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Print Friendly MapLocated in the scenic riverside city of Clinton, the Clinton Discovery Trail offers trail users a wonderful way to make the most of the city's prime location on the banks of the Mississippi River. Dedicated to three American astronauts who hailed from Clinton County, the trail provides 9.8 miles of paved path and links the city's popular Riverview Park in the south with Eagle Point Park in the north.
Along the way, you'll be treated to great views of the river bluffs as the trail follows the course of the river for the bulk of its length. The trail also runs right by the Clinton Area Showboat Theater, a local playhouse located in a repurposed tugboat. Around the trail's midway point the path diverges slightly from the river and runs next to a rail line, but the views of the river remain intact until the trail begins to angle west through residential areas, finishing at Eagle Point Park, which offers several historical attractions as well as magnificent views of the river.
The trail ends parallel to Washington Blvd. in Camanche.
There is no dedicated trail parking, but trail users may look to park at Riverview Park in the south or Eagle Point Park in the north.
To reach the southern trailhead from across the river, take US 30/Lincoln Hwy into Clinton, where it becomes 8th Avenue. Turn right onto 3rd Street, and then right onto 6th Avenue. Take 6th Avenue until it turns into Riverview Drive - the trail runs along the east side of Riverview Drive.
The north most section has wonderful river views, picnic tables & benches. Then the trail runs along a heavy industrial area & is pretty ugly. The trail is also appears longer than the map indicates, but we turned back based on the map’s endpoint & poor scenery. TrailLink gives little mention to Eagle Point Park at the north end which is just amazing. If you just load/unload in their parking lot you will have missed the very best of the trail.
You are able to start at the beautiful Eagle Point Park and travel through Clinton and end in Camanche. There is a huge hill at Eagle park that you might need to walk. You ride on the dike of the Mississippi river, then right through downtown Clinton. The path then takes you by Industrial area on hwy 30 but on your own path to Camanche. You travel through the town of Camanche in neighborhoods.
This is a very fun trail ride through Clinton. We only rode the north half from downtown, so i can't comment on the south stretch to Camanche. Big parking lot and nice restrooms on 4th Ave, adjacent to the trail. From this location the trail is up on the levy and travels on it for a good stretch. Trail mileage markers are 3' high blue and white lighthouses, which is a nice touch. The trail is pretty well marked other than one spot at Grant St and 25th Ave where it indicates to go right on Grant. This is a dead-end and you need to go one more block to McKinley before making the turn. There's a pretty long and steep uphill (northbound) before reaching Eagle Point Park, but it's worth the trouble. The park is awesome! Make sure to ride the one-way through all of it. Great look-outs of the river and also, more restrooms. The park does not plunge down to the river, so don't fear a steep uphill to get back out. About 11 miles round trip from downtown and all paved. We had a great time!
There is a about 2 miles of nice paved path in downtown Clinton at best. Then as it heads towards Eagle Point ridge the path turns in badly mainaines asphalt and suddnenly ends with no signs to get you Eagle Point Ridge.
Going south it is supposed to go to Comanhce but dead ends with no signs to indicate how to continue.
You'd do much better to take 30 East into Fulton, Il and ride the great river raos bike path.
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