Touring - need map from Chicago to cross Michigan

Looking for map and route from around Gary Indiana, across Michigan to Sarnia Ontario. Any links, maps etc are appreciated

thanks
rick

Go to your local AAA (American Automobile Association). They've got maps. Then go to your local Tourist Information Center. They've got different maps ... generally more tourist-oriented maps.

Go to your local AAA (American Automobile Association). They've got maps. Then go to your local Tourist Information Center. They've got different maps ... generally more tourist-oriented maps.

The problem with AAA and CAA maps is that they tend to feature major arterials, highways, freeways and little else, they will show the freeway, but not the county road that runs beside the freeway, which is a good paved road, that is rarely traveled by non-local motorized traffic, and makes an excellent cycling route.

Michigan has a whole set of bicycling maps
www.michigan.gov/mdot-biking

This map might be helpful, from Chicago to Michigan:

http://www.geocities.com/letourdeshore/LTdSmap2008.pdf

thanks - this helps me to the Mi border and a bit beyond. appreciate it

rick

Michigan has a whole set of bicycling maps
www.michigan.gov/mdot-biking

thanks! a bit more work than I wanted to do on my own - plotting the way across but a very good reference. If i don;t find someone who has already mapped it out, I'll have to do the work and use these

appreciate the help

r

Go to MMBA.org, and ask, it is the Michigan mountain bike web site, but most love all across that route and road ride and can give you 1st hand route assistance. .

I've been on much of this ride, so I know what you mean about AAA maps don't cut it for bicycling. Chicago has a nice trail system down as far as South Shore, the neighborhood immediately south of Hyde Park. After South Shore, you hit the Daniel Burnham Greenway. Indiana has a nice trail system through the Indiana Dunes. In between, there are a couple of miles through Indiana's industrial wasteland that are not connected up. The first real barrier you hit is right around the Illinois-Indiana border, where there is a huge power plant. Nothing prevents you from riding a few miles on Indianapolis Boulevard, and I've actually done it. I'd recommend leaving on a Saturday or Sunday morning, and getting through the border area as early in the day as you can.

Further to the south, in Hammond, there are some rail trails, but they have critical gaps. For example, there is not way to cross Interstate 80 for several miles around except by Indianapolis Boulevard (Highway 41), because there is a gap in the bike trail that runs alongside it. At least, that's how it was last year. I know they plan to finish the trail someday. Indiana is a well-meaning state when it comes to bicycling. They put up nice signs about their cross-state bicycle routes, but the recreational trails are at best useful for local cycling, because important bridges and connecting routes are missing.

Howard

For sure. I'd start out in Chicago by boarding my bike on Amtrak from Chicago to Michigan City, Ind. Then maybe this might help.

http://www.mapmyride.com/

hope it will help.

Here is a map from downtown Chicago to Highland, IN which uses mostly bike path.
I've ridden that commute last year at least a dozen times and it's pretty safe.
Avoid Rainbow Park tho, stay on South Shore Drive. Rainbow Park is BAD neighborhood!

Also, there is a bike trail along Indianapolis Blvd until the exit ramp of I-90 which has a pedestrian/bicycle light and let's you cross Indianapolis Blvd to continue on a nice bike path leading to Wolf Lake, no need to ride on Indianapolis Blvd at all.

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/3866683

From Highland, IN you then can hop onto the Erie Lackawana Trail and from there onto Oak Savanna Trail onto Prairie Duneland Trail onto Calumet Trail and then you're almost in Michigan.

Avoid to ride through Gary if possible, not the best neighborhood either.

Thomas

For sure. I'd start out in Chicago by boarding my bike on Amtrak from Chicago to Michigan City, Ind.

None of the Amtrak trains from Chicago into Michigan have bike service.

Neither does the Metra/NICTD South Shore Line.

This assumes that, "You should start your bike tour by getting on a train," makes much sense in the first place. ;)

That's right about Amtrak and also the South Shore line. Amtrak will only take bicycles as packed luggage. I have done it several times. AT Chicago's Union Station, you have to take an elevator down underneath the platform, into the bowels of the station itself. The guys that work there are nice.

You buy a huge cardboard box, available at one of the few stations that has baggage handling service. When I last did this, last summer, the box cost $15.00. It takes me only about 10 minutes now to break down a bike and pack it into one of those boxes. Warning ... they don't have any tools for you, and that includes a pedal wrench. If you want to take Amtrak and take a bike, you have no choice in Michigan except Detroit.

The boxes are terribly wasteful. There is no way to recycle them at your destination. Also, Amtrak guarantees absolutely nothing about your bike when you transport it this way, although I think damages are very unlikely.

The South Shore Line, which starts at Millenium Park east of the Loop, has little trains that feel like trolley cars. However, I believe that one of the other regional commuter trains to Indiana may offer some bicycle access, with restrictions. Check their website.

