Explore the best rated trails in Spanish Lake, MO. 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 57 trails covering 610 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.
Agree with others that signage is needed. Riding the short distance by the lake was enjoyable on a sunny September day.
Great walk/jog some areas along lake are shaded by trees. Good paved easy trail.
Sure the Katy Trail is very long with some scenic parts but it is no GAP/C&O Canal Towpath. I rode every mile as part of my Astoria to Pittsburgh cross-country ride. Clinton to Boonville had interesting ups and downs but the surface needs a resurface all too much of the way, especially on slopes. Seems they use a different crushed limestone than they do in the east and it just doesn't compact as well. If you ride Boonville to Jefferson City, you've seen the best part. Jeff City to the eastern end is just more of the same for another 150 miles. Access to services was a problem, especially in the east although a do strongly recommend staying at Joey's Birdhouse in McKittrick. If you play the internet right, you can get a cheap room at the plush casino hotel in Boonville.
My Grandson and I had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon on this trail. First we went towards the river, only to find a washed out dead end. So we went to the other end of parking lot and rode along the levee, into the shaded forest to the washed out dead end from the “other” side. Turned around and enjoyed every bit of the trail back to parking lot.
Here is a summary of the southern part of this trail from my wife to a friend: “Well I would NOT recommend the bike trail …… took me on next to the river. It smelled like human excrement, couldn’t see the river because of flood walls, felt extremely unsafe, got a flat tire, it was hot as hell, and may lead to a divorce.” Needless to say, I would not recommend it. The city or park district (or someone) should either close it or improve the conditions/safety and remove the glass and metal shards from the path.
In my opinion this is really one of the benchmarks that other trails in the Midwest and nation should look towards when designing their own trails. Not everything on the KATY trail is perfect but when you combine the length of the trail with the services and available activities it is really hard to beat a few days riding the KATY trail. Not many trails in the nation are able to provide an experience like the KATY.
Monitor trail closures / conditions ahead of time and be sure to plan for gaps in water. You get spoiled thinking all trailheads will have water but some do not.
I love riding this trail with my husband! It is super smooth and paved the entire way—also very quiet. Very few people are riding or walking and there is always lovely wildlife to see. We ride it to and around Creve Coeur Park and back to the water park—if I lived closer to it I would ride it every day.
I did the entire 7.x mile, out and back, and a little more for 20mi total. Trail is recently resurfaced with sealant, making it pretty decent for inline skates. It would be very smooth for biking. Not very scenic, but that's not what i was looking for.
A couple friends and I tackled this trail on an 80 degree day in May! The weather was perfect! Trail wasn’t overly crowded and it was such a great ride! Clean, smooth pavement made for an enjoyable ride.
Did the entire length in October 2013 and are planning to go again soon.
Sign says opened from 9:00am til Dusk. It was 5:30 pm with 3 hours til dusk. But the gate was locked and no notice of why. Frustrating since I was passing through and this was my only chance to go across this historic bridge
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