Find the top rated cross country skiing trails in Missouri, whether you're looking for an easy short cross country skiing trail or a long cross country skiing trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a cross country skiing trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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If you start where the north east end of the trail is at ballys casino you will find A wide concrete trail with signage and benches. However, 1/10 of a mile end of the trail it’s all blocked off for construction of a stadium and a motel no way around. Back to the vehicle load up the bike and go to the next place you can get on. Ride for 1/4 mile stop for six flights of stairs. Fortunately, there is an elevator for bikers. However, at the top of the elevator, you’re right across a wooden bridge and it dumps you into a commercial industrial area With no signage or sign of a trail. This trail could be awesome but as it is, it sucks. that is totally lacking in a trail and any signage. I rode around for a half an hour in the industrial area, trying to find any sign of the trail. Finally, I gave up and turned around and wrote back. This trailer could be awesome
We enjoyed our first ride on this trail. Not a lot of people and went through pretty scenery. We went on the south route from the trailhead which was a slight climb and then north by road and found trail coming back though this app doesn’t show the connection. The north route is fairly hilly.
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!
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.
Trail is almost completely overgrown now. All access to confluence was closed. Too bad.
We found no way to connect with another trail and a narrow bridge (2 lane car bridge without and bike lane or walkway) crosses the river. Nicely surfaced path rides alongside the river.
Nice trail for a short bike ride, good asphalt or concrete surfaces, wide enough to pass walkers. Trail appeared to have ways to connect easily with other trails.
Great walk/jog some areas along lake are shaded by trees. Good paved easy trail.
My wife and I rode the Ruby-Jack. It was a good trail for our cruiser e-bikes. There was quite a bit of shade and the chat was packed good in most places. We enjoyed it. The trail still hasn’t been extended to the state line. Actual cleaned out and rideable miles are about thirteen which includes a railroad carryover at Carl Junction. We would recommend this trail and kudos to the the area cyclists club for this trail!!
Great trail. I started at lost hill trailhead and went west. There were even 2 port-a-John’s there. The trail was either blacktop or cement at least 7’ wide. Mileage markets every tenth of a mile. Very enjoyable, and well groomed. Great discovery near my hotel!
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.
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