We're thinking a deviation from the TransAM up to the Katy Trail is a possibility. We're looking at possible routes. We could stay on the Illinois side from Chester to Grafton through Alton. Then taking the free ferry across the big muddy and simply working our way to the Katy Trail in St. Charles.

Or, we could cross the Mississippi from East St. Louis via the McKinley Bridge or Chain of Rocks route. Either of these options we'll have a choice of riding around St. Louis to the North, or a shorter route by making our way through the city pretty much directly west.

I read somewhere that we might be able to cross the Mississippi across the I-255 bridge just south of St. Louis. Is this true?

If you decide on your first route, you can use the Great River Trail maps to go from Chester north to Grafton. A lot of it will be on bike specific trails which is great, but unfortunately you must pass thru East St. Louis which is not so great. Be careful there. If you don't want to go that far north, consider the Chain of Rocks bridge as it is really neat and is bicycle and pedestrian only. You can then make your way up north to St. Charles and the trailhead as St. Louis is a fairly friendly bicycling city. The photo below on the Chain of Rocks this past season.

edit Link to Illinois Mississippi trail

https://www.bikelib.org/wp-content/up...ideBooklet.pdf

Different strokes, but I would skip the Katy and just stay with the TA or a road alternate. I have generally found that whenever we used a bike trail on tour, especially unpaved ones, I almost always wished I had just stayed on the road. The exception being the nice trail system between Frisco CO and Breckenridge CO. We took a slightly more direct route that crossed over the Mississippi on a bridge rather than the ferry. I don't recall the route off the top of my head, but we found it pleasant.

This map shows route to get through St. Louis to St. Charles, and across the ferries (Brussels and Golden Eagle) to St. Charles.
IF, and IF is in caps for a reason, the Grafton Ferry is open, you can cross there, and take Pleasant Union to Maris Becket to Orchard Farm (V) to Blase Station to Church, to Seeburger. Should be able to use the map from there.

If you decide to go up the river road and use the ferries, PM me and I can give you some alternatives/tweaks/recommended eateries/watering holes.

https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/24211410

Dell, I do hope you have the old historic Wittmond hotel on your recommended eateries after he ferries over the Illinois River north of Grafton. That is unless you actually want to be able to pedal up any immediate hills after being so stuffed.

Thanks Dell. I am familair with the River routes to both ferries, and we're considering them as good options. I'm interested in the route through St. Louis. I've heard (here) that St. Louis is a bike friendly city? I've ridden several years on the busy east coast, and a year or so in South Korea to include Seoul and other big cities, so I'm not a city shocked kind of rider... but I'd prefer a less road rage kind of a day if that is possible riding through a big city.

Being local, I can say your best bet is stay on the east side and then cross the Miss on the Alton Ferry. The great river road is really neat and the trail is on top of a levee right on the river. Take it to Alton then grab the Ferry. From there, it is only a few miles to the Katy that will take you to St Charles and beyond. (The Katy is almost complete beyond what the maps say and you can cross a field and pop onto it after a few desolate road miles after the ferry). There is no "good" place to cross the Miss on the other side of the city. Chain of Rocks is another good choice on the North side but the riverfront trail is nothing special and can be a little seedy. If the Katy is soggy, you alway have the option of riding Hwy 94 that winds along the river and crosses the Katy numerous times.

@aggro_jo
" Being local, I can say your best bet is stay on the east side and then cross the Miss on the Alton Ferry."
surely you mean the Grafton Ferry? There is no ferry in Alton. You can take the Alton Bridge, and worm your way over to St. Charles, but that way requires some stints on 94, which I do NOT advise- narrow, no shoulder, fast traffic, limited sight lines. YMMV...

@gus:
The map shows the route through St. Louis to St. Charles- I have ridden this route several times with no problems. There may be shorter routes, that others could advise on, but this one is scenic and enjoyable. It'll dump you out at the Casino in St. Charles, basically on the Katy Trailhead.

Thanks Aggro, how's this route look< Specifically the East St Louis sections?
https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/26255496

Thanks Dell, I've taken your route straight through and built on it. How's this look? We'd cross at the Mckinley Bridge though. Is it possible to cross on the Eads or Martin Luther Brides, or are they too dicey, or illegal?

https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/26255030

I would take the Grafton Ferry or the Clark Bridge in Alton. No need to get any closer to St Louis than Alton, it would just be out of the way. The Clark Bridge in Alton has excellent bike lanes.

Yup. I meant Grafton ferry of course.
Alton bride is cool as well.

I have never had a problem in East STL, but that route takes you through some pretty rough areas (brooklyn, etc.) Where are you coming from to get to Cahokia? If we can move you East a bit, There are nice roads that will take you to grafton via Belleville,Shiloh, Ofallon, to Edwardsville. In Edwardsville there is a great trail network that will drop you off at the river.

Heres a overnight loop I did last year from Glen Carbon showing 2 good ways across the river: https://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&...48322&t=h&z=10

Here is a file that will show you good roads to get from Ofallon to Edwardsville: https://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&...15604&t=h&z=13

Just a few options...