I remember a terrible story in the Chicago Tribune last year about a teacher who took his bike down into Indiana on a Sunday, and then faced some terrible ticket taker on the way back who wanted to dot all the I's and cross all the T's about how he was transporting his bike, even though he had taken it there and was waiting to ride home on an empty train. He had followed all the rules posted on the web, or at least believed that he had. He was forced to pay hundreds of dollars for a cab ride home, because he had to work the next day. The METRA was so embarrassed by this incident that they paid for his cab ride.

Howard

Here is a map from downtown Chicago to Highland, IN which uses mostly bike path.
I've ridden that commute last year at least a dozen times and it's pretty safe.
Avoid Rainbow Park tho, stay on South Shore Drive. Rainbow Park is BAD neighborhood!

Also, there is a bike trail along Indianapolis Blvd until the exit ramp of I-90 which has a pedestrian/bicycle light and let's you cross Indianapolis Blvd to continue on a nice bike path leading to Wolf Lake, no need to ride on Indianapolis Blvd at all.

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/3866683

From Highland, IN you then can hop onto the Erie Lackawana Trail and from there onto Oak Savanna Trail onto Prairie Duneland Trail onto Calumet Trail and then you're almost in Michigan.

Avoid to ride through Gary if possible, not the best neighborhood either.

Thomas

A couple of problems:

Erie Lackawana Trail is missing an underpass at I/80, unless they have finally built one in the last year. It's a critical gap. I did that route last year. You feel like you are taking your life in your hands when you go on 41.

It's true what Scummer says about Indianapolis Blvd having a bike path alongside it, IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO. Once you cross the border into Indiana, after the Daniel Burnham Greenway trail, you are in very heavy traffic, and there are places with lots of broken glass all over the shoulders. It's a very dangerous stretch, with no real way around it, unless you go well to the south.

The Oak Savanna has so many gaps I feel like it is barely useful, but the roads you take to detour around the gaps are not bad. I just wouldn't go out of my way to use it.

I have done almost exactly the ride that is outlined here. I would just grin and bear it and make your way over to the Indiana Dunes along US 12 until you get over into the Indiana Dunes area. After Gary, Indiana, while the road surface isn't good, the traffic will be fine on the Dunes Highway. I-94 and US-20 take all the heavy traffic. On a Saturday or Sunday morning, it won't be bad. The only really horrid stretch is Indianapolis Blvd right across the border from Illinois.

The pavement on U.S. 12 is awful in places. Must be the big trucks hauling steel around! I sure wouldn't want to ride this on a racing bike. I can't remember exactly where it begins, but there are some bike trails along sections of the Indiana shore.

Howard

PS: I don't agree that Rainbow Park is a bad neighborhood. It is an African-American neighborhood, but that doesn't mean you can't go there if you are white. This part of Chicago is stable and has good home values and solid rental markets. Use good sense and don't go into the park at night, but you are fine in the daytime. I would not have said this 15 years ago. But Chicago has really changed. I like to go down to the south side a lot, partly because it is where my father and grandfather both grew up.

In Gary, on the other hand, you might not want to be the only white person. So in Gary, I would stick to 12 on a bike, not go into the neighborhoods. I have been through Gary, and people just stared at me.

None of the Amtrak trains from Chicago into Michigan have bike service.

Neither does the Metra/NICTD South Shore Line.

This assumes that, "You should start your bike tour by getting on a train," makes much sense in the first place. ;)

You can't put your bike in baggage ? I have used Amtrak on long haul passenger trains.( LA to Portland, Or.) They did require boxing.

You can't put your bike in baggage ? I have used Amtrak on long haul passenger trains.( LA to Portland, Or.) They did require boxing.

There is no checked baggage on those particular trains. Therefore, no bikes-as-baggage.

(And even if there was baggage service on the trains, Amtrak will only load and unload at stations with baggage service. The "stations" in question here are little more than signs on the side of the tracks, at which the trains stop for no more than a couple of minutes.)

Sorry Amtrak is so short sided on this one train line. If they had checked baggage, I'd see getting off at an adjacent stop as an opportunity to further one's ride. Think I'd complain to the National Amtrak office. Trains and bikes should go hand in hand.

A couple of problems:

Erie Lackawana Trail is missing an underpass at I/80, unless they have finally built one in the last year. It's a critical gap. I did that route last year. You feel like you are taking your life in your hands when you go on 41.

There is an underpath at I-80. You can use Northcote to cross I-80 underneath. It will lead to Ridge Rd. where then you can start to go east until you hit the Erie Lackawana Trail starting from Kennedy Ave. on.



