The 20 Best Trails in St. Louis and Metro East

In November of 2000, citizens in St. Louis and St. Charles in Missouri and Madison and St. Clair counties in Illinois went to their local polls. They cast a majority vote to allocate a small sales tax for creating interconnected greenways throughout their communities.

The newly established groups overseeing these projects: Great Rivers Greenway (GRG) on the Missouri side and Metro East Park and Recreation District (MEPRD) on the Illinois side.

Over the past 25 years, these two voter-approved agencies — with help from local partnerships, grants, and private contributions — have invested millions into funding, building, connecting, and maintaining hundreds of miles of multi-use trails for the enjoyment of locals and visitors alike.

To commemorate this milestone, we’re highlighting the 10 best trails of each group. We’re also taking a peek at what we can anticipate in the future.

Great Rivers Greenway
The GRG system consists of 16 greenways totaling 140 miles of developed multi-use trails, which receive well over three million visits each year. Each of the 16 greenways has multiple sections and connectors, making the options seemingly endless.

“Part of the beauty of the network of greenways is that they are so different,” says Emma Klues, GRG’s vice president of communications and outreach. “If a person wants a bustling greenway full of people where they’ll be able to meet someone new or maybe grab lunch, there’s an option for that, just as there’s an option for a quiet nature respite walk in a more remote area.”

Without further ado, here are our favorite GRG trails.

 

Most picturesque: The nearly four-mile Sunset Greenway spans from Sunset Park to Old Town Florissant. What makes this section the prettiest: the enveloping, colorful sunsets over the Missouri River (hence the name, Sunset Greenway). Don’t be surprised to find many visitors with their cameras out, trying to capture that magical moment.

Best for advanced training: Cyclists wanting to log some serious miles should go to the Monarch Chesterfield Levee section of the Missouri Greenway, which features 11 miles of flat, smooth, and fast paved trail. You can also cross the Missouri River along the pedestrian portion of the Daniel Boone Bridge to connect to the five-mile Busch Greenway and the 240-mile Katy Trail.

Best for walking: With two trail sections of about 11.5 miles, Dardenne Greenway offers a nice mix of sun and shade as you traverse city parks and enjoy woodlands, wetlands, swamps, and temperate prairies. Highlights along this greenway include Barathaven Park, Rabbit Run Park, Cottleville’s Legacy Park, Woodlands Sports Park, and the tranquil Dardenne Creek.

Best for runners: Busch Greenway, which connects the Katy Trail to Missouri Research Park and Busch Conservation Area, features a half-marathon-length route (13.1 miles) with hardwood forests, creeks, and fresh air. The distance and scenery make it a terrific option for those training for anything from a 5K to a marathon.

Best for families: The 3.5-mile Deer Creek Greenway in Brentwood has enough amenities and attractions to keep every family member entertained. Highlights include the space-themed Deer Creek Park (or “Rocket Park”) and Destination Playground at Brentwood Park, with zip lines and a climbing area. There’s also the nearby Marshall Avenue Trailhead, which has a bike pump track with bumps, dips, and banked turns.

 

Best for commuting: Nearly seven miles of paved trails make up the still-in-the-works St. Vincent Greenway, which parallels the MetroLink red line for easy hop on/off. It offers four direct connections to MetroLink centers, allowing users to walk, run, or ride through St. Vincent County Park, the UMSL campus, and Forest Park.

Best for wildlife viewing: For birders and nature photographers, Cliff Cave Park, located along the Mississippi Greenway, is the ideal spot. This area attracts hundreds of migratory birds in the spring and fall, and during the summer months, you can see ample populations of great blue herons and egrets.

Longest trail: The longest continuous trail is the Riverfront Trail (also known as the Mississippi Greenway), which runs from Chouteau Avenue to Old Chain of Rocks Bridge and beyond and clocks in at over 16 miles. This mostly flat segment parallels the Mississippi River, offering sweeping water views and winding its way through both sides of the flood wall protecting the city.

Shortest trail: The completed sections of the Brickline Greenway in downtown St. Louis consist of two small connectors, from Boyle Avenue to Sarah Street (0.27 miles) in the Cortex district and from 20th to 22nd streets (0.16 miles) along Market Street at Energizer Park.

Most unique trail: We’re going with the Riverfront Trail for this category, too. Here’s why: On this path, you’ll experience an industrial working riverfront, abundant wildlife, the historic Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing (Missouri’s first nationally designated Underground Railroad site), bright-colored murals, multiple chances to cross the river to another state, city parks, and, of course, the mighty Mississippi.

 

Metro East Park and Recreation District
Like GRG, MEPRD was formed with a mission to help develop a public system of parks and interconnecting trails. But whereas GRG often owns and operates the assets it develops, MEPRD serves as a funding and planning partner for local communities and other public agencies.