If you take the Katy Trail, for overnight I suggest:

- Turner Katy Trail Shelter - Tebbetts. Do an internet search first to find the phone number to call. It is like a hostel with low fee. No staff onsite so you have to call ahead.
- Katy Roundhouse Campground - New Franklin. Fee structure is friendly to bikers, has showers. But no restaurant in town.
- Clinton Community Center. Near trailhead at west end of trail. Free showers and a place to set up the tent. Very helpful staff.

Things change over time, the above was valid late October and early November 2010 but is subject to change.

We did not look hard for campstove fuel or groceries so I can't say if such items were available within a mile of the trail, but I was surprised that such items were not commonly available at locations within sight of the trail. I suggest planning ahead.

If we divert from the TransAm, we'll head north from Chester.

Never heard of anyone riding across the Eads or King bridges. From my driving experience on them, I think it would not be possible...

Your route deviates from the Century Route in a couple places- both of those places are at paved bike paths. I can't speak to the rideability of your Olive departure, although I can say Olive is pretty busy. At the lake, only way I've ridden it is as shown on the Century; your alternative looks good on paper though.

edit: www.stlbiking.com would be a good source for info on alternatives to the century route- lots of city riding folks there...
and here's the official St. Louis area cycling map:
https://www.bikestlouis.org/images/images/bstl_map.pdf

Thanks Tourist. Tentatively we're planning the first night at Steamboat Junction CG, Bluffton, then Catfish Katy's in Huntsdale. Day three on the Katy would be Sedalia where there is a lot to chose from, then to Clinton and perhaps the community center as you suggest. Clinton might be a rest day as well, so a motel would also be a choice. The day we arrive in St Charles would be a motel...the RV CG has no tent accomadations.

To all those who have replied so far. Thanks! Some very good information, I appreciate it all!

Gus,
I don't know when you're planning the trip but let me know and I will be happy to give you a cell # in case you are in the STL area and need any kind of advice/ support. Your Katy plan looks solid but I might suggest taking a look at Hartsburg as a rest point. Its a great little town of 400 with a diner, 2 bars, and a winery. They also welcome campers in the "city park". Real friendly folks

Will do, thanks

Hey Gus How are you? I got old and my mind is going so I cant remember routes well, but One year I was headed west after getting off the great river trail I wandered around Mo and i some how ended up on the Katy trail rode it to the end and picked up the trans am again. i sort of liked the trail met a few nice cyclists found places to camp and get food. in all it was a good side trip. The day I got off the trail I spent cleaning my drive train of grit and grime. Its a toss up if I would do it again though
Catfish

Hey Catfish it's been a long time. I remember one of your trips included the Katy. I'll have to look it up again. Yeah, I'm thinking there will be a rest day in Clinton (if we do divert) for body/bike maintenance.

Looks like you've got a lot of local support for routing, so I can't add much. But your post brings up the best memories I have of our 2008 TransAm. Well, except for the heat... and the flooding...

My wife and I branched off in Chester, rode up River Rd on the Illinois side to St. Louis, and eventually continued on up to Hartford via the Chain of Rocks Bridge. Hartford is where the Lewis and Clark Trail starts, which took us onto the Katy Trail. We crossed the Illinois/Mississippi Rivers on the Grafton ferry, looping down to St. Charles. If I was gonna do it again, I wouldn't change a thing -- even though there are shorter routes from St. Louis to the Katy.

Edit: Well, we tried to take the Grafton ferry; it was closed due to high water. Instead, we took the Brussels ferry (free state ferry) to Calhoun County, and then the Golden Eagle (private, $3 per bike) across the Mississippi into Missouri. This is actually the route the L&C Trail takes, and worth the extra miles for the beauty of Calhoun County.

Our three days on the Katy were cycling heaven. In my mind, you couldn't choose a better way to cross Missouri and into the Kansas plains. Taking the extra miles from St. Louis to the Confluence (rather than direct to St. Charles) was a history lesson in itself, a river and ferry adventure, and prolonged the introduction we had to the heartbeat of the Midwest. If you have the extra time (only a day or two), and the legs, I'd recommend it.

The only reservations I'd have about diverting from the TransAm to the Katy Trail would be adverse weather conditions. The trail is crushed limestone, so it doesn't really turn into "mud". But a wet spring, or a lingering hurricane in late summer (as in 2008) could make it a marathon ordeal of submerged hubs and dodging fallen limbs.

Our ride was 2 1/2 years ago, but I don't expect the experience would be much different now. Here's a link to the start of our three days on the Katy Trail.

-- Mark

Thanks Mark. Yes we have the time and the legs. Your experience adds to our fuel to divert from the Ozarks and some of it's challenges.

BTW I followed your journal as you made your way across. It is part of my planning for our upcoming trip, and my last two attempts! We currently have Clyde and Trudy's home as a possible overnight stop...if they are still warmshowers hosts when we come through. I see you crossed the Eads Bridge, do you remember how that was? I will be re-reading it too! Good to talk with you!

Wow! Our options may just have gotten slimmer! I just read in the Local and State section of my paper that the Grafton ferry is closing. It says that the previous owners have sold their boats and docks to Calhoun Ferry Co. I think they own the Golden Eagle ferry route that is up river from Grafton? We'll have to watch this development to see if there will be a ferry there in the future.

Here's a link that reports on the story: https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/i...d1900a541.html