Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - chicago riders -- lakefront path question

I'm on the north side and today I hopped onto the Lakefront bike path via Fullerton intending to head south. When I hit Navy Pier, I couldn't find the path anymore, but on my nifty free Chicago bike map it clearly shows the path going through Navy Pier all the way south. I just couldn't find where to connect with the rest of the path...really confusing. Anyone know how to get through Navy Pier to the rest of the path? There are quite a few Chicagoans here so I thought I'd ask and see if you guys knew. Thanks.

If I recall correctly (been a few years since I lived there) you have to jump up onto surface streets for a block or two. Are we talking near the end of Oak st. Beach?

It does go south. Parts of it go unmarked but remain part of the path, but you follow it one of two ways: the little park before you get to the pier forks, left toward the pier or right where you can take a short cut along the N/S street at the corner. Follow either one. Both of them require you to ride along the same street for a bit before you head to the left where it eveutally becomes a marked path again.

One route - As you're heading south on the path and you pass the stretch of beach by oak street, you hit this little "park" in from of lake point tower. keep to the right, there is a light at the corner. you just cross the intersection going south and then the next intersection all the while staying to the west of lake point tower. You can ride along the sidewalk on the bridge for a bit and the official path reappears.

incidentally, the riding south of mccormick place is smooth sailing - none of the north-avenue-rollerblade-silliness or untethered children running into you.

martinez is exactly correct. if you cross the street in front (west) of lakepoint towers, there is a sidewalk that you have to navigate, under the bridge and the sidewalk with the stripe down the middle reappears as you pass the marina. then its on towards mccormick place and smooth sailing till 63rd street. i have been known to wander towards museum of science & industry and univ of chicago campus, if its the right time of day (best on weekends)

you can also cruise down to 63rd then while coming back up, turn into the city @ buckingham fountain and take it thru the loop to lasalle. lasalle has a wide bike lane and you can cruise back up to lincoln park. (thats after you've done the lakefront for the 5 thousandth time and are bored with it)

The full path is now open all the way to 74th Street, so you don't have to stop at 63rd St. anymore...

Koffee

Thanks for the info. I wish they could put up signs with directions or something as I see other cyclists at Navy Pier who've stopped to scratch their heads.

I always diverge when it hits that side street just before Navy Pier just past the steps and head right down under and over the bridge.

I also go under the bridge, although when I'm heading north, I jump onto the exit for LSD, since that's where I live, and I don't see the point in fighting other cyclists and foot traffic.

Koffee