Best withAny stroller
• Hours6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily

The trail is free, open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. like other Chicago Park District parks, and doesn’t require any tickets or permits.

Map

Open in Google Maps

The 606 runs along Bloomingdale Avenue (1800 North) from Ashland Avenue in the east to Ridgeway Avenue in the west, through Bucktown, Wicker Park, Logan Square and Humboldt Park.

Stroller or carrier?

The 606 was built for exactly this. Any stroller works on the smooth center path. A few notes:

• 👶
  Best overallAny stroller

  The paved center is smooth and wide enough to pass, and the ramps are gentle.

• 🏃
  Covering milesJogging stroller

  Great for an out-and-back. Just keep your speed down on busy weekends.

• 🧸
  Short and cozyBaby carrier

  Handy for a quick loop, or if you want to hop on and off at stair-only spots.

The trail is about 10 feet wide in the middle, with narrow soft running tracks on each side. It can feel tight on a sunny Saturday, so a slimmer stroller is a little easier to steer around people.

Getting on and off

There are 12 access points, roughly every quarter mile, and 17 ramps, all accessible to people with disabilities. That makes it easy to walk as little or as much as you like.

• Ground-level parks. Four access points are at parks with fully accessible ramps: Walsh Park at Ashland, Churchill Park at Damen, Park 567 at Milwaukee and Julia de Burgos Park at Albany.
• Street ramps. Most of the other access points also have ramps up from the sidewalk. Check the official map before you go so you don’t end up at a stair-only entrance.
• Short trips. Because the entrances are close together, you can walk one stretch, come down for coffee or a playground and climb back up.

East to west

Here’s roughly what you’ll see heading west from Ashland. Distances are approximate.

• Walsh Park to Damen (about three quarters of a mile). You start at Walsh Park, with a playground at the ramp. The trail heads west through Bucktown and Wicker Park, past lofts and back gardens.
• Damen to Milwaukee and Western (about half a mile). Churchill Park sits at Damen. Just west, Park 567 marks the Milwaukee Avenue crossing, where the trail passes over one of the city’s busiest streets.
• Western to Humboldt Boulevard (about three quarters of a mile). Into Logan Square and Humboldt Park, a little quieter, with more trees and open sky.
• Humboldt Boulevard to Ridgeway (about three quarters of a mile). Julia de Burgos Park at Albany has a favorite playground, and the trail ends at the spiraling Exelon Observatory near Ridgeway.

Most walkers take about 45 minutes to an hour to cover the whole trail one way. With a stroller, pick a section and plan for one to three miles round trip.

The four parks

The 606’s ground-level parks are where you’ll find playgrounds, grass and room to spread out.

• 🏠
  East endWalsh Park

  At Ashland Avenue, with a playground right at the start of the trail.

• ⚽
  BucktownChurchill Park

  At Damen Avenue, with a field and a playlot. It has hosted free family events and summer yoga.

• 🌲
  Wicker ParkPark 567

  A small green space at Milwaukee Avenue, handy for a quick stop.

• 🕷️
  West endJulia de Burgos Park

  At Albany Avenue, with a playground known for its giant spider climber and spiderweb climbing structures.

Julia de Burgos Park is named for the celebrated Puerto Rican poet, and it’s one of the best rest stops on the trail for families with toddlers. Humboldt Park, with even more playgrounds, is a short walk south from the Humboldt Boulevard exit. Our Humboldt Park guide has the details.

Getting there and parking

By transit

The park district recommends public transit. The easiest option is the CTA Blue Line: get off at Damen or Western, and you’ll be close to access points. Check which stations have elevators on the CTA website before you go with a stroller.

By car

There’s no dedicated parking lot for the trail. Street parking in the surrounding neighborhoods is available but can be tight, especially near Damen and Milwaukee on weekends. Read every sign, since many blocks have permit parking.

By bike

Divvy bike-share stations sit near several access points, including near Walsh Park at Marshfield Avenue and Courtland Street.

Restrooms and water

Here’s the honest truth: there aren’t restrooms on the elevated trail itself. Plan to use a café or a nearby park building, and go before you start.

