Angelica Gutierrez is a Great Rivers Greenway Project Manager. Some of her current projects include the Gravois Greenway connection to River des Peres, Centennial Greenway in Olivette and St. Charles MO, and the Deer Creek Greenway in Webster Groves and Maplewood. She also oversees our Betterment Projects-ongoing efforts to improve the user experience across greenways:
“I love that we build places for people to be outside. Not just for now, but for future generations. We all need more time and places to disconnect – to take a break from “screens” and breathe fresh air. I see it with my own two daughters. On a beautiful day, I’ll say – ‘Let’s go to the Meramec Greenway!’ They grumble a little bit- I feel like I have to drag them outside. But as soon as we get to the greenway they are all smiles. We walk, we talk, we ride bikes and sometimes even dance – it makes all of us happier.”
Home Greenway: Tie between the Meramec Greenway and Missouri Greenway: Monarch Chesterfield Levee
Meet Hogan
Posted on Thursday July 25, 2024
Have you ever seen people riding uni-cycles on a greenway? There’s a good chance it’s Hogan H. & his son Corvin:
“I’ve lived in St. Louis for 15 years and been an active distance uni-cyclist for about 10 of those years. Many people have seen my son and I uni-cycling on the greenways. I enjoy the dedicated spaces to ride and be safe. It allows me to explore the city and enjoy an interesting method of traveling. A typical ride for me is 5 – 10 miles out and back. My longest ride to date was the MRT loop in downtown St. Louis. When I finished, my GPS logged just over 26 miles-it was quite an accomplishment for me! I’m currently on a quest to unicycle for 1 hour in all lower 48 US states with my son Corvin. To date, we have uni-cycled in 35 states.”
Home greenways: Deer Creek, Gravois (Grant’s Trail), Meramec: Greentree Park to Arnold’s Grove Park, Mississippi: Riverfront Trail, Missouri: Monarch Chesterfield Levee & River des Peres Greenway
Meet Mona
Posted on Thursday July 25, 2024
Mona Vespa is the President of GO! St. Louis. GO! is a local non-profit organization that encourages individuals and families in the #STL region to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle year round. They accomplish this through community collaborations, school-based programming and the creation of new and fun fitness events:
“Running is my sport, my hobby and my profession! Personally, I can’t imagine a better way to explore your own city than on foot, and the greenways are the perfect way to do that! Every time I run a greenway, I am reminded that our city is incredibly diverse in landscape and character, but is also comprised of neighborhoods and communities who are all working towards a similar goal: to make their part of our city a vibrant and welcoming home. And as a part of my job, what a joy it is to share that with the runners and walkers of our area. I’ve used greenways for several GO! St. Louis race routes, and our Summer Passport program’s entire focus is to introduce more runners to the incredible gem of these paths throughout our city. GO! St. Louis is thankful for GRG’s work and dedication to outdoor recreation in our region!”
Home Greenway: All of them!
Meet Amy
Posted on Thursday July 25, 2024
Amy Marxkors is the co-host of the Charlie Brennan Show on KMOX, an author, a former hockey player and a marathon runner (occasionally ultra-marathoner!) She happily logs thousands of miles running on the greenways:
I love how the greenways connect so many places. My friends and I use them to meet up for runs. We can cross the Missouri River between St. Charles County and St. Louis County just using greenways and the KATY Trail. They are such a great asset for our region. I also appreciate the change of scenery on the greenways—everything from city environments, to the woods to conservation areas. It gives me a nice sense of calm when I am out on a long run.
Home Greenway: Meramec at Rock Hollow; Missouri Greenway: Monarch Chesterfield Levee; Busch Greenway; Centennial Greenway: Heritage to Kay Trail
Greenway Getaway: Monarch Chesterfield Levee, Busch Greenway and KATY Trail
Posted on Wednesday July 17, 2024
This greenway getaway is built around the walking and biking path on the Boone Bridge over the Missouri River. It offers stunning river views and connects two counties (St. Louis, St. Charles) and two greenways (Busch and Missouri Greenway: Monarch Chesterfield Levee) via the KATY Trail.
Whether you are just getting back on your bicycle, are a marathon runner, or simply looking for a new place to walk—this “Greenway Getaway” has something for everyone. Here are a few options depending on what you want to do!
5 MILE ROUTE
View from atop the Boone Bridge (you can’t see this from a car!)