“Our greatest strength is this partnership-based approach, which has allowed us to support dozens of public agencies in building the parks and trails their residents envision and maintain,” says Bryan Werner, MEPRD’s executive director. “This collaborative model has been the key to creating a truly regional, yet locally driven, network of public spaces.”

Within MEPRD’s jurisdiction, there are 250 miles of shared-use paths, 51 miles of hiking trails, and 337 public parks and protected natural areas. Here are our favorite stretches.

Most picturesque: The Madison County Transit (MCT) Confluence Trail runs 20.5 miles, most parallel to the Mississippi River, offering incredible, wide-open views of the waterway. Don’t be surprised if you see an American bald eagle during your ride.

Best for advanced cycling: MCT’s extensive network of interconnected loops is an excellent resource for high-level cyclists. “The variety in terrain and the sheer distance available make it ideal for serious training,” says Werner. “That said, it’s important for advanced cyclists to remember that the trails are a shared public space and there is a 15-mile-per-hour speed limit in effect. No racing is allowed.”

Best for walking: The 1.5-mile Richland Creek Trail winds through the peaceful woods of Centennial Park in Swansea. In addition to providing access to the Old Collinsville Road Trail and the East Belleville Bikeway, it also gives visitors the option to explore unpaved nature trails that connect to the main path.

 

Best for runners: Joggers can find a healthy community along the Delyte W. Morris Trail on the SIUE campus. You’ll be among many walkers and joggers from the university, and it provides the ability to connect to numerous cross-country paths surrounding the campus for a more varied run.

Best for families: The two-mile stretch of the East Belleville Bikeway winds through multiple parks, giving families plenty of opportunities to stop, play, and explore.

Best for commuting: Those looking for the best commuter route will find the 14-mile St. Clair County Transit District (SCCTD) MetroBikeLink Trail a game-changer, providing direct, car-free access to six MetroLink stations, to include Southwestern Illinois College.

Best for wildlife viewing: The 15.5-mile MCT Schoolhouse Trail offers great views of wildlife, specifically the roughly five-mile segment running from Horseshoe Lake State Park to Illinois Route 203. Its proximity to the park and Horseshoe Lake makes it a prime location for bird-watching and spotting other native wildlife along the trail.

Longest trail: Spanning 28.5 miles, the MCT Nickel Plate Trail is the longest trail in the Metro East and offers a diverse experience for all users. The trail stretches from New Douglas to Pontoon Beach, taking you through a variety of landscapes including serene woods, open farmland, beautiful parks, and historic districts.

Shortest trail: One of the shortest trails is the MCT Silver Creek Trail, clocking in at just under 1.5 miles. But it won’t be short for much longer. Plans are in place for the Silver Creek Trail to connect to the MCT Goshen Trail to the west and eventually to St. Jacob and Highland on the east.

Most unique trail: The four-mile SCCTD Orchard Loop Trail is a beautiful, smooth asphalt path that traverses the rolling hills of suburban Belleville and offers scenic views of Eckert’s Family Farm and the Orchards subdivision. Pro tip: Stop at Eckert’s for a meal in their restaurant or to pick your own fruit. There’s also a trailhead with parking at the Eckert’s lot, making it a great spot to start your ride.

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What’s Next?

The Future of GRG
Great Rivers Greenway has several ambitious projects underway, but the one currently generating the most excitement is the completion of the Brickline Greenway.

“I am so stoked for the Brickline Greenway,” says Emma Klues, GRG’s vice president of communications and outreach. “It’s a huge project, it’s transformative, and it’s thoughtful. With 10 miles of greenways and 3.5 miles of partner projects that connect, it links together Forest Park, Gateway Arch National Park, Fairground Park, and Tower Grove Park, with hundreds of destinations in between.”

Klues adds that the Brickline Greenway is more than just a trail. Its massive team of collaborators is working on adding public art, trees, and native plants along the greenway — benefits that can be shared broadly and lead to equitable economic opportunity, she says. “With the Brickline Greenway, we’re reimagining how our overbuilt streets can work for everyone.”

As of early 2025, the project was 67% funded, with the goal of completing the Brickline Greenway by 2030.

The Future of MEPRD
Bryan Werner has a dream: to see a completely connected Metro East.

“It begins with closing the many remaining gaps in our regional trail network and connecting all communities on the periphery,” says Werner, MEPRD’s executive director. “That’s what I consider the backbone of our system.”

But that backbone isn’t enough on its own, adds Werner. The ultimate goal is for local municipalities to fully embrace building out what he calls “the ribs”: the vital local paths that connect neighborhoods, parks, and business districts directly to this primary network.

There’s also a second, equally important dream, notes Werner. “I want to see a region-wide culture where creating first-class parks, vibrant recreation systems, and preserving the natural environment become second nature for every community.”

Author: Kyle Wayne Stewart is a frequent contributor to Terrain.

Top image: The Monarch Chesterfield Levee section of the Missouri Greenway. (Keeven Photography / Great Rivers Greenway)