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Print Friendly MapThe Creve Coeur Park Trails are a collection of paved pathways winding through wetland and wooded areas within St. Louis County’s first and largest park, which spans more than 2,000 acres. (When the west end of the trail crosses the Missouri River, it enters St. Charles County.)
The trail’s Lakeview Loop offers a 3.7-mile trip around the sizable Creve Coeur Lake, replete with well-used picnic shelters and opportunities to access the water from several points. Throughout the summer, you can experience the lake by kayak, available for rent. On the west side of the lake, the 2.8-mile Meadows Loop circles the Gateway Sports Athletic Field Complex. Restrooms and water fountains are available in this area, and several hiking-only trails can be found on the east side of the lake, offering a diverse outdoor recreation experience.
At the southern end of the park, the trail system loops around the smaller Mallard Lake, where you’re likely to see herons, egrets, and other waterfowl.
Between the two lakes is Page Avenue (MO 364), which bisects the park. If you pick up the trail that parallels the roadway and heads west out of the park, you’ll be on the 2.8-mile Creve Coeur Connector segment of the trail system. At the outset, you’ll pedal up a short, fairly steep hill, but then the trail will level out and you’ll soon cross a bridge spanning the Missouri River. On the other side, you can connect to the Katy Trail, which follows the river and spans nearly 240 miles across the state.
Although the Creve Coeur Connector parallels the highway, the landscape to the west is beautiful with native prairie grasses, a marsh, and wildflowers in the spring. As with most of this collection of trails, birds of all types can be enjoyed as you continue along this easily traversed section.
About a quarter mile from the Katy Trail intersection, you can also connect to the Centennial Greenway. This short section of that trail leads up to the St. Charles County Heritage Museum; ultimately, the developing Centennial Greenway will stretch 20 miles.
To reach Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park, take I-270 to the Page Ave./MO 364 exit, heading west. On Page Avenue, take the second exit (Exit 17) to the Maryland Heights Expy. and turn right to go north. At the second stoplight, turn right (east) onto Creve Coeur Mill Road. After the railroad crossing, the Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park entrance will appear on the left. Several parking lots are available in the park.
To get to the parking lot just before the Katy Trail from MO 364, take Exit 14 and turn right (east) onto Arena Pkwy. After 0.4 mile, turn right onto South River Road, and then left into the parking lot.
Rode this for Celebrate Trails Day. It’s a nice smooth ride that is mostly flat. It was a little crowded on a Saturday morning, but that is to be expected. There is plenty of room to pass. I was a little confused where the trail goes by the sports fields, but figured it out. We visit the park occasionally. It’s a nice spot to have a picnic or just hang out and watch the world go by.
Great walk/jog some areas along lake are shaded by trees. Good paved easy trail.
A great paved trail for casual riding! I like how it also connects to smaller paths around the soccer fields and Mallard Lake. The East side of the lake with boat rentals, etc has been fairly crowded every time I’ve gone in the summer, but the crowds thin out on the other sections.
Paved trail with great available services. Mostly flat with terrific views of lake, river and small airport. Can be crowded in places during normal rush periods.
I did this yesterday I made the mistake of riding with my clippless pedals I now know if I'm not 100% aware of the area I'm traveling I'm not going to ride with clippless pedals but despite my displeasure with the pedals I enjoyed the trail it was a nice ride on the way back I'm do it again with flat pedals
This is my favorite Park to ride at I like it much better than world famous Forrest Park
I recently just got back to riding my bike and this is one of my favorite places to ride love the view of the lake
Lovely paved trail with a view of lake and marsh. Wonderful in the winter when it isn’t too busy.
Good trail and well taken care of, but the traffic as a biker is super heavy especially on the boat house side. Not many large hills, but the traffic on it is what makes it not as enjoyable.
Nice walk around the lake. Watch the kayakers and sail boats while you walk.
I'll remember to pack my mosquito net the next time I come here. Great trail, beautiful sunsets, but the mosquitos make it absolutely disgusting.
I take my trips in the late afternoon, say 1 to 4 pm, lot less traffic and people issues. It is hot in the summer, but there is usually a breeze and the speed of my biking that keeps things cool.
I park at the 364 bridge TrailHead on the River Road, then trek to the lake and back. Asphalt very smooth, super scenery. There are some hills, but I have a electric motor assist (for us older folk) and helps lots. My ideal ride in the area.
I walk this trail almost daily, enjoying the scenery. I can't think of anyplace else nearby that one can enjoy woods and walk along the beach in the same walk! I especially enjoy the pedestrian only path through the woods,. It is really nice to have a pedestrian only path without bikes whizzing by you and the unpaved trail is scenic with a couple of dripping springs and small rock bluffs. The trail does get very crowded in peak times, try to go early in the AM or enjoy a beautiful sunset in the PM.
The trail itself is great. The lake, the woods, the wildlife make it a great place to exercise. The problem is that all types of trail users do foolish things that endanger themselves and others. The comments about reckless bikers going too fast are true. But, in my experience, they are not that commonly encountered. What I always see is people on foot causing problems. Failure to stay right, wearing earphones, crossing the trail without looking left or right, standing in groups on the trail, unexpected changes in direction, not looking where they are going and even traveling the wrong way for the side of the trail they are on. AREAS CLOSE to parking are the most dangerous as well as the equipment rental kiosk. Always expect that child in front of you to dart out in front of you. KIDS HAVE A RIGHT TO EXIST----Adults have a duty to protect kids-----BIKERS, SLOW DOWN AROUND KIDS!
