Day Rides
Adult Day Ride: Nature of the South
There are so many great outdoor treasures local to Chicago that are worth celebrating. Big Marsh Park, located in Southeast Side of Chicago, is certainly one of those local treasures! Once a slag dumping ground and landfill for steel mills, Big Marsh Park was largely neglected for decades until the Chicago Park District revitalized the site and opened it in 2016 as a public park. The park now consists of 300 acres of natural area – including a 40-acre bike park – and is surrounded by native prairie, woodland, and wetland habitats. The public park also offers free and open eco-recreational opportunities such as birding, hiking, environmental educational programs, and biking. Come join us on a ride down there and back! Along the way, we’ll admire the beauty of Wolf Lake from the perspectives of both Illinois and Indiana, and make stops at OOFD ride staples, such as the Chicago Culture Center and Rainbow Beach Park.
We will meet at Washington Park at 7:30am. We will ride southeast, cut through Wooded Island for lagoon views, and hop on the Lakefront Trail to the culture center. Then, we’ll ride local roads south to Burham Greenway, which will take us most of the way. At Big Marsh Park, we’ll have time to rest a bit, refuel, explore/hike the trails, and maybe rip some single track courses and/or pump tracks! On our way back, we’ll hug the Indiana side of Wolf Lake, catch local roads to the Lakefront Trail, and end our ride back at Washington Park.
TRIP DETAILS
- Total mileage: 41 miles
- Pace: 10-12 mph — a casual and conversational pace
- Trail conditions: Mostly pavement
- Type: Adult (21+)
- Start: Washington Park
- End: Washington Park
WHAT TO BRING
- Your bike!
- High energy snacks
- Helmet
- Photo I.D. and Emergency Contact Info
- Cash/Debit/Credit Card for your food and drinks
- 2 spare inner tubes and tools to replace a flat (guides will be able to assist)
- At least 2 full water bottles
- Lock for your bike
- Sunscreen
- Welcoming, adventurous, can-do attitude!
WHAT IS INCLUDED
- Supportive guides assisting and leading you from the start to the endpoint
- Education about our local history and nature
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
- Transportation to the start point
- Food and drinks
Note, your $5 ticket holds your space on the ride and allows us to support the community partners that we work with.
ABOUT THE GUIDES
Our guides are part of a community of volunteers that believe in adventure and helping others find adventure right out our front door. They exude a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive spirit which are foundational values at OOFD. They have love and appreciation for their home and like sharing knowledge about that home with others, thus helping the riders to develop a stronger sense of gratitude for our local history and nature.
The guides will be set with the route and an extensive script about the area you’ll be riding through with intentionally chosen breakpoints along the way.
They are more than someone to follow on the ride. They are trained and will be there to encourage and support you as well as support with mechanicals that may arise.
RADICAL INCLUSIVITY AND NON-DISCRIMINATION AGREEMENT
This is included in your registration form. Showing up with a welcoming and inclusive spirit is crucial and expected of everyone that rides with us.