• Neighborhood cafés near Damen and Milwaukee are your most convenient options. Buy a coffee and ask nicely.
• Humboldt Park’s fieldhouse is a short walk from the west end.
• Water fountains may be available near some parks in warm months, but bring your own water.

Bring a portable changing pad, and plan your walk around a café stop.

Feeding and nap stops

A gentle stroller ride above the street noise puts a lot of babies right to sleep. When it’s time to stop:

• Benches along the trail. Look for one under a tree, especially on the quieter western half.
• The parks. Walsh, Churchill and Julia de Burgos all have grass and seating. Spread out a blanket for a longer feed.
• A café break. Hop down at Damen or Milwaukee for a warm spot in cooler months.

Feeding in public is your right in Illinois, and you’ll see plenty of families doing it along the trail.

Accessibility

The 606 was designed to be open to everyone. All 17 ramps are accessible to people with disabilities, and the four ground-level parks have fully accessible ramps. The gentle slope of the ramps is easy with a stroller or a wheelchair, and the paved center of the trail is smooth. Just keep in mind that a few street-level access points have stairs, so plan your entrance and exit ahead of time.

A little history

Before it was a park, The 606 was a working railroad.

• The Bloomingdale Line. Freight trains once ran along this elevated line above Bloomingdale Avenue, through the heart of the Northwest Side.
• Neighbors lead the way. When the city proposed new uses for the old line, neighbors formed Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail, a group whose vision helped make The 606 happen.
• Opening day. The trail opened on June 6, 2015, a decade in the making.
• The name. It’s named for 606, the first three digits shared by every Chicago zip code.

It’s a fun story to tell older kids as you walk: they’re strolling on top of an old train line.

Art and the observatory

The 606 is designed as a living work of art, so keep an eye out as you walk.

• 🌅
  West endThe Exelon Observatory

  A spiraling path leads to a raised space ringed by a notched steel blade near Ridgeway Avenue. The notches frame the sunset on the first day of each season.

• 🌸
  All alongThe plantings

  Lead artist Frances Whitehead designed trail-wide plantings, including flowering trees that bloom in sequence.

• 🎨
  Pop-upsPublic art

  Rotating installations and murals appear along the trail and in the parks.

The Observatory is a sweet spot to end a walk near sunset. In winter, that can be as early as 4:30 p.m.

Beating the crowds

The 606 is popular, which is part of its charm. But on a warm Saturday, it can feel like rush hour. To have more room:

• Go early. Weekday mornings are quietest. Weekend mornings before 9 a.m. are much calmer than afternoons.
• Head west. The western half, from Western Avenue to Ridgeway, is usually less crowded than the eastern stretch.
• Skip peak sunny afternoons. That’s when bikes, runners and dog walkers all come out together.

Trail etiquette

The 606 is shared by walkers, runners, bikes and scooters, all on a fairly narrow path. A few habits keep everyone happy:

• Keep right. Pass on the left, and pull over at a wide spot if you need to stop.
• Walk single file when it’s busy. Two strollers side by side can block the whole trail.
• Use the running tracks for running. The soft side tracks are meant for runners.
• No motorized vehicles. Unauthorized motorized vehicles aren’t allowed on the trail.

Safety and weather

The trail is elevated and open, so wind, sun and ice all feel stronger up top.

• Dress for the wind, not the thermometer. The City of Chicago warns that the lake effect makes cold weather feel even colder, with wind chills that can drive temperatures well below zero. Babies lose heat fast, so add a stroller footmuff and a weather shield, and check on little hands and cheeks often.
• Know where to warm up or cool down. In extreme cold, the city points families to warming centers, park facilities and heated stores. In summer heat, cooling centers open in libraries, park buildings and community centers. Call 311 or use the CHI311 app to find the nearest one.
• Never cover the stroller with a blanket in summer. It traps heat. Use a ventilated sunshade and a clip-on fan, and walk early on hot days.
• Sign up for alerts. The city offers Extreme Weather Alerts for heat and cold, so you know before you head out.
• Walk with a friend and share your route. Keep your phone charged and call 911 in an emergency.

