From the junction of the Harvard and Kenosha subdivisions, with I-90 alongside to the west and a bridge over West Cortland Avenue, and a bridge over North Ashland Avenue, with CY Tower on the west side at the south end of the Metra station at Clybourn (MP 2.9), which has two side platforms on the North Line, and an east side platform and center island on the Northwest Line, the lefthand running Kenosha subdivision turns just west of due north, past a bridge over an east-west street at the north end of Clybourn, a bridge over a southeast-northwest street, a bridge over an east-west street, a former connection to some industrial tracks on the west side of the line, across the North Branch of the Chicago River on a through truss bridge at Deering Bridge (MP 3.3), which also once crossed some industrial trackage on the east bank of that river, and past Deering and the former Deering Yard (of which little or no sign remains) on the west side of the line, where the line turns north. Between MP 2.4 and MP 3.3, the speed limit for straight trains is 35, 30 and that for diverging trains 30 mph. Full speeds of 70, 35, are possible between MP 3.3 and MP 3.5, with passenger speeds then restricted to 50 mph between MP 3.5 and 3.9, where full speeds resume.
The line continues north past a bridge over an east-west street, a bridge over a southeast-northwest street, two bridges over east-west streets, Intermediate Signals, Goss Park, and four bridges over east-west streets, and passes beneath the CTA Brown Line bridge, after which that line runs alongside to the west as the main line passes a bridge over an east-west street, a bridge over a southeast-northwest street, five bridges over east-west streets, Cuyler and Wilson Avenue, where the CTA line turns away west, in an area where the housing is all fixed-up and brightly painted throughout the neighborhood, in contrast to others, to the Metra station with two side platforms at Ravenswood (MP 6.5). The line continues north past a bridge over an east-west street at the north end of the station, Intermediate Signals, Summerdale, three bridges over east-west streets, a spur trailing in on the west side, Rosehill, two bridges over east-west streets (the second at a cemetery), five bridges over east-west streets, an S&C Electric plant on the west side, Kenmore, and four bridges over east-west streets, to the Metra station with two side platforms at Rogers Park (MP 9.4).
The line then passes a bridge over an east-west street, Intermediate Signals at MP 9.3, five bridges over east west streets, a bridge over the CTA Skokie Valley line just west of Howard, and comes alongside the CTA's Evanston line north of that point, as the CTA passes its main Howard Street yards (on the east side of the Metra line) north of its Howard station, past a bridge over an east-west street, crossovers, Calvary, two bridges over east-west streets, and RP to the Metra station at Evanston Main Street (MP 11.0), with two side platforms and a brick depot on the east side, a bridge over an east-west street at the north end of the station, four more bridges over east-west streets, Intermediate Signals at Dempster, a bridge over an east-west street with a bridge for a former single track over that same street, on the west side, and the Metra station at Evanston Davis Street (MP 12.0), with two side platforms, umbrella sheds, and a brick depot on the east side, and the CTA terminus just to the east, where the line turns north-northwest with passenger speed limit 50 mph on the curve.
There are spurs on the east side of the line north of Evanston Davis Street, a bridge over an east-west street, a bridge over a north-south street, a bridge over an east-west street, the location of a former wye with a branch on the west side at Emerson Street before the line passes Canal (MP 12.7), where the passenger speed limit is briefly 60 mph before full speeds become 70, 40, the rest of the way to Lake Bluff, a street alongside to the west, two bridges over east-west streets, the Metra station at Evanston Central Street (MP 13.3), a bridge over Central Street at the north end of the eponymous station, a bridge over Livingston Street, Intermediate Signals at MP 13.9, a grade crossing, a grade crossing at Linden Street, a grade crossing at Wilmette Avenue, a grade crossing at Central Avenue, with a street still alongside to the west, and the Metra station with two side platforms and brick depot to the east at Wilmette (MP 14.4), where the former North Shore interurban line once ran alongside to the east, with its route still present as a bike path, except where station parking lots have been built over the top of it, including its bridges over the streets that pass beneath the Metra line.
The Metra line and erstwhile North Shore routing continue north-northwest, past grade crossings at Lake Avenue, Forest Avenue, Elisal Avenue, Kenilworth Avenue, with the street still alongside to the west, the Metra station with two side platforms, a stone depot to the east and a parking lot to the west at Kenilworth (MP 15.2), Intermediate Signals at MP 15.3, a bridge over an east-west street, the Metra station at Indian Hill (MP 15.8), with two side platforms, a brick depot at a lower level in the parking lot to the west, and a bridge over a foot path between the platforms, Intermediate Signals, two road bridges overhead (one of them at Oak Street), the Metra station at Winnetka (MP 16.6), with two side platforms in a cutting, brick depot on the west side and foot bridge overhead, two road bridges overhead, Intermediate Signals, two road bridges overhead, the Metra station at Hubbard Woods (MP 17.7), with two side platforms, brick depot on the west side, and footbridge overhead, a road bridge overhead, a grade crossing at Harbor Street, a grade crossing, a bridge over a street, a grade crossing at Park Avenue, the Metra station at Glencoe (MP 19.2), with two side platforms, brick depot to the east and parking lot to the west, a grade crossing, a grade crossing at the south end of the Metra station with two side platforms and a brick depot on the east side at Braeside (MP 20.5), a bridge over a footpath, Intermediate Signals at MP 20.6, and the occasional Metra station at Ravinia Park (MP 21.0), with two side platforms next to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's Ravinia Park summer location, which is on the east side of the line at this point.
There is a Metra station at Ravinia (MP 21.5), with two side platforms, brick depot to the east and parking lot on each side of the line, a grade crossing at the north end of the station, MP 22, Intermediate Signals, a grade crossing, a bridge over a street, a Metra station at Highland Park (MP 23.0), with two side platforms, brick depot to the east, and parking lots on both sides, a bridge over a street at the north end of the station, a grade crossing, two bridges over streets, a grade crossing, a Metra station at Highwood (MP 24.5), with two side platforms and a brick depot to the east, Intermediate Signals at MP 24.7, extra track on the east side, a Metra station with two side platforms and depot to the east at Fort Sheridan (MP 25.7), a grade crossing at the north end of the station, Intermediate Signals, a bridge over a street (with the concrete bridge on the former North Shore Line just to the east having the words "North Shore Line" in ornate concrete relief), a grade crossing, Intermediate Signals, a bridge over a street, a grade crossing at the south end of the Metra station with two side platforms at Lake Forest (MP 28.3), where the line is running just west of due north, a grade crossing (Westminster) within the station, a bridge over a street, a track on the west side trailing in, Intermediate Signals, and a bridge over a street at the south end of the Metra station with two side platforms and a brick depot on the east side at Lake Bluff (MP 30.2), where a C&NW line approaches from the southwest just south of the station, and passes along the west side of the station to trail in north of the station at CP E 030.