For those of you looking for the perfect mix of urban meets nature in the far west suburbs then the Naperville Riverwalk is the place for you. It also remains to embrace its community, as the riverwalk leads to and from the downtown, a community pool, a playground, and much more!
Overall Thoughts on Naperville Riverwalk Trail
Difficulty (Lower is Easier)
Amenities
Transportation & Accessibility:
Crowding:
Views & Wildlife:
Overall Rating:
Difficulty
The Naperville Riverwalk caters to a broad range of fitness levels, making it accessible to both avid hikers and leisurely walkers. The well-maintained asphalt paths are mostly flat, with occasional gentle slopes, ensuring a comfortable experience for all. Families with strollers and joggers can easily navigate the trail, making it a versatile option for various outdoor activities. Along the trail, you can expect to find several places to take a rest including park benches and scenic gazebo and shelter areas.
There are also lamposts along the route to keep it well-lit. Which I find to be a nice safety feature!
Transportation
Via Transportation
BNSF Metra
For those of you traveling from Chicago, your best bet is the Metra. The BNSF Metra train ride is about a little over an hour, leaving directly from Union Station and ending at the Naperville Train Station.
From the train station, the riverwalk is about 1.2 miles away, or about a 30-minute walk. However, there is a bus that does connect you from the train station to Downtown Naperville and gets you closer to this walk.
Pace Bus 530 – Weekdays & Saturdays Only
The 530 Pace Bus stops at the train station and makes stops throughout downtown Naperville. This bus does shorten the amount of time it takes to walk to Naperville River Walk.
One thing to note is that this bus only runs on weekdays and Saturdays. This route does not operate on Sundays!
Amtrack
On top of the Metra access, the Naperville Train Station is also an Amtrack Station. If you are looking to add a walk in Naperville before or after your travels the riverwalk could be a good contender.
Via Car
The drive from Chicago to Naperville varies greatly depending on the time of day. This is not a commute you would want to take during rush hour. However, in fair traffic conditions, it is about a 45-minute drive.
There are several parking lots near the riverwalk and throughout the downtown.
Beauty & Wildlife at Naperville Riverwalk
One thing to note about the Naperville Riverwalk is how it finds a great balance between being an urban space and showing off nature.
First, I want to talk about the natural beauty of the Naperville Riverwalk. It follows the West Branch of the DuPage River. The path is mostly wooded when possible. There is the downtown portion which, has fewer trees, but instead offers riverfront businesses including outdoor dining for restaurants.
The walk almost takes you through three distinctive areas that seemingly blend into each other. Personally, I started my trek from Downtown, which features a selection of tasty restaurants and fun boutique shops that you can read about in my guide of Downtown Naperville. Those buildings are almost all done in that sleek modern style, so they individually don’t seek out attention, helping the focus remain on the river.
Past the Downtown section, there is the outdoor community area. This portion of the trail includes things like Centennial Beach and a playground.
If you go even further, the trail continues to become more wooded and similar to a nature trail with some visible houses.
This walk isn’t necessarily a quiet one, as it captures the excitement of the city with lots of people out and about. Creating that urban feel. Honestly, it would feel weird if it didn’t have that buzz of energy.
I would also suggest to be on the lookout for art along the way. My favorite is a dog and cat sculpture!
Know Before You Go:
Naperville Riverwalk is a pedestrian trail. Please note that no bikes or skates are allowed.
Although there are several ways to begin the trail, I usually begin at/near the Naperville Public Library- Nicols Library. I suggest this start/end because it’s a great place to fill/refill water bottles, use the restroom, and can be a relaxing, indoor place to find a seat.
It is a .8-mile walk from the train station to the library, the start of the Riverwalk. This walk has sidewalks and crosswalks. And takes you through downtown!
There is however a bus that will decrease the steps involved in the walk before the walk. Please see the Transportation section for more information.
Amenities
There are several restrooms along the path, including the library, the Riverwalk Eatery, and the Warming House.
Along the way, you will find several park benches. And there are gazebos and shelters as well.
Activities connected to the Naperville Riverwalk
Downtown Naperville: Why not treat yourself to cookie dough after a nice long walk?! Check out stores, dining, and treat places in the downtown.
Centennial Beach: Looking for a place to cool off in the heat of summer? Check out this pool that goes up to 15 feet deep. Plus there’s a diving board for cannonballs!
Paddleboat Quarry & Fishing -You can rent kayaks, paddleboards and paddleboards!
Sledding and ice skating– If you are looking for winter activities, then check out Rotary Hill. It’s a cool place to go sledding, and they have a rink all set up for ice skating. Of course, these activities happen to be weather-dependent.
