The Chicago River is a system of rivers and canals with a combined length of 156 miles (251 km) [1] that runs through the city of Chicago, including its center (the Chicago Loop). [2]

Jan 25, 2025 · Chicago River, navigable stream that originally flowed into Lake Michigan after being formed by the north and south branches about 1 mile (1.6 km) west of the lake, in Chicago, northeastern Illinois, U.S. The Chicago River system flows 156 miles (251 km) from Park City (north) to Lockport (south); some 45 bridges span the river.

The Chicago River is 156 miles long (251 km) [1] and goes through the city of Chicago, Illinois, including the center of the city (the Chicago Loop). The river is not long, but it is known for being the reason why Chicago became an important place, as the connection between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi Valley waterways .

For centuries, the Chicago River has drawn intrepid explorers, immigrant laborers, and industrial giants to its shores, lured by the promise of its opportunities. Yet as much as the river has been Chicago’s raison d’être, it has also been our most precarious problem to solve.

For some people, the 156-mile Chicago River is best known for its scenic architectural boat tours and beautiful riverwalk. But the river that flows through the heart of downtown Chicago, past forest preserves and parks, and all kinds of urban and suburban communities is …

Jun 12, 2024 · Chicagoans have long avoided the Chicago River—a waterway once so heavily polluted that its stench could make people sick. Since French explorers first charted it in 1673, the river has been...

Since 1979, Friends has been working to improve the health of the Chicago River system for the benefit of people and wildlife and by doing so, has laid the foundation for the river to be a beautiful, continuous, easily accessible corridor of open space in the Chicago region.

Since 2011, the Chicago River has been transformed into the city’s next recreational park, with vast opportunities for residents and visitors to access and enjoy the river at almost every mile. The Chicago Riverwalk covers 1.25-miles through the heart of the city and continues to offer new and improved ways to enjoy Chicago’s waterfronts ...

Learn about the colorful history of the Chicago River. The Chicago River is channelized, turning the sandbar into a navigable channel. Chicago is founded. Illinois & Michigan Canal was built to connect the Chicago River to the Illinois River and down to the Mississippi River.

The Chicago River flows for 156 miles (251 kilometers) through northeastern Illinois. It begins at Lake Michigan and flows through downtown Chicago, where it separates into the north and south branches about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) west of the lake. The …