Great bike ride from Creve Coeur park to Katy Trail to St. charles river front area. There is a great place to eat and get bike parts/equipment downtown riverfront area, Nice short ride. Maybe 16 miles round trip. Super nice folks at the cafe.
Bike Stop Cafe
www.bikestopcafes.com
701 S Riverside Dr, St Charles, MO
I ride this trail at sunrise almost daily. Beautiful! Sunrise over the missouri on the Katy connector is awesome! Don't bother to ride the lake trail in the evening if you want to do a decent pace.
The one star rating is in no way indicative of the trail itself and the overall beautiful scenery. As a bike trail, it is terrible because it is way too busy for biking.
During a recent visit from Chicago my wife and I rode this trail at around 7PM on a Thursday. It was so crowded, it was not even enjoyable. And, as an avid biker, I was surprised as to the lack of trail etiquette from fellow bikers. Not once, repeat, not once, did anyone "say passing on your left" or provide any form of notice to us or the numerous walkers on the trail. And, surprisingly, the walkers seemed quite un-phased by the lack of courtesy or how close bikers would come to them when passing. I saw a couple of road bikers moving in opposite directions pass people at the same time and at the same point in the trail, barely missing each other and the walkers. Add to this madness quite a few dogs on leashes and this trail is just not worth the hassle. Do yourself a favor and ride this trail during off hours or pick another trail. Note, one highlight is that you can ride from this trail to the Katy Trail on the other side of the Missouri River.
I have been rollerblading/walking this trail occasionally for several years and while a couple of previous comments referred to it as unsafe, I have found that to be the exception and not the norm. Seldom have I run into issues with fast or reckless bikers although I haven't been there much this year so maybe there are some yahoos out there these days creating issues. Trail-wise, you have several options depending on how far you want to go, whether you want a lot of sun, shade, lakeview, etc. The pedestrian-only trail is very scenic, sometimes I wish they would pave it for those on wheels to enjoy. There are also 220 steps across the road from the parking lot nearest the waterfall that lead to an upper-park area. These steps are great if you want a short butt-kicking workout. I've seen rentals for kayaks and such but haven't tried yet - would be an option to try before buying equipment.
Road bikers ride too fast. Beware if your just a regular rider or have kids.
I rode the paved trails last week, On a Wednesday afternoon from 3:30 to 6:00 PM. I rode my Carbon Specialized. The greenway was very crowded, Kids, Hybrid riders, Roller Bladers. There were several Road Bikers riding 25-30 miles per hour, cutting through other riders, walkers & Kids. They were rude, disrespectful and could care less about safety. I am a road biker, when I want to rip at high speeds, I get out on the road. These road bikers were just "showing off" like teen age kids... it was terrible. It reminded me of recess in my grade school days.... Everyone else was ok & fine.... Rode bikers are dangerous on this trail... These types of riders need "jousted" off their bikes...
Great place to run. I ran the Mallard Lake Trail on the south side and also the trail that includes the bridge over the Missouri River which connects to the Katy Trail along the river. My main advice is to read the directions for getting to Creve Couer Park. There are only a couple of ways in and it's not easy to get there without the directions given. Great trails, give it a try.
A cyclist collided with me during a long run on the connector from Creve Coeur Lake to the Page extension. They hit me hard enough I needed 9 stitches to close the injury to my arm. I was to the right of the trail, it was broad daylight, and I was wearing a bright orange and purple tank top. Cyclists go crazy fast on this trail, they also do not look where they are going and DO NOT yield to pedestrians, either running or walking.
I enjoy starting my ride at the Creve Coeur Lakehouse Restaurant (great place to eat) parking lot in Maryland Hgts, MO., which is south of CC Park/Lake. There is a small lake there called Mallard Lake, with a bike trail running N-S. (Southward quickly connects you to a 'pedestrian only' portion of the green path, which goes along the east side of Mallard Lake through a beautiful wooded, natural area with small springs and rocky outcrops (Dripping Springs Waterfall), which I definitely recommend sometime for a peaceful, scenic walk.) Biking north from the restaurant, this green trail connects to the blue CC Park Trail, a yellow trail and the KatyTrail connector at a round-about. (The Katy Trail connector goes up and across the river via Page Ave.) Going east on the blue trail takes you all the way around CC Lake (which is in full sun when you pass by the parking, boat ramp and beach areas on the east side, but with great views of sailboats and beachgoers. There's also restrooms and sometimes a snocone stand open in this area. Once around the top of CC lake, heading back down the west side, there's a choice of trails to follow - the blue CC Lake trail takes you back along the west side of the lake through nicely wooded and shaded areas, or follow the yellow trail at this point which parallels Creve Coeur Mill road and takes you past the athletic fields in full sun. Both bring you back to the round-about junction again, which you can then ride back to the restaurant on the green trail. Extending the CC Park blue trail (~4 miles around the CC lake) in this way adds 1.5 - 2 miles to the ride. Of course, it's nice to go around CC Lake again, to add even more miles to your ride. Check the CC Park website for the trail map around the two lakes, showing the pedestrian section. I would have given this 5 stars if the park would allow bikes to travel through the beautiful wooded, springs portion of the green trail on the east side of Mallard lake....but alas they do not, and bikers should chain their bike and take the hike anyway.
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