How long is the butterfly route in Chicago?

The butterfly covers 16.4 km with 30 m of ascent and 30 m of descent. At a steady 6:00/km, allow about 100 minutes plus stops.

Do I need a paid plan to download the GPX?

Yes. The GPX file is included with a ShapeMiles subscription — sign in and subscribe to download it. The file works with Garmin, Coros, Suunto, Strava and any app that reads GPX, and your subscription also covers turn-by-turn navigation in the app and route generation for your own city. The map, elevation profile and kilometre splits on this page are free to view.

How accurate is the drawing?

The track follows real, runnable streets and paths, so the shape is recognisable once uploaded to Strava. The drawing spans about 3.1 km east to west and 2.3 km north to south across Chicago.

Where does the route start?

The start point is at 41.97858, -87.69657 — roughly 14.8 km north-north-west of the centre of Chicago. The route is a loop, so you can begin anywhere along the line.

United States › Chicago › GPS art route

Butterfly GPS Art Running Route in Chicago — 16.4 km

A 16.4 km loop through Chicago that draws a butterfly when you upload it to Strava. The line follows public streets and paths, climbs 30 m in total, and covers a footprint about 3.1 km wide by 2.3 km tall.

Navigate it in the app

Distance16.4 km

Elevation gain30 m

Elevation loss30 m

Estimated time100 min

DifficultyModerate

Average gradient0.2%

Route map

Start point: 41.97858, -87.69657 — about 14.8 km north-north-west of the centre of Chicago. It is a closed loop, so any point on the line works as a start.

Elevation profile

Measured from the elevation data in the GPX file: 30 m of ascent and 30 m of descent across 16.4 km, an average gradient of 0.2%.

Kilometre by kilometre

Split	Heading	Elevation change	Range
km 1	Runs east-south-east	-1 m	184–188 m
km 2	Runs south-east	-2 m	182–184 m
km 3	Runs east	0 m	182–182 m
km 4	Runs north-east	0 m	182–182 m
km 5	Runs east-north-east	-2 m	180–184 m
km 6	Runs south	0 m	179–180 m
km 7	Runs south-south-west	+3 m	180–184 m
km 8	Runs south-south-east	0 m	183–184 m
km 9	Runs south-west	-1 m	183–184 m
km 10	Runs north-west	0 m	181–183 m
km 11	Runs south-south-west	0 m	182–182 m
km 12	Runs south-west	0 m	181–182 m
km 13	Runs west-north-west	-1 m	180–182 m
km 14	Runs north	0 m	180–181 m
km 15	Runs north-north-west	+1 m	180–181 m
km 16	Runs north-west	+4 m	181–186 m
km 16.4	Runs north-east	0 m	186–186 m

Turn-by-turn outline

The 24 direction changes below are the ones that define the drawing. Hitting them accurately matters more than pace — the shape only reads well if the corners are sharp.

0.01 km — turn right, then continue south.
0.31 km — turn right, then continue south-east.
0.54 km — turn right, then continue south-south-east.
0.69 km — turn right, then continue south-south-east.
0.92 km — turn right, then continue south-east.
1.08 km — turn left, then continue east-south-east.
1.25 km — turn right, then continue south.
1.61 km — turn left, then continue east-south-east.
1.84 km — turn right, then continue south-south-east.
2.08 km — turn left, then continue east-south-east.
2.24 km — turn left, then continue north.
2.44 km — turn sharp left, then continue south.
2.62 km — turn sharp right, then continue north.
2.82 km — turn right, then continue east-north-east.
3.07 km — turn left, then continue north-east.
3.28 km — turn left, then continue north-west.
3.48 km — turn right, then continue east.
3.69 km — turn right, then continue east-north-east.
3.83 km — turn right, then continue east-north-east.
4.18 km — turn left, then continue north-north-east.
4.34 km — turn left, then continue north-east.
4.56 km — turn right, then continue east.
5.12 km — turn right, then continue south-south-east.
5.36 km — turn right, then continue west.

Difficulty and terrain

Moderate. Flat profile, but 16.4 km of concentration on the line. Expect the distance, not the climb, to be the limiting factor.

Surface: Urban roads, park paths, and mixed city surfaces.

Safety: Check traffic flow, sidewalks, and route lighting before your run.

Best months: Year-round, based on local weather and race calendar.

How to run this shape

Download the GPX file with your subscription and load it onto your watch, or open it in the ShapeMiles app.
Start anywhere on the loop — beginning near a landmark makes the finish easier to find.
Keep GPS recording continuous. Pausing mid-run leaves straight lines that cut across the drawing.
Follow the corners precisely; short detours are what blur the shape.
Upload to Strava and the butterfly appears on your activity map.

Other GPS art routes in Chicago

All 19 GPS art routes in Chicago

Questions about this route

How long is the butterfly route in Chicago?: The butterfly covers 16.4 km with 30 m of ascent and 30 m of descent. At a steady 6:00/km, allow about 100 minutes plus stops.
Do I need a paid plan to download the GPX?: Yes. The GPX file is included with a ShapeMiles subscription — sign in and subscribe to download it. The file works with Garmin, Coros, Suunto, Strava and any app that reads GPX, and your subscription also covers turn-by-turn navigation in the app and route generation for your own city. The map, elevation profile and kilometre splits on this page are free to view.
How accurate is the drawing?: The track follows real, runnable streets and paths, so the shape is recognisable once uploaded to Strava. The drawing spans about 3.1 km east to west and 2.3 km north to south across Chicago.
Where does the route start?: The start point is at 41.97858, -87.69657 — roughly 14.8 km north-north-west of the centre of Chicago. The route is a loop, so you can begin anywhere along the line.