40 for 40: Top Spots to See on the Chicago River

October 20, 2020

As a final reflection on Friends’ 40th anniversary we compiled one more Top 40 list–Top Spots on the Chicago River–to help you discover more of the amazing places along the system where you can see wildlife, ride your bike, enjoy world famous architecture, watch a barge unload, fish, paddle or just enjoy the view.

From the Middlefork Savanna in Lake County to Bubbly Creek on Chicago’s near south side or the rolling hills in Palos and the SEPA station near the Acme Bend, the river is an impressive and improving resource for people and wildlife that has come to life over the last 40 years.

“It is amazing to consider how different it was,” said Margaret Frisbie, Friends’ executive director. “When Friends was founded in 1979, most people would have been hard-pressed to name any 'must-see' places, such was the deteriorated and neglected shape of the river. Yet even then the river was full of magical places full of surprises and today there are so many, many more because of Friends’ hard work and that of our many members, funders, partners, forward-thinking, environment-minded officials, and thousands and thousands of volunteers."

In the coming months we invite you to explore the river and report back what you find. Got some other nominees for top spots? Email us at river@chicagoriver.org!

And if you missed our other Top 40s, check them out here: 40 Key Moments in Friends' History, 40 People Who Made a Difference, and 40 Fantastic Fauna.

In the meantime thank you for being on the journey with us – the next 40 promise to be better than before – and enjoy the 40 views below (generally from north to south)! All photos by Friends of the Chicago River unless otherwise noted.