Great St. Louis Ride--over 45.7 miles of paved path ONE WAY

[TrekTheKaty]

The famous Missisippi River Trail is a little sketchy on the Missouri side--we passed over it once while wandering off the Katy in St. Charles and it leads to a very dangerous bridge. However, I believe it parallels the MCT Confluence from Alton. Watch for the green MRT signs.

We parked at Russell Commons Park in Alton. After you come across the 367 bridge from the south, go right, then make your next right on Discovery Road (you can also go left, then left on Ridge Rd, then left back to the parking lot). This path is 18 miles long, but if you want to the Old Chain of Rocks bridge you have to turn off--it is poorly marked and we missed it the first time. But, let me start from the beginning.

The path is mostly paved, with occassional "chip and seal." You head out past the Lock & Dam 26, Hartford Tower and Lewis & Clark museum. At some point, you will reach a gate that says, "walk your bikes across." These are very annoying, but there are only 4--don't let them discourage you. You are up on the levee with a great view of sunflowers and a canal from the river. This is a very quiet trail, we had it mostly to ourselves.

IMPORTANT: you will see a blue sign that says something like "IL scenic trail." Turn LEFT off the Levee here! You will have passed under the 270 bridge and there is another bridge just ahead of you (Canal bridge). The path takes you down and makes a left to get on the bridge. There are bike signs and as you turn right, you will see a sign for "Chouteau Island." There is a separate bike lane and there is very little traffic on the bridge. You then ride across Chouteau Island and the Chain of Rock bridge will appear. CHECK THEIR WEBSITE: The sign says it opens at dusk, but the website says 9:00 am. We rolled up just as they opened.

The Chain of Rocks bridge was an amazing experience. I went just to say I had been there--TrailNet privately funded changing the bridge over for foot and bike traffic. But it was more than I expected. Check the website for special events. Definitely worth the trip.

If you are continuing on the Riverfront trail, make an immediate left at the end of the bridge. You will see a sign. We stopped here at the picnic tables and turned around, but I would have easily headed across the parking lot and picked up another paved path instead. There was a lot of traffic coming up the path from the south--so this path looks busier.

[singletrackmind]

Nice descriptions and I agree those gates are boogers, but doable even with the tandem. You are also correct about being able to go from the Pere Marquette picnic area to the lodge and park welcome center. It's not much further and all on paved trail.

They've just ended for this year, but during the summer Trailnet has the Tuesday night riverfront rides. Free (unless you park in the garage for a dollar) and supported. We go up to the poor firetruck on the chain of rocks bridge and back. Paved trail.

We also ride the trail around Creve Coeur lake, over to the Katy trail, up to St. Charles or the other way to as far as we want to go, and back. The Creve Coeur side is busy. Paved until you reach Katy, then crushed limestone which can be very dusty.

Grant's trail starts in Oakland (near Kirkwood) on Holmes ave and goes to Orlando Gardens (55/Union area) and back. There are several trailheads along the path. There's a side trail that takes you up a hill to a short loop in Clydesdale park, another short side trail that takes you along a creek, a bmx area near Orlando Gardens and Grant's farm is also accessible and has a bike rack (weekends only). This trail is busy. Paved.

Trailnet.org has maps of area trails. Also check out the MCT trails in Illinois. Great paved trails, most sections not too busy.

[Photoflygirl]

I grew up in north St. Louis County and remember my Mom and Dad loading up our bikes into the truck and going to the Chain of Rocks Bridge (in Illinois) so we could ride across and back. At that time, it wasn't connected to any trails on the MO side. We would also ride along the canals. After the trail was extended to downtown St. Louis, I rode about halfway there a few times. It is a great trail.

[uforgot]

I grew up in South County and remember when we used to DRIVE across the Chain of Rocks Bridge.

It is pretty neat now. Miles and miles of cycling paths.

[TrekTheKaty]

Recently, we came head to head with a parade of antique cars driving Route 66 (they made arrangements with Trailnet to get across). I don't know who was more intrigued--us checking out the cars, or the cars checking us out. It was mutual curiousity

Guess I need to keep working on this thread!