"The Great River Road trail is one of the most beautiful trails in the midwest! As you ride your bike, on one side are spectacular limestone bluffs rising high above you, and to the other side is the Mississippi River, where sailboats, yachts and barges are constantly in view. The trail runs alongside the Meeting of the Rivers National Scenic Byway.

The trail is physically separated from the roadway for most of its length, but for part of the trail, it is alongside the shoulder. The trail is asphalt paved. It connects with the Chain of Rocks Bridge and the St. Louis bike trail. Because of this, you can ride from the St Louis Gateway Arch north through the city, then across the Mississippi River into Illinois on what I believe is the longest exclusively pedestrian/bicycle bridge in the world, then continue north along the river to where the Missouri River meets the Mississippi. At that point, you can visit the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Museum, which commemmorates the place where Lewis & Clark began their expedition in 1804. The 200th anniversary celebration event will be in May 2004. Continue north to Lock and Dam 26 at Alton, where you can take tours of the dam and also visit the new National Great Rivers Museum, continue through riverfront park in Alton, past the Alton Belle casino. In historic downtown Alton there are plenty of things to do. Then continue up the River Road Bike trail past several parks and historic villages along the way. The trail ends at Pere Marquette State Park, which is the largest state park in Illinois!

Enjoy!"