If you like Grant’s Trail in the Gravois Greenway, but prefer the route “less traveled,” you’ll love the River des Peres Greenway! This greenway, along with its two connectors, offers plenty of sunshine and is great for walkers, runners and bikers of all skill levels. We’ve broken down the mileage for different segments, as well as connections to surrounding parks so you can “build your own” adventure.
6 mile route: Out and back from Lansdowne to Gravois
The 3-mile section between Lansdowne and Gravois was recently rebuilt, offering a smooth ride and gentle sloping grades. You can park at the Shrewsbury/Lansdowne MetroLink Station and enjoy a slow-paced out-and-back ride for a total of 6 miles. Be sure to take note of the rain garden near the Shop-n-Save Parking lot at Weil Avenue. You’ll see plenty of pollinators enjoying the native plantings this time of year. There are restrooms and drinking fountains at Fultz field.
10 miles: Lansdowne to Alabama
The full distance of the current greenway between Lansdowne and Alabama is 5 miles. If you do an out-and-back walk or ride, you’ll log 10 miles.
11 mile route: Full tour from Carondelet Park
Start your run or ride in Carondelet Park and jump on the “Carondelet Connector” paved trail near the intersection of Holly Hills and Grand Avenue in the park. Follow it for one mile to Highway 55 and Germania. Take a right and follow the greenway all the way to the Shrewsbury/Lansdowne Metrolink Station, turn around and follow it back to the current end of the paved trail at Alabama and then return to Carondelet Park via the Carondelet Connector.
Side Trips for Your Walking/Running/Biking Pleasure:
Willmore Park
You can connect to Willmore Park by crossing the River des Peres at Gravois and heading west on Hampton Avenue via a dedicated bike lane. There, an additional 1.5 miles of paved trails meander around the lakes in Willmore Park to explore and enjoy!
Carondelet Park
A two mile network of paved trails runs throughout Carondelet Park. Take a journey through these trails on to boost your mileage!
The Carondelet Connector
The Carondelet Connector spurs off the River des Peres Trail at the intersection of Highway 55 and Germania. You can walk or ride your bike 1 mile on the paved trail and connect to all of the businesses at Loughborough Commons as well as Carondelet Park near the YMCA.
Christy Greenway
The Christy Greenway is a neighborhood greenway that spurs off the River des Peres Greenway between Gravois and Morgan Ford Rd. that will take you approximately 1 mile to Holly Hills Boulevard. Once there, you can connect with Bike St. Louis on street bike routes to Carondelet Park.
Here are some other things to do along the River des Peres Greenway:
Stop by Lyle House in Carondelet Park and see the oldest existing frame house within the City Limits of St. Louis
Check out the YMCA Rec Plex in Carondelet Park. The outdoor pool is open to the public Monday-Friday during the summer.
Enjoy the playgrounds in Carondelet Park and River des Peres Park
Enjoy the lakes in Willmore and Carondelet Parks
Board the Metrolink at the Shrewsbury/Lansdowne Station and take it to the Forest Park-DeBaliviere station where you can connect to Forest Park. You can also take it to points beyond! If you want to bring your bike on the train, click here for the guidelines.
More Greenway Coming Soon!
Within the next year, there will be even more River des Peres Greenway to explore and enjoy as it will extend from Alabama Avenue to the River City Casino, connecting to the Mississippi Greenway and Jefferson Barracks Park. Construction is currently underway and should be completed by spring 2017.
For more information on the River des Peres Greenway, click here.