Find the top rated bike trails in Nashville, whether you're looking for an easy short bike trail or a long bike trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a bike trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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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!
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 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.
I rode from Alton, IL along the Confluence Trail, across Chain of Rocks Bridge (pedestrians and bikes only), then the full length of the St. Louis Riverfront trail to Gateway Arch and a little beyond. This made a very pleasant 55 mile round-trip.
The trail surface is generally quite good, but as an urban trail I preferred to mount my road bike with the wider tires I use on stone trails (I was also passed by fast riders on narrow tires). A new trailhead is being developed at the north end in 2024, but just a mile or so down the trail there are city parks with full facilities. As I continued south the landscape became more commercial and industrial (barge facilities, railroad terminal, auto graveyard). Rather than detracting from the ride I found it interesting to see what activities still remain from the Mississippi's heyday as a working river. Throughout this section the trail runs along the levee- on top, or along either side of it. There are a few "rest stop" facilities along this stretch, and painted arrows with an arch symbol reminded me of my destination.
Towards the south end the trail came to an abrupt end between 2 brick buildings. A one-block ride next to the building and through 2 open gates in a chain-link fence brought me onto a recognizable trail again. A long-term project has closed the trail from here to the Eads Bridge, but the detour is simple (go 1 block west and take the cobblestone street). The trail resumes at Gateway Arch National Park as a wide path along the river and past the statue of Lewis and Clark (and Seaman the dog), who are looking west through the Arch toward the vast new U.S. territory they have just returned from exploring.
The trail continues about a half mile further south, then ends with a flourish.
We started in the back of the South Marcum Campground, followed the path and rode out 11.5 miles around Dam to other side of lake. We saw 24 deer and other wildlife, had the trail all to ourselves, 23 miles round trip.
Agree with others that signage is needed. Riding the short distance by the lake was enjoyable on a sunny September day.
Stayed at Gun Creek Campground. Easily hopped on bike trail at golf course water tower. Trail was fully paved, rode through beautiful wooded sections.
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