Millennium Park Chicago – Photo supplied by Dennis Wilkinson
| Start/Finish | Category | Distance | Estimated Walking Time |
| Riverwalk entrance on Marshall Suloway Bridge (W Wacker Drive) / Washington station | Tourism | 2.2 km | 35 min* |
Summary
This hike starts along the Riverwalk on the south side of the Chicago river before exploring Millennium Park and ending at Washington station.
Public transport
Catch the metro to Clark/Lake station. Ends near Washington station.
Directions
Starting point – Riverwalk entrance
The Millennium Park Chicago walk starts at the Riverwalk entrance on the Marshall Suloway Bridge, which is on the corner of W Wacker Drive and N La Salle Drive. To get there, catch the metro to Clark/Lake and walk down N La Salle St.
From the Riverwalk entrance take the steps down to the Riverwalk. Walk in an easterly direction until you get to Downtown Docks, next to the Bataan Corregidor Memorial Bridge. From here take the steps back up to W Wacker Drive and walk down N State St in a southerly direction.
On N State St you will pass the Chicago theatre. Throughout its existence, many of the top performers and stars of their day have made live appearances at the theatre. The distinctive Chicago Theatre emblem is recognisable all over the world and appears frequently in film, television, artwork, and photography.
Chicago theatre
Image: Chicago theatre, photo supplied by Raymon Sutedjo
From the Chicago theatre continue south down N State St and then turn left up E Randolph St heading in an easterly direction. At the corner of E Randolph St and Michigan Ave turn right into Millennium Park walking in a southerly direction.
Enter the park near the Millennium monument and continue in a southerly direction past Wrigley Square to the Cloud Gate sculpture. The Cloud Gate sculpture, often referred to as ‘the bean’, was inspired by the image of liquid mercury. The sculpture is made up of 168 stainless steel plates welded together and has a highly polished exterior giving it a mirror like quality. You can walk around and under its 12-foot (3.7 m) high arch.
From Cloud Gate turn right out of the park across N Michigan Ave and up E Madison St. Continue up to W Madison St and then turn right up N Dearborn St, walking in a northerly direction to the Picasso sculpture. The sculpture, designed by Pablo Picasso, is made of Corten Steel and was the first monumental abstract public artwork in Downtown Chicago.
Finish – Picasso Sculpture
From the Picasso sculpture, it is just a short walk across the road to Washington station, where the journey ends.
Millennium Park Chicago – GPX file
To access to the GPX file for this walk click on the download button below.
Information on GPX files and how to import them into Google maps on your phone can be found here.
Millennium Park Chicago walk – Map
Start – Marshall Sulloway Bridge
- Riverwalk
- Chicago Theatre
- Chicago Cultural Centre
- Millennium Park
- Cloud Gate (the Bean)
- Chicago Picasso
End- Chicago Picaso
