Big Marsh Bike Park – Major Taylor Cycling Club Chicago

Big Marsh is in Chicago, at 11559 S Stony Island, just off the eastern banks of Lake Calumet. The park is accessible from 103rd Street and Doty Road or 122nd Street and Torrence Ave.

GETTING HERE

Big Marsh is between the neighborhoods of South Deering, Jeffery Manor, Pullman, Riverdale, East Side, and Hegewisch. It is just 15 miles from the loop!

Visitors can get to the area by car, Metra, CTA, or bike. It isn’t too hard, but can be a little tricky the first time.

BY BIKE

Please don’t bike down Stony from 95-103rd! It isn’t very safe.

This is the most direct route from the Lake Front Path: the route takes Jeffery, through Van Vlissengen, and over the 103rd Street Bridge. (you can get on Jeffery at Marquette on the Lakefront Path) through Van Vlissingen. South on Crandon, West on 103rd to Doty. Be advised, the 103rd Street overpass is not for the faint of heart! It features fast-moving truck traffic and a very narrow sidewalk. Left at Doty, followed by an immediate right at the fork. Left at stop sign (Stony Island). 8.4 miles from 63rd Street Beach.

This is the scenic route with the least amount of time biking with car traffic: Burnham Greenway (trailhead is just outside Calumet Park at 100th and Indianapolis) to William Powers State Park. Get off the greenway and find the way to the 126th street exit. Indian Creek sidepath is on the south side of 126th and runs down Torrence and over the bridge. Ride west down 122nd into Calumet Corridor and make a right on Stony. 14.9 miles from 63rd Street Beach.

BY CAR

Directions from Dan Ryan expressway southbound at 63rd.

Exit Bishop Ford Extension at 103rd/Stony Island and bear right. Right (south) at Doty Road. Follow Doty to the right and left at the stop sign (Stony, but now a two-lane road). Follow Stony for 1.5 miles. Once you cross the train tracks, everything to your left is Big Marsh Park. Pass the first small parking lot (north end of the park), Left into the bike park parking lot.