Starting at Busch Greenway Duckett Creek Trailhead in Missouri Research Park This is a perfect walk, run or easy bike ride for people of all ages. It offers plenty of shade, great river views and there are no steep hills! Park at the Busch Greenway Duckett Creek Trailhead in the Missouri Research Park and walk .75 miles on the paved greenway down the bluff to the KATY Trail. Take a left, (east) and walk one mile to the new “cloverleaf” that takes you up to the pedestrian path across the Boone Bridge. At first glance, it looks a little steep, but the incline is very gradual. There are a couple of bump outs on the bridge where you can stop and enjoy the views of the Missouri River. Keep walking or riding across the bridge to the Missouri Greenway: Monarch Chesterfield Levee. The trip across the bridge from the cloverleaf to the Missouri Greenway is .75 miles. Stop at St. Louis Premium Outlets for a quick break. Turn around and head back across the river the same way for a total trip of 5 miles. (shorten the trip by turning around on the bridge.)
13 MILE ROUTE
From Missouri Greenway: Monarch Chesterfield Levee at St. Louis Premium Outlets This trip offers gorgeous views of the River from atop the bridge and along the KATY Trail. St. Louis Premium Outlets welcomes you to park in the northwest corner of their parking lot near the levee. You can also use their restrooms during business hours. You will have to walk up a short gravel road to access the Missouri Greenway’s paved trail on the levee. The trip across the bridge to the KATY trail is .75 miles. Travel down the cloverleaf and take a right (west) on the KATY Trail for one mile to connect with the Busch Greenway. Once you are on the Busch Greenway, you’ll meander through a shady hardwood forest as you head up the bluff towards Missouri Research Park (.75 miles). As you travel through Weldon Spring Conservation Area, you will enjoy lake overlooks, abundant wildflowers, and the occasional deer or wild turkey. Be sure to stop and read the interpretive signage that explains the history of the area. Just past the Highway 94 underpass you will come to a rain garden in a “roundabout.” You can continue to Highway D where the paved trail ends.
Facing west from atop the Monarch Levee looking at St. Louis Premium outlet parking lot. There is a gravel road that connects the parking lot and greenway.
The mileage breakdown for the 13 mile trip is as follows:
.75 mile (paved) on Missouri Greenway: Monarch Chesterfield Levee across bridge from St. Louis Premium Outlets to KATY Trail 1 mile on KATY Trail (unpaved) to connect with Busch Greenway .75 mile (paved, gentle incline) to Duckett Creek Parking Lot in Missouri Research Park (drinking fountain) 4 miles (paved) from Duckett Creek Parking Lot to Highway D
19 MILE ROUTE
You can add an additional six miles (three miles out and back) to the 13 mile route for a total of 19 miles. Stay on the paved Missouri Greenway: Monarch Chesterfield Levee and continue west, past the Premium Outlet Parking lot for three miles to where it currently ends at Centaur Road.
23 MILE ROUTE
Shady .75 mile trip up the bluff from the KATY Trail towards Duckett Creek Trailhead in Busch Greenway.
Feeling ambitious? You can add another 10 miles (five miles out and back) to the 13 mile route for a total of 23 miles. Once you cross back over the Boone Bridge, take a right and go down the hill and under Highway 40 on the Missouri Greenway: Monarch Chesterfield Levee. Follow it for five miles to where it currently ends just past The District at Chesterfield (formerly Taubman Prestige Outlets). This is a flat, easy and sunny route.
OFF ROAD HALF-MARATHON ROUTE (13.1 MILES)
The Busch Greenway completes a 13.1 mile loop between the KATY and Hamburg Trails. This route is best for running or walking. You can do it on a bike, but you must have mountain bike tires as the route that follows the Hamburg trail is unpaved with a fairly rocky base. (The gravel is larger as compared to the KATY Trail.) Park at the Duckett Creek Trailhead parking lot. Run up the hill through Missouri Research Park and follow the greenway under highway 94 (4 miles). Just beyond the underpass, you will see a “roundabout” with a rain garden. Look for the sign that points to the Hamburg Trail and keep going (approx 3.75 miles) until it connects with the Katy Trail at mile marker 56.7. Go left (east) on the KATY for 4.6 miles to mile marker 52.1 and follow the paved Busch Greenway .75 miles back up the bluff to the Duckett Creek Trailhead where you began!
10 Great River Views You Can Only Enjoy From a Greenway
Posted on Monday July 15, 2024
Almost every greenway is either named for, connected to, meanders alongside or crosses over one of our region’s rivers or creeks.