It's true what Scummer says about Indianapolis Blvd having a bike path alongside it, IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO. Once you cross the border into Indiana, after the Daniel Burnham Greenway trail, you are in very heavy traffic, and there are places with lots of broken glass all over the shoulders. It's a very dangerous stretch, with no real way around it, unless you go well to the south.
This is true I have to admit. The stretch of road after you hit Burnham Ave is heavy with traffic. I have not found any other way around that yet.



PS: I don't agree that Rainbow Park is a bad neighborhood. It is an African-American neighborhood, but that doesn't mean you can't go there if you are white. This part of Chicago is stable and has good home values and solid rental markets. Use good sense and don't go into the park at night, but you are fine in the daytime. I would not have said this 15 years ago. But Chicago has really changed. I like to go down to the south side a lot, partly because it is where my father and grandfather both grew up.

In Gary, on the other hand, you might not want to be the only white person. So in Gary, I would stick to 12 on a bike, not go into the neighborhoods. I have been through Gary, and people just stared at me.Hmm... I rode through Rainbow Park at around 6pm on my commute home and I would never EVER do it again. I don't like to be pushed into the grass by a group of teenagers, pulling one of their bike into my part of the lane. And I'm used to living in a bad neighborhood as I lived on 106st and Calhoun 2 blocks away from the projects. Experienced gun shots almost on a daily basis and had my car broken into and shot at twice. I know what a bad neighborhood looks like and Rainbow Park is on that list.

Thomas

Here is a route from Navy Pier to Chesterton, IN pieced together from 3 routes I've ridden in the last year.

Run this backwards from Navy Pier to Eggers Woods
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=722830

Burnham Greenway - Eggers Woods to Lansing
Except the Burnham Greenway/Lansing City path now goes under I80 ( at roughly mile 9 on this map) and thru to Wentworth. Not shown on this map is the 1 mile segment continuing on the Lansing City path from I80 to Wentworth
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=272177

Lansing to Chesterton - Pick this up at mile 10.7, the Lansing city path at Wentworth and Terrace.
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Chicago-Heights-to-Indiana-Dunes

This map might be helpful, from Chicago to Michigan:

http://www.geocities.com/letourdeshore/LTdSmap2008.pdf


Has anyone else taken this route - looks like a good and safe plan to get around the tip of L Michigan. I am actually starting from Naperville so will head due south and connect in Hammond. From there I was planning on taking this route until I get to the Indiana-Michigan border. Any input on this part would be appreciated.

From that point on crossing Mi - still looking for a route otherwise I guess I will need to map it out myself on Bikely - but if anyone else has done the hard work and is willing to share .......

I'm glad to hear that the connector under Route 80 is open. This has been my problem with touring in the USA on official state trails. State transportation maps show great routes, but when you get there the bridge or underpass is missing, so that you have to go miles around it. I have had this problem in several different states. They have good intentions, but they only finish the part of the bike path they have money for, which makes it useful as a local recreational trail only.

As to Chicago parks in general, I wasn't talking about 6:00 pm, except on a warm summer evening when people are out in force having picnics. Generally, I feel completely comfortable in any park if the families and children are out in the area. But as far as evening and night riding, I ride the North Shore trail (along Lake Shore Drive) a lot at night, but I wouldn't even go south of the Loop/McCormack area in the dark on this trail. At night, I take the streets instead, and only go in neighborhoods I know, or with other people. For me, it's how many people are there with me that is my threshold of safety. So I have hung out in Rainbow Park and other south and west side parks, but it has been during the daytime when crowds of people were around me. I especially like the whole system of parks around Hyde Park.

Since you are in Naperville, you might as well bypass the city and Gary, Indiana, by going south, as you seem to have decided to do. I was thinking you lived north of the Loop, as I do.

Have you ever seen the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation map? It shows which Chicago streets are best suited to bikes, and it also shows all the bike paths through the Forest Preserves. From Naperville, you might try either the Calumet River trail or the trail that follows the Old Plank Road south of Interstate 80. Both trails are mostly complete over very long stretches. Find their map here:

http://www.biketraffic.org/

Map link:

http://www.biketraffic.org/content.php?id=86_0_10_0

My edition of the map is old, so I could be missing some new routes.

Howard

Have you ever seen the Chicago Bicycle Federation map? It shows which Chicago streets are best suited to bikes, and it also shows all the bike paths through the Forest Preserves. From Naperville, you might try either the Calumet River trail or the trail that follows the Old Plank Road south of Interstate 80. Both trails are mostly complete over very long stretches.

Howard

That Chicago Heights to Chesterton route ( http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Chicago-Heights-to-Indiana-Dunes )is an excellent route if you do decied to go south to the Old Plank Road Trail.

Also, the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation and Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission just published a Northwest Indiana Bike Map. The route markings are similar to those used in the CBF Chicagoland Bike Map.