The biggest everyday risk on The 606 is bikes. Keep the stroller to the right, look behind you before turning around, and be extra careful near the ramps where people merge on and off.

The 606 in winter

The 606 is handled differently from the lakefront in winter, and it’s worth knowing why.

• Light snow. The park district removes snow and keeps the center of the trail clear when conditions allow.
• Heavy snow. After a significant snowfall, usually more than 6 inches, the trail itself isn’t cleared, though the ramps are cleared and treated.
• Why the difference? The trail is narrow, with a rubber running surface and native plantings that plows and salt would damage. Crews use a small tractor with a brush instead, and the only de-icer allowed doesn’t work as well below about 20 degrees.

Bottom line: after a big snow, the lakefront is usually the better stroller walk. The park district even encourages snowshoes or cross-country skis on The 606 after heavy snow.

Seasons

• SpringThe trees bloom and the plantings wake up. A lovely time for a morning walk.
• SummerBusy and sunny. Go early and bring a sunshade, since shade is limited.
• FallGorgeous color and crisp air. Peak season for a long walk.
• WinterFine after light snow; skip it after a big storm. Check conditions first.

Make it longer

Want more miles? Exit at Humboldt Boulevard and walk south a few blocks to Humboldt Park, with its lagoon, boathouse and five playgrounds. Our Humboldt Park guide picks up from there. Or walk the whole trail one way and ride the Blue Line back from Western or Damen.

Make it a routine

Because The 606 has an entrance every quarter mile, it’s easy to build up slowly. Start with one stretch between two parks a few mornings a week, then add a quarter mile each time it feels easy. Before long you’ll be walking the whole trail, and you’ll start to recognize the same friendly faces. If you’re postpartum, let your provider guide how quickly you add distance, and listen to your body on the days you’re short on sleep.

A sample morning

Here’s an easy plan for a first walk on The 606 with a baby.

• 8:00 a.m.Take the Blue Line to Western, or park nearby. Bathroom stop at a café.
• 8:15 a.m.Get on the trail and head west toward Humboldt Boulevard.
• 8:45 a.m.Come down at Julia de Burgos Park for the playground and a feed.
• 9:15 a.m.Continue to the Observatory at the west end, then turn around.
• 10:00 a.m.Back at Western. Coffee and home for nap.

That’s about three miles with plenty of breaks.

What to pack

Our short list for a 606 walk with a baby:

• Water for you, plus whatever your baby needs for feeds.
• Layers. Breezes off the lake can make it noticeably cooler by the water than a few blocks inland, even in summer.
• A footmuff and weather shield, for fall, winter and windy spring days.
• A ventilated sunshade and clip-on fan, for summer.
• A portable changing pad and wipes, since changing tables aren’t guaranteed.
• A Ventra card or app, for the ride home if little legs (or yours) are done.
• A coffee budget, since cafés are your best bet for restrooms.
• A lightweight stroller, if you plan to use the Blue Line.

Keep it light. A packed-full stroller basket is harder to steer on a busy trail and harder to carry if an elevator is out.

Pro tips

• 🌅
  TimingGo early

  The trail is calmest on weekday mornings.

• ☕
  BathroomsPlan a café stop

  There are no restrooms on the elevated trail.

• 🚲
  BikesKeep right

  Pass on the left and pull over to stop.

• 📍
  Meeting upMeet at a park

  Walsh, Churchill and Julia de Burgos are easy landmarks.

If you’re postpartum, check with your provider before adding longer walks, and build up gradually. Our guide to postpartum exercise once you’re cleared is a good place to start.

Walk The 606 with us

The 606 is one of the places we expect our first Chicago walk clubs to start, with easy morning walks from Bucktown and Logan Square. We’re taking signups now, and founding members help choose the first routes and times.

See everything we’re building in Chicago.

More stroller walks in Chicago

• Lakefront TrailEdgewater to the South Side · our full stroller guide
• Lincoln Park and the Nature BoardwalkLincoln Park · our full stroller guide
• Humboldt ParkHumboldt Park · our full stroller guide