Whether it’s the Mighty Mississippi or Dardenne Creek, greenways are great places to not only see stunning river views, but also enjoy the calming side effects of flowing water. There’s a good chance you’ll also spot some of the many birds and animals who make their home or migrate along the rivers. Here are 10 amazing river views you can enjoy on foot or bike via a greenway:
1. Mississippi River at Chain of Rocks Park & Old Chain of Rocks Bridge Head to Chain of Rocks Park and walk or ride out to the center of the Historic Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. Depending on the season, you might spot a family of eagles. Look downstream and you can see the Gateway Arch. Listen closely and you can hear the water rippling over the chain of rocks below. If you want to drive, park on the Illinois side of the bridge here.
2. Missouri River at the Page Avenue Extension/364 Bridge Walking & Biking Lane The Page Avenue Extension/364 Bridge has a dedicated walking and biking lane that connects to the Katy Trail at mile 42.8 just south of the Family Arena in St. Charles County. On the east side, it connects to the 3.6 mile Creve Coeur Park Connector Trail. In the middle of the bridge there is a bump-out where you can pause to enjoy a bird’s- eye view of the Missouri River. The Centennial Greenway: Katy Trail to Schaefer Park and Spencer Creek Trail connects to this bridge on the St. Charles County side. In St. Louis County, you can take the Fee Fee Greenway: Aquaport to Creve Coeur Park all the way from the Maryland Heights Community Center, through the park to link up with the Connector Trail to the bridge.
3. Mississippi River from Mississippi Greenway: River City Casino to Jefferson Barracks Park This section of the Mississippi River Greenway offers magnificent views of the river as it stretches from Jefferson Barracks County Park north along the river. Be sure to slow down to watch the barges working the river. Plan your visit here.
4. Missouri River at Sunset Park The more the leaves fall, the better the views of the Missouri River in Sunset Park via the Sunset Greenway: Old Town Florissant to Sunset Park. Plan to spend the day exploring this greenway and finish with a sunset!
5. Mississippi River at Cliff Cave Park The Mississippi Greenway: Cliff Cave Park offers stunning views of the river from an overlook nestled into the rocky bluffs towering 170 feet over the river. You can also watch the river flow by on the paved 5 mile greenway in the lower section of the park.
6. Missouri River on the Boone Bridge The walking and biking path on the I-64 Daniel Boone Bridge lets you slow down and enjoy the Missouri River from the middle of the bridge—something you can’t do in a car. You can connect to the bridge via the Busch Greenway and Katy Trail in St. Charles County. The Missouri Greenway: Monarch Chesterfield Levee will get you there too!
7. Meramec River at Lower Meramec Park The greenway and St. Louis County Park not only offers great river views, but also serves as a natural flood plain so the river can spread out during high water and flooding. As you walk or ride, you’ll enjoy a mixture of woodlands and open fields. The trees are highly diverse with some of the best remaining woodlands in the Lower Meramec Valley. Plan your visit here.
8. Meramec River at Al Foster Trail Views of the river from the Al Foster Trail along the Meramec Greenway is sure to improve your mood as you meander through a bottomland forest next to soaring limestone bluffs. It’s a must see! Plan your visit here.
9. Meramec Greenway: Greentree Park to Arnold’s Grove The Meramec River makes a big turn near Kirkwood’s Greentree Park and it’s especially lovely to watch the light sparkling on the water in the morning and late afternoon. You can start your walk or ride in Greentree Park and follow the river all the way to Arnold’s Grove in Valley Park…or vice versa. Either way it’s a great way to enjoy the Meramec River. Plan your visit here.
BONUS #11. Mississippi River at downtown St. Louis Riverfront & Katherine Ward Burg Garden This is St. Louis after all, so we couldn’t forget the southern end of the Mississippi Greenway: Chouteau Riverfront to Old Chain of Rocks Bridge (Riverfront Trail). There’s nothing better than watching the Mighty Mississippi roll by beneath the Gateway Arch! You can also head over to the Landing to Katherine Ward Burg Garden and enjoy the views from there!
Oasis Bike Ride: Missouri and Busch Greenways
Friday, May 12, 2023 • 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Friday, May 12, 20239:30 am - 11:30 am
Event Details
CHESTERFIELD VALLEY ATHLETIC COMPLEX
17925 North Outer 40 Road, Chesterfield, MO, USA
Meet at Chesterfield Valley Athletic complex
17925 North Outer 40 Road
Chesterfield, Missouri 63135
Join Oasis for a Bike Ride from the athletic center in Chesterfield across the Missouri Greenway (Monarch Levee Trail) to the Katy Trail to the Busch Greenway. We will visit the Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center, a national museum that offers a window to the past and demonstrates the U. S. Department of Energy’s commitment to the future. Approximately 18 miles.
Visit stloasis.org or call (314) 862–4859 ext 24 to learn more or to enroll.
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