An abandoned railway has been given new life on Chicago’s northwest side. The 606 is a 2.7-mile elevated park and trail built on what was once an industrial rail line. Today, the popular pedestrian path connects a chain of parks, scenic lookout points, public art installations, lovely landscaping, and more.
What is The 606?
The 606 is a multi-use recreational park and trail running about 20 feet above street level on Chicago’s northwest side. It’s a popular spot for walkers, runners, bikers, and more.
First opened in 2015, The 606 is built on the foundation of an abandoned rail line. This line was first built after the Great Chicago Fire as part of an effort to reinvigorate the city’s industrial growth. After being active for more than a century, the tracks fell into disuse by the mid-1990s.
The idea for The 606 was officially presented in 2003 as part of a city initiative to bring more green space to the city’s northwest side. Today, the former railroad tracks have been completely transformed into a beautifully landscaped parkway. A beloved part of the Chicago landscape, The 606 is used by more than one million locals and visitors each year.
Why is it called The 606?
Officially named the Bloomingdale Trail, “The 606” gets its nickname from the common numbers in Chicago’s zip codes (the trail spans 60647 and 60622). The name reflects its role as a community connection point and evokes the tradition of using numbers to name rail lines, highways, and other transportation corridors.
Where is The 606?
The 606 stretches across four of Chicago’s hippest neighborhoods — Wicker Park, Bucktown, Logan Square, and Humboldt Park. The trail runs east to west, with the east end on Ashland Avenue in Bucktown/Wicker Park and the westernmost point on Ridgeway Avenue near the edge of the Humboldt Park and Hermosa neighborhoods.
What can you do on and near The 606?
There’s so much to do on and near The 606, whether you’re looking for a leisurely stroll or a scenic spot to get your heart pumping. It’s also a short distance from many of the area’s most popular parks, restaurants, and bars.
Activities on The 606
- Walking
- Running
- Skating
- Scootering (no e-scooters allowed)
- Biking (bikes are available for rent from nearby Divvy stations)
Attractions on The 606
- Parks: There are four street-level parks connected to The 606 (Walsh Park, Churchill Park, Park 567, and Julia de Burgos Park) with playgrounds, sports fields, dog-friendly areas, and more.
- Public art: The 606 is home to a number of permanent and rotating pieces of public art, including murals, sculptures, and interactive pieces.
- Humboldt Overlook: Gaze out over the historic tree-lined boulevard from this laidback lookout point with plenty of seating.
- Damen Arts Plaza: Check out the latest large-scale sculpture piece or kick back on the bleacher seating and watch the world go by.
- Exelon Observatory: Located on the west end of the trail, a spiraling path leads to an elevated platform marking the winter and summer solstices.
There are also special events and programs on The 606 throughout the year, including an annual family-friendly 5k trail run.
Things to do near The 606
- Use the trail as a starting point to explore the popular Wicker Park, Bucktown, Logan Square, and Humboldt Park neighborhoods.
- Stop at Dayglow, located right off the trail inside the Kimball Arts Center, named the best coffee shop in Illinois by Food & Wine.
- Get off the trail at the Humboldt Overlook for a short walk to the sprawling Humboldt Park, home to a historic boat house and scenic lagoons.
- Also on Humboldt Boulevard, see the “yellow brick road” sidewalk and colorful mosaic that pays tribute to the spot where L. Frank Baum lived and wrote The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
- Hop on a bike and explore the city’s historic boulevards, one of the oldest and largest boulevard systems in the country.
- Exit at Damen Avenue and walk to the Six Corners, the bustling heart of Wicker Park packed with bars, restaurants, shops, and more.
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