The way points of this bicycle route:
Ride starts at Stacy Park where parking and public restrooms are available
Pass through 4-way stop at Dielman Rd.
Bridge on Old Bonhomme crosses over I-170
Turn right to remain on Old Bonhomme as it bends to south across from Ruth Park Golf Course
Left; East on Kingsbury Blvd. at Salem Church
No through car traffic at Meramec; curb cut allows easy passage for bicycles
Right; South on North Central for two blocks
Left; East on Forsyth Blvd.
Pass Metro Station (7411 Forsythe 63105); OR reduce route by 10 miles by riding Metro to Arch - Laclede's Landing Station.
Continue through intersection at Big Bend Blvd. You will pass through Washington U. campus. 1904 Olympics were staged on athletic field to your left.
Enter Forest Park; Follow my route marked or alternately use Forest Park bike trail. For a PDF map of the park, click MAP link at: http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/parks/forestpark/
Good view of St. Louis Art Museum from this point
Visitor's Center on left Trolley Cafe, Perk Cafe and public restroons; Also bike rentals
Note: Bike Trail crosses at this intersection.
Left; East on Clayton Avenue. OR head up the hill straight ahead to the Science Center.
Pass under Kingshighway; Enter industrial area being transformed as medical and biotech research corridor expands eastward.
Cautiously enter busy traffic on Vandeventer and get to far right lane; Pass under a RR overpass and take first right.
Right; East on Market Street; Pass old Famous Barr warehouse on your right; I-64 / 40 parallel on left
Right; South on Prospect
Left; East on Scott Ave.
NOTE: Optional Metro Stop you can get off if you boarded at Forsythe in Clayton.
Left; North on Theresa Avenue
CAUTION: Avoid getting onto entrance to I-64 Eastbound; Bear right onto Spruce at slight uphill grade.
Right: South on Compton; pass over RR tracks.
Left; East on Chouteau Avenue, (sometimes busy during weekday business hours).
DETOUR HERE: If you want to tour the Lafayette Historic District; turn right and head south on Mississippi to loop Layayette Park
Left: North on Leonore K. Sullivan Blvd.
View Eero Saarinen's 630 ft. stainless steel arch completed in 1966. Head due west from the arch to the Old Courthouse, scene of the Dred Scott trials in 1847 and 1850.
Pass under historic Eads Bridge; when completed in 1874 was the longest arch bridge in the world. METRO will get you here from Clayton Forsyth Station saving 11 miles of cycling.
Riverfront Trail begins just north of Trigen Energy powerplant. For detailed map: http://www.trailnet.org/documents/4-07_rft_map.pdf
EXIT trail to left and look for elevated trestle approach to bike lane on the McKinley Bridge if you want to cross the Mississippi to Illinois
Water and port-a-potty stop at Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing site
Trail crosses Riverview Drive, heads into wooded hills; parallels Riverview to the west.
CAUTION: Slow down as you descend hill to navigate Jersey barriers before you cross Riverview
Follow trail to Chain of Rocks Bridge, the world's longest bike and pedestrian bridge (5,353 ft long); was old Route 66 crossing; links to MCT Confluence Trail in Illinois.
Stop for a view downriver to St. Louis skyline before you cross into Illinois. Great eagle watching area in winter months.
Continue east on W. Chain of Rocks Road across Chouteau's Island.
Cross over Chain of Rocks Canal on bridge with open grate deck fitted with solid steel plate bike path.
Watch for hairpin turn on left as you descend from bridge to connect with trail on levee. 12.5 miles to Alton. For more info click "MCT Confluence Trail" link at: http://www.mcttrails.org/viewer.htm
Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center; Stop enjoy, pick up a map for the MCT Bike Trail system here. For more info: http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/lewisclark/lcic/
Visit one of the largest locks on the Mississippi, Melvin Price Lock & Dam 26 Visitor's Center: http://www.mvs.usace.army.mil/Rivers/
Cross Discovery Parkway to park with restrooms, water fountain and picnic pavillions; Continue on MCT Alton Trail.
Parking Area for beginning of Valdebene Great River Road Bikeway; 19 miles from Alton to Pere Marquette State Park.
Leave Trail for Elsah Landing restaurant
Elsah Landing: 18 Lasalle St, Elsah, IL 62028
Right turn off of trail into entrance to Pere Marquette State Park.
End Day 1 here or continue on to Brussells Ferry,
Left: turn into parking area for Brussels Ferry.
Load ferry here to cross the Illinois River.
Unload and proceed on Illinois River Road to Brussels.
Lunch Stop: Wittmond's Restaurant for some homestyle comfort food; Open 11 am to 7 pm every day: 108 Main St, Brussels, IL 62013, 618-883-2345
Left: onto Community Avenue / turns into Ridge Road.
Left; onto S. Mississippi Road
Left: onto Golden Eagle Ferry Road.
Steep downhill to ferry landing begins here.
Board Ferry here to cross the Mississippi River.
Unload here: Continue on Golden Eagle Ferry Road.
Left: east on Hwy B.
Right: South on Huster
Left: onto Bethman Road.
Right: onto Seeburger Road
Right: onto New Town Road
Left on Mueller Road.
Name changes to Little Hills Expressway (parallels 370).
Right: Crossover 370 on N. Fifth Street.
Left onto Clark Street; Continue to Foundry Arts Center.
Arrive at Foundry Arts Center; 520 North Main; contemporary visual and performing arts; Closed Tues; Open Mon, Wed-Sat 10-5; Sun 12-4; http://www.foundryartcentre.org/
KATY Trail connection at the edge of the parking lot. For maps and info: http://www.bikekatytrail.com/ http://www.mostateparks.com/katytrail/index.html
Detour off trail to visit Frontier Park on riverfront or Main Street for restaurants and shops. For more info: http://www.historicstcharles.com/visitors.aspx
Crossing under I-70.
Exit KATY Trail; Begin to climb switchback to ascend to entrance onto Page Avenue Bridge bike connector to Creve Coeur Lake,
Restrooms
Welcome to Bikely, take a step by step tour of this path:
Press Start Tour - then use the navigation buttons below to move along the path.
River/Ferry Crossing
Tagged with: Recreational, Onroad, Smooth, Offroad, Low traffic, Urban, Rural, Scenic, Touring
