Explore the best rated trails in Carlyle, IL, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Arches Rail Trail and Benld-Gillespie Bike Trail . With more than 37 trails covering 286 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
We started at whispering pine loop and turned around at north Sandusky campground, this trail ended here. Such a great trail a few crazy spots behind the lake, but a fun trail to ride all concrete trail. We got rained but that even made it a lot more fun. We laughed so much.
We visited the Gateway Arch and brought out our bikes hoping to ride this trail, especially after reading the reviews. We came down to the water’s edge from the Arch’s park area and first tried to ride north. We were having a great time seeing the historic Mississippi River and nearby bridges. But then suddenly it all just stopped as there is a construction wall that can’t be bypassed after about a mile or so. Okay, we head back past the Arch park heading south. Well, that ends heading into unknown streets in St. Louis. Total open trail near the Arch is less than 3 miles. Should have and highly recommend to check the trail open sections before riding. Otherwise it’s a beautiful trail. We just wish we could have ridden more of it.
This is a very nice, scenic - absolutely beautiful trail and you can either start out or end up at Eckerts!
Reading past reviews, I was apprehensive about this trail, but it seems to have been cleaned up nicely. I rode about 8 miles south from the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge and back in the evening. There’s a climb in the woods near the north end, the rest is level. No trash, no glass, no people at all except at the parks.
I personally loved this bike trail. It is close to home and takes me straight to Belleville. It actually starts in Dupo. It definitely needs resurfaced and it would be a lot better
New trail signs are up. It is renamed the Illini Trail. It a short ride from the trail head down Illini Drive to the Goshen Trail.
We rode this trail for the first time in June 2024. It is level, well marked and passes along many suburban municipalities in the St. Louis area, the athletic complex in Affton, Grant’s Farm and Historical Site, Thomas Sappington House and The Barn (great place to stop for brunch). It can be crowded, especially around Grant’s Farm.
We were camping at South Marcum so that is where I started. The concrete path was in great shape, just like riding on a sidewalk. A short distance of hard packed gravel was a little rough, but easy to ride. I had to quit at the visitor center because of the rain, but I will definitely be back to finish the trail.
Well maintained, nearly all paved trail. We started at trailhead at Metro east parks and rec center. You can find benches bathroom tools and even air for tires. Thanks!! Only warning is that trail has great signage until we were at Chained Rock and Sand Lane… guessed that we had to travel on crushed rock road over expressway to find rest of trail. Correct turn.
I rode this trail in late 2023 from Russell Commons in Alton to Chain of Rocks bridge. The surface is old but well-maintained. A lot of filled cracks along the asphalt portion, views of the industrial use of the river (barge facilities, chemical plant), and several places where the trail comes down from the levee top and crosses a road, then climbs back up. I didn't find these hills to be particularly steep (and they're always short). The chip-and-seal surface of the next part of the trail could use fewer chips and more seal, although it was perfectly flat and smooth.
I left the trail at Chain of Rocks bridge, and did not ride the remaining 5 miles. The detailed MCT map shows after a few more miles it changes briefly to stone, then is paved & alongside city streets to its end.
Construction at the Missouri end of the bridge has led to some closures. There is a new park and trailhead facility being built in 2024; I haven't seen what the plans are to keep the bridge and connecting trail open during that phase. Parking on the Illinois side is plentiful.
This was a very nice addition to a ride along the levee in Illinois when I first rode across it around 2012. A decade later the displays are showing their age though the information on them is still readable and worthwhile, as is a ride along the original Route 66 surface that's almost 90 years old!
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