It’s official: St. Louis mountain bikers now have a mountain bike trail within city limits to ride.

“Federer’s Folly,” a one-mile trail in Carondelet Park in south St. Louis, opened on August 12 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The first-ever mountain bike trail in St. Louis City, it was built entirely by volunteers and paid for with private funds. The new trailhead is located at the intersection of Livingston Drive and Holly Hills Boulevard.

Designed for riders of all skill levels, this highly anticipated one-mile natural surface trail marks a significant milestone in expanding outdoor recreational opportunities for St. Louis residents and visitors.

“We are incredibly excited to unveil the Federer’s Folly Trail, a project that has been years in the making and a true collaborative effort,” said Ryan Hanlon, Friends of Carondelet Park Board Member and trail builder.

“This trail represents our commitment to providing diverse recreational opportunities and promoting healthy, active lifestyles for all St. Louisans. We believe this new mountain bike trail will not only attract cycling enthusiasts but also encourage more people to discover the joy of our city’s green spaces.”

(Route 3 Films)

The grand-opening ceremony was attended by Hanlon, St. Louis City Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer, representatives from the NICA South City Otters (a youth mountain bike team), South Side Cyclery, DJM Ecological Services, and Gateway Off-Road Cyclists (GORC).

An inaugural ride followed the ribbon cutting.

Designed and built by volunteers under the direction of GORC, Federer’s Folly is both a mountain biking and hiking trail.

The trail build was also an opportunity to remove truck loads of invasive species from the build site due to a generous donation of equipment and expertise from Doug Bauer of DJM Ecological Services.

Care was taken to ensure that the trail moved with the existing topography of the park, making it the perfect trail for riders and hikers of all skill levels.

The trail was inspired by Ryan Hanlon to create a home base for the South City Otters, a composite mountain bike team for 6th to 12th graders.

(Route 3 Films)

Carondelet Park is also home to the Big Shark criterium races on Tuesday nights. The hope of this trail build is to bring more cycling opportunities to the park to establish it as a bike-friendly place to visit.

The mission of Friends of Carondelet Park is to ensure the park’s stability as an icon for surrounding neighborhoods and to accelerate improvements that provide a wholesome environment where visitors will enjoy recreational activities and be inspired by the historical legacy and unique natural habitat of one of St. Louis’ oldest and most beautiful parks.

Carondelet Park, established in 1875, is one of the oldest parks in St. Louis and has long been a vital part of the Carondelet neighborhood’s identity.

Spanning over 180 acres, it was designed as a public green space to provide a natural escape for residents of the rapidly growing St. Louis area.

The park’s layout reflects the picturesque park style popular in the late 19th century, with rolling hills, winding pathways, and two scenic lakes.

Early on, Carondelet Park became a beloved destination for families, offering areas for picnicking, fishing, and quiet relaxation. Now, St. Louisans and visitors can relax atop a mountain bike.

Top image: Courtesy of Route 3 Films.