The 606 (Bloomingdale Trail)

The 606 is Chicago's elevated park, built on the embankment of the old Bloomingdale railway line. The line was laid in 1873 and later served freight trains of the Milwaukee Road and the Soo Line. The City of Chicago bought the right-of-way in 2013, and the trail opened on 6 June 2015. Its centrepiece, the Bloomingdale Trail, runs for 2.7 miles east to west along Bloomingdale Avenue, from Ashland Avenue to Ridgeway Avenue.

Because it is raised above the street, the trail offers an unusual view of residential Chicago, looking down on the streets, houses and gardens on either side as you cross the neighbourhood grid. The route links the neighbourhoods of West Town, Logan Square and Humboldt Park, and it connects with several ground-level parks, including Walsh Park, Churchill Field Park and Julia de Burgos Park, along with trailheads at Ashland and Ridgeway. There is an observatory feature and art installations along the way.

The 606 is used by locals for commuting, running and cycling as well as for strolls, so it can feel more like a living part of the city than a tourist sight. Walk on the right and keep an eye out for bikes, especially at busy times. Weekday mornings are quieter, while weekend afternoons are busy with families and dog walkers. The trail is open daily from 6am to 11pm and is free.

It suits active travellers, families with scooters or bikes, photographers and anyone who wants to see residential Chicago away from downtown. Walking the full length one way takes around an hour; cycling is quicker. Bring water in summer, as shade is limited in places, and wrap up in winter, when the open trail can be windy.

There are several access points with ramps or stairs along the route. The eastern end is at the Ashland Avenue trailhead and the western end at the Ridgeway trailhead, so plan which way you want to walk and how you will get back. A good plan is to walk part of the trail, drop down at one of the access points to find coffee or lunch in the surrounding neighbourhood, and continue from there. In the evening, the Violet Hour on North Damen Avenue makes a good final stop.