*this is taken from http://www.neiu.edu/~rkastiga/bike/chi2wisc.htm and modified accordingly (in bold)
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1. START: Devon and Caldwell in Chicago, the beginning of the North River Bike Path. Take this all the way north, continuing through the Chicago Botanical Gardens, exiting at Lake Cook Road. 16.5 MILES (This is an off-road path)

2. Lake-Cook Road right (east) to the Green Bay Trail .5 MILES (lake cook road is ALSO called countyline.. and the green bay trail is a little past green bay road, you cross railroad tracks before it)

3. Green Bay Trail left (north) to downtown Highland Park. 3.0 MILES (This is an off-road path)

(these directions through highland park are sorta long/confusing.. we just muddled our way through)

4. Continue in the same direction north on St. Johns Avenue. Watch the signs, there's a quick left-then-right turn. When it ends at a T-intersection (Walker), turn left (west) to Sheridan Road. Follow the Sheridan Road signs north. As you approach Fort Sheridan (on your right) there’s a wide sidewalk to ride on, off road. Continue to Old Elm Road (stoplight). 3.1 MILES

(1999 update to 4. - Just take St. Johns Avenue north. Where it meets Walker, there are signs posted for a nice off-road sidewalk path, clearly marked. This path takes you all the way to Old Oak Road, where the off-road path continues on the west side of the highway. 2002 update: there is a sign posted.)

5. At this juncture, there's a paved path on the opposite side of the road, the west side. Cross the intersection and take this path north. Ignore any bike-path signs that may lead you elsewhere. This path ends in North Chicago, at the railroad tracks. Cross the tracks. The intersection is actually Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. 7.4 MILES (This is an off-road path)

6. Cross the tracks, and continue straight ahead (west) on Martin Luther King Drive. You're looking for Commonwealth Avenue, a stop light. .1 MILES * i turned right on sheridan - i wouldn't advise this! just cross the tracks, cross sheridan, and the trail is on your right a block or two down, past the hobby shop on your right. its also pretty low-income for a bit here, no big deal though

7. Off on your right at this intersection is the Robert McClory Path. At this point it's actually a bike lane in the street, but it will lead you to a crushed stone path. Continue on this path north, all the way to Kenosha, Wisconsin. 15.3 MILES (This is an off-road path) (we exited at beach road - took that east then north on sheridan to the campgrounds as described below).

(1999/2002 update: if you want to camp along #7, about a half-day ride from Chicago is Illinois Beach State Park and Campground. Intersecting the path is Beach Road - and easy exit - then right or east to Sheridan Road, Rt. 137 then left north to the entrance. Alternately, continue north along the path to Wadsworth Road (an uneasy exit) then to right or east directly into the park and campground.

if you want to keep going north - there is better camping about 15 miles further.. check out the site above for directions.

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have fun - we had some veggie chili mix explode in my carradice, bad times. and apparently, billy (our neighbor at the campsite), "don't do any of that fancy cookin' ".. (we had offered him some basil/dill that we picked up from a friend's garden along the way).