Bike Camping in the City - Family Bike Camping Overnight

Start: Meet at Gompers Park, 4222 West Forster Ave. between 3:30-6pm Friday night

Mileage: Day 1: 0 Miles | Day 2: 25ish miles| Day 3: 25ish miles

Support: Self supported - you carry all of your own gear on your own bike.

Lodging: We will camp in tents at Gompers Park on Chicago's Northside on Night 1 and Emily Oaks Nature Center in Skokie on Night 2.

Pace: 7-10mph. We won't leave anyone behind.

Trail/Route: Paved road or trail with minimal crushed limestone trail portions.

Age: All families are welcome.

This is a the not-to-be-missed family ride that answers the question, "Is it possible to bike camp in Chicago?". This unique tour specifically designed for families aims to answer that question with an emphatic “YES”. Don't let the Summer end without experiencing this unique adventure. We'll be camping at two beautiful spots that are not open to the public for camping. This area of the Northwest side of Chicago and adjacent suburbs have seen significant improvements in cycling infrastructure, including miles of brand new bike paths, extensions to existing paths, at least 4 new bridges, restored habitat and a plethora of cycling amenities, making our bike camping tour in the city more than just possible.

​We’ll ride on quiet paths within Chicago proper that feel more like the woods of Northern Wisconsin than the 3rd largest city in the US. We can’t wait to show you everything we have in store. We’ll explore beautiful trails, including the Sauganash Bike Path, North Branch Trail Extension, North Channel path, and the McCormick Sculpture Path. We’ll visit beautiful beaches and pools, ride along the Chicago River and Lake Michigan shore line, and even tour a stunningly beautiful and historic cemetery. Families, you don’t want to miss this one.

• Campsite and firewood
• Food for Day 1 dinner, Day 2 breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Day 3 breakfast and lunch.
• Education about our local history and nature
• Very welcoming and supportive guides

• Food for Day 1 Lunch - Please bring a sacked lunch or eat before you arrive! There are limited options to buy food once you arrive to camp.
• Snacks during the ride to camp
• Bowls, cups, spoons, forks - bring your own to avoid waste:)

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 a 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.

The base ticket price for this event is kept low with the majority of it going to cover the cost of the campsites, food, and supplies. The guides are all volunteers as OOFD is mainly volunteer run.

So when checking out, please consider the ticket price add-ons and pay what you can to either help grow OOFD and our programs as well as help us provide these incredibly low ticket prices to keep our rides, prices, and organization radically inclusive.

Participant Cancellation: No Refunds. By registering, you acknowledge and agree there will not be a refund if you cancel or do not show up for the event. Tickets cannot be resold.

Transfers permitted before the event and to an event in the same calendar year. Check out this Transfer Policy flowsheet to determine what next steps you need to take. Contact us if you have any issues.

Organizer Cancellation: Full Refund | Nobody wants an event to be canceled. In the rare circumstance the organizer cancels the event at their discretion, registered participants will receive a full refund.To date, this organization has canceled minimal events; primarily in response to the Covid19 pandemic.

Weather and Rain: We do not cancel an event for rain, storm, or any other weather. We ride rain or shine. Chicago weather is typically passing, if the weather requires, we will pause the ride and wait in a sheltered space then continue biking. Some of the best views of the lake and greenery on the trails are after a rainstorm.

This is included in your registration form. Showing up with a welcoming and inclusive spirit is crucial and expected of everyon that rides with us.

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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Gompers (Samuel) Park, 4222 West Foster Avenue, Chicago, United States