Find the top rated walking trails in Alton, whether you're looking for an easy short walking trail or a long walking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a walking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
I would have given this 4 stars if the trail was resurfaced and smooth.
If you appreciate multi-day riding, site seeing, camping or “glamping” (BnBs, Hotels…etc.) the Katy Trail is one that doesn’t disappoint. Less than 3000’ feet of elevation, with the largest gradient being about 2%, this is a flat, fast, and easy to pedal trail with crushed hard packed stone comprising over 95% of the trail surface. Road bikes with larger tires (35-40mm) tires can be used on this trail. Lots of great place to stop, eat, and see along this historic byway. If you haven’t done the Katy, add it to your list!
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 my favorite, hands down! My 11 yr old Grandson and I rode this today and continued to Glencoe. Fantastic trail and gorgeous scenery the entire ride! Loved it!
Love riding the Katy, can't wait to do it again.
Tomorrow will be May 1st ride through Arnold Park for a bike ride. I was disappointed that the reviews are so old. Hopefully we can get these updated. I will definitely give my review afterwards for this year of 2024. I’m excited to check it out. ( I only rated the ride so I could post my review) hopefully my next review will be a 5 star.
Rode the trail the first week in October! Perfect weather, beautiful tree tunneled trails most of the way. Don’t have any more to add than has already been said. Only improvement would be more guaranteed water at the depot stops. Good job Missouri and Thank you!!
This is a very nice, scenic - absolutely beautiful trail and you can either start out or end up at Eckerts!
I've been looking at riding the entirety of the KATY for a few years as a milestone ride for myself. I was able to check this off of my bucket list over the Labor Day week of 2024. Given the length of the KATY Missouri does an outstanding job keeping it in such good condition despite the Missouri River posing a flood risk. There were two very small closures along the entire trail that were well marked and required a very short on road detour to bypass. I completed the trail in five days of riding.
I utilized a shuttle service at Bike Stop Café in St. Charles to take me to the Western Terminus at Clinton. I highly recommend Bike Stop Café as you can leave your car there during your ride and the owners are great people! Riding from Clinton to Booneville is definitely the hardest part as there are long sections of rolling hills that are barely perceptible to the eye but you will feel them as you have to pedal harder. Sedalia provides a good option to stay the night with many places to eat and sleep. I also stayed in Rocheport, Hermann and St. Charles all of which provided many dining options and were beautiful places to stay.
I completed the trail on a gravel bike and only had one flat during the entire ride. Most people along the trail were very friendly and the sense of community you have in riding such a trail is really felt over the course of many days. During the few times the trail is in an urban area it is extremely well marked and almost impossible to loose. Any time there were even slight washouts or rough trail the areas were well marked.
The KATY is not the most breathtakingly scenic trail I have ever ridden but its combination of length, multiple towns along the way and its great overall condition earns its place in the Rail Trail Hall of Fame
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.
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