Publish a Tour
Know Chicago? Turn your favorite walk into a published self-guided tour — and earn a $120 reward for each tour we publish.
$120
per published tour
9
open rewards
$1,080
up for grabs
How to become a publisher
Apply first
Pick a tour from the board below or pitch your own idea, then apply to become a publisher. Do not submit a finished tour until you are approved.
Email us
Send a note to publish@chicagowalktours.com with the tour you want to claim (or your idea) and a sentence on why you know the area.
Publish & get paid
Once you’re approved and your tour is published, you earn the $120 reward.
The Chicago Reward Board
Each tour we publish pays $120. Grouped by area so you can knock out several in one outing — tap View more to apply.
Group 1: The North Side Classic
3 × $120Pro tip: Claim all 3 and knock them out in a single afternoon walking north!
$120Lincoln Park Zoo, Nature Boardwalk & Peggy Notebaert Nature MuseumView more
$120 on publication. See the full requirements and publisher terms below before applying.
Getting between stops
Tours are walking-first, but where stops are spread out you can connect them using (note it in the route):
$120Southport Corridor (Lakeview shops, dining & the Music Box Theatre)View more
$120 on publication. See the full requirements and publisher terms below before applying.
Getting between stops
Tours are walking-first, but where stops are spread out you can connect them using (note it in the route):
$120Wrigleyville (stadium exterior, Gallagher Way, and the Clark Street strip)View more
$120 on publication. See the full requirements and publisher terms below before applying.
Getting between stops
Tours are walking-first, but where stops are spread out you can connect them using (note it in the route):
Group 2: The Downtown Core
3 × $120Pro tip: A straight shot south from the river to the South Loop.
$120The Riverwalk (Lake Street down to Navy Pier)View more
$120 on publication. See the full requirements and publisher terms below before applying.
Getting between stops
Tours are walking-first, but where stops are spread out you can connect them using (note it in the route):
$120Millennium Park & Grant ParkView more
$120 on publication. See the full requirements and publisher terms below before applying.
Getting between stops
Tours are walking-first, but where stops are spread out you can connect them using (note it in the route):
$120The Wabash Arts Corridor (South Loop street art)View more
$120 on publication. See the full requirements and publisher terms below before applying.
Getting between stops
Tours are walking-first, but where stops are spread out you can connect them using (note it in the route):
Group 3: Neighborhood Culture
3 × $120Pro tip: Three West Side neighborhoods packed with food, murals, and history.
$120Little Italy / University Village (Taylor Street)View more
$120 on publication. See the full requirements and publisher terms below before applying.
Getting between stops
Tours are walking-first, but where stops are spread out you can connect them using (note it in the route):
$120Pilsen street art & 18th StreetView more
$120 on publication. See the full requirements and publisher terms below before applying.
Getting between stops
Tours are walking-first, but where stops are spread out you can connect them using (note it in the route):
$120Fulton Market (Randolph Street dining, murals & the historic market district)View more
$120 on publication. See the full requirements and publisher terms below before applying.
Getting between stops
Tours are walking-first, but where stops are spread out you can connect them using (note it in the route):
What makes a good tour
The basics every published tour needs:
- Five to eight stops with a logical, walkable route.
- Stops can be parks, attractions, restaurants, trails, landmarks, murals — anything worth stopping for.
- An original write-up for each stop, plus one local tip.
- Accurate stop names, addresses, and a sensible walking order.
- Any photos or videos must relate to a specific stop, or to the tour overall.
- High-resolution media — submit photos and videos in 4K where possible.
- No sponsors, affiliate links, or paid promotions — unless approved by us in writing.
Publisher terms
Get approved before you submit a tour.
Do not send a finished tour until you are approved as a publisher. If you submit a tour before approval, you forfeit all rights to that submission and we retain full rights to it.
- Rights assignment
- By becoming a publisher and creating a tour, you assign ChicagoWalkTours all rights to your submission — copy, images, video, and other media — whether or not it is approved. The $120 is paid in exchange for those rights.
- One-time payment
- $120 is the full and final payment per published tour. There are no royalties or ongoing payments.
- Attribution
- We will keep your name attached to the tour for as long as possible, but we reserve the right to remove author attribution at any time, for any reason whatsoever.
- Likeness
- If your likeness appears in the submitted media, you grant us the right to use your likeness in the tour.
- Original & cleared work
- You confirm the tour is your original work and that you own or have permission for all submitted media, that it does not infringe anyone’s copyright, trademark, or privacy, and that you have releases for any identifiable people shown.
- Accurate & safe
- Information must be accurate, and routes must stay on public, legal, and safe paths — no trespassing or private property.
- Lawful content
- No illegal, defamatory, hateful, or adult content, and no copyrighted music or footage you do not have the rights to use.
- Edits & removal
- We may edit, shorten, combine, update, or remove any tour at any time.
- No guarantee
- Applying or submitting does not guarantee publication or payment; we may decline a tour or request changes.
- Eligibility & taxes
- You must be 18 or older and able to receive payment in the U.S. You are responsible for any taxes; we may require a W-9 and issue a 1099 where required.
These terms are a summary of our publisher agreement and may be updated. We’ll share the full agreement when you’re approved.
Apply to publish
Fill this out and we’ll open a ready-to-send email for you. Remember: don’t send a finished tour until you’re approved.
I have my own tour idea
Not on the list? Pitch your own — see the note below.
This opens your email app with everything filled in — just review and hit send. Prefer to write it yourself? Email publish@chicagowalktours.com.