How to Walk the Chicago Riverwalk: Routes, Views and Stops

The Chicago Riverwalk is a free public path that runs 1.25 miles from Lake Street to the lakefront. It descends from Upper Wacker Drive to river level, creating a route alongside the Chicago River through downtown.

The City of Chicago divides the path into four districts: The Confluence, The Arcade, The Civic and the Esplanade. Those names give you a broad sense of the route, while the Riverwalk’s individual spaces offer useful landmarks as you go.

The route took shape in phases. Work began in 2001 during reconstruction of Wacker Drive, and the main expanded Riverwalk was completed in 2016. From FOUND Hotels Chicago Series by Marriott, Chicago city centre is about a 32-minute walk, making the hotel a base for downtown sightseeing.

You can join the Riverwalk from street level at each major intersection along Wacker Drive. Pick an entry point that suits your plans, then follow the path toward the lakefront or Lake Street. The full route connects both ends without needing to retrace your steps.

From west to east, the named spaces run in this order:

1. The Confluence: Franklin to Lake.
2. The Jetty: Wells to Franklin.
3. The Water Plaza: LaSalle to Wells.
4. The River Theater: Clark to LaSalle.
5. The Cove: Dearborn to Clark.
6. The Marina: State to Dearborn.

These stretches give you natural points to break up the walk or orient yourself along the river. If a cruise is part of your plan, check its dock location before choosing where to enter: operators use different boarding points.

Walking at river level puts bridges and the downtown buildings around them in view from a different angle than Upper Wacker Drive. The Chicago Riverwalk’s named spaces also offer places to pause along the route, including lookout points and benches.

For a closer look at the river’s bridges, the McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum is on the Riverwalk and focuses on the Chicago River and the city’s movable bridges. You can also build a walk around the Michigan Avenue Bridge, where cruise docks provide a clear landmark for finding the riverfront path.

For a longer look at the city’s architecture from the water, the Chicago Architecture Center’s First Lady cruise is a 90-minute tour led by trained volunteer docents. It boards at the southeast corner of the Michigan Avenue Bridge and Wacker Drive; the GPS address is 112 E. Wacker Drive.

The Riverwalk combines a public path with businesses and activities beside the water. The route has benches, lookout points, boat rentals, tours and theater-style seating. Restaurants and concessions operate during summer months, giving you options to stop along the way.

The path itself is free to the public. Boat tours, food and other businesses along it may charge separately, so check costs with the operator or business you plan to use.

Two cruise docks have different access arrangements. The Chicago Architecture Center’s First Lady dock is reached without stairs by taking the Riverwalk ramp at Wacker Drive and State Street, then walking east under the Michigan Avenue Bridge. Wendella’s Michigan Avenue dock is at 400 N. Michigan Avenue, beside the Wrigley Building and DuSable Bridge.

Wendella’s Michigan Avenue dock has 62 steps from street level and is not ADA accessible. Its West Dock can be reached by elevator from Michigan Avenue between 400 and 410 N. Michigan Avenue and from 401 N. Wabash Avenue. Schedules, docks and vessels may change with the season or weather; Wendella advises passengers to call ahead about accessibility needs.

Think about your access point as well as your destination. The Chicago Architecture Center describes a stair-free route to the First Lady dock via the Riverwalk ramp at Wacker Drive and State Street. By contrast, the Michigan Avenue dock used by Wendella involves stairs, while its West Dock has elevator access.

The City lists Riverwalk hours as 6 a.m.–11 p.m.; the Chicago Municipal Code says the path is closed to the public from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., except as otherwise provided by the Commissioner. Check the official site before you go for current practical information.

The Riverwalk works well as one part of a downtown day. For a broader plan that combines city sights, see this one-day Chicago itinerary. If you want to continue toward the lakefront, the Navy Pier visitor guide covers that destination’s hours, tickets and getting there.

Keep the route flexible: join at a major Wacker Drive intersection, follow the river through the named spaces, and add a museum visit, cruise or meal where it fits your plans. The free public path gives you a straightforward way to connect those stops on foot.