I've never looked at any website other than bikekatytrail.com - it's always had everything I need.

You don't say where in St. Louis city you're starting from but I live near the Galleria. Here's my favorite route: I'll start from Clayton assuming you can get there.

Two options to start out with from Clayton. Forsythe curves around to the north and crosses Maryland. Stay on Forsyth heading north and it eventually changes name to Old Bonhomme. When Old Bonhomme "ends" at a T intersection, turn left - it will still be Old Bonhomme. The other route out of Clayton is to get to the south side of Shaw Park and go through the parking lot towards the west side and get on the bike path northward along 170. Take the bike path north, cross Ladue Rd., and take the ramp up to Old Bonhomme and turn left (approx. 1.5 miles on the bike path from Shaw Park to the ramp). The two routes have now combined.

Take Old Bonhomme west just under 2 miles to Olive Blvd. Turn left for one long block (.25 mi.) to Warson Road (traffic signal). Right on Warson .85 miles to Baur Industrial Blvd. Left on Baur .6 miles to Lindbergh. Cross Lindbergh onto Schuetz Rd. (short but steep uphill). Take Schuetz west 2.1 miles to Page.

Cross Page, go .2 miles to Westline Industrial Drive. Turn left, go .7 miles to Westport Plaza Dr.

Turn Right on Westport Plaza Drive. It will change names to Marine Rd. at some point. Just keep going straight on Westport/Marine nearly 2.5 miles. The last approx. 1/2 mile of this distance will be down a steep, narrow, twisting downhill. BE PREPARED! Immediately at the bottom of the hill slow down and make a left turn into the parking lot. Watch out for cars behind you - make sure they know you're slowing down and turning left!!!

You are now in Creve Coeur Park. Continue to the left through the parking lot and find the bike path. It kind of gets lost in/along the parking lot, but if you continue to the end of it, you'll see the path on your right or ahead of you.Continue on the bike path and just at/under/past the big overhead highway bridge follow the bike path around to the right. .35 miles later turn left at the T intersection (still "under" the highway bridge), and another .2 mile later, at the roundabout, turn right and go up the ramp. From here it's about 2 3/4 mile to the bridge over the Missouri River (at the 1.75 mile mark stay to the right through the tunnel).

Once across the river bridge, continue following the bike path around to the right, past the parking lot and down the hill to the Katy Trail. St. Charles is about 4 miles to your left. Sedalia is about (I think) 190 miles to your right.

This route is I think the best from central county/Clayton area to the Katy Trail. There are hills - some quite noticeable - a few sections of road that will always have traffic, and a number of places that will have much traffic on weekdays (and may be downright unpleasant at rush hour). On weekends most of this route is pretty good for riding. Total distance from downtown Clayton to the Katy Trail via this route is about 16.25 miles.