Lewis and Clark to Route 66 Connection

[Dheis]

Looking for a good connection btw L&C to Rt 66 near St. Louis. Or Katy Trail to Rt 66. Going East
Thanks!

[John Nettles]

Welcome to the ACA Forums!

Most do this route by riding the Katy to the very end at Machens: https://goo.gl/maps/CsXXSBL9yjJN5Kcq7 as it is mostly on bike paths. 

If you want to go all the way to Hartford on the official ACC L&C route, then it is very much the same : https://goo.gl/maps/e9994gkhjT3YUzwa7

Hope this helps, John

[Dheis]

Thanks. I would take the Katy trail to the end but then moving to the rt 66 trail is the issue. My destination is Blooming Ill on the Rt 66 trail.

[John Nettles]

Then it is still very similar to the other routes shown. 

https://goo.gl/maps/NmqMfkyaLCu7EJrXA

Tailwinds, John

[ray b]

Thanks. I would take the Katy trail to the end but then moving to the rt 66 trail is the issue. My destination is Blooming Ill on the Rt 66 trail.

The Nettles Route is good and I've done it several times on a single speed. Some of the rocks on the unpaved section of trail in Illinois heading down to the Chain of Rocks Bridge are a little large, but nothing good touring tires can't handle. 

If you would prefer a pavement only route by jumping off Lewis and Clark/Katy at St. Charles (which is the last town on the KATY, and the location from which Lewis and Clark did a lot of their final provisioning), then let me know and I'll post a route along bike paths and Bike St. Louis roads, pulling in a few important sites (like Ted Drewes frozen custard) and run you up the Mississippi River trail to the Chain of Rocks Bridge. This has been my backyard the last several years.

If you want to avoid St. Louis altogether, then the trip through Machens (not really a town or even a parking lot) and the local windswept fields (usually blowing hard from the SW) will work well. (Careful of traffic on the route 67 bridge and its approaches and exits.)

[Dheis]

Thanks ray! looks like the best option for me would be to get to the chain of rocks bridge.

[ray b]

Thanks ray! looks like the best option for me would be to get to the chain of rocks bridge.

You definitely have to go at least to St. Charles and Frontier Park on your Lewis and Clark expedition. The Bike Stop Cafe - right across the street from the park - is a great place for coffee, food, water, and any bike repairs or parts. They can also give advice on routes in and around St. Louis.

The route I outlined actually backtracks a short way to take advantage of a dedicated bike trail that runs through Creve Coeur Park.

If you want to ride through the city, you can of course, pick up route 66 in St. Louis. The route linked below gets you to the Illinois section by way of some of route 66 to the Arch and the River Front trail. As the Arch commemorates the Lewis and Clark expedition and is on the official ACA route 66 map - not a bad transition between routes. I've done the Nettles connections as well. They work well and I like their simplicity. Time is about the same but complexity, traffic, and scenery differ greatly - options to match your mood. 

(You might take also look at the ACA route 66 map to see how they get folks efficiently through St. Louis. A simpler route than mine.)

(Have fun with the planning; you know it will change once on the road.)

https://goo.gl/maps/3aZsPPWuHSv8va158

[Dheis]

Thanks so much ray. You’ve been a great help!

[ray b]

Just noticed - you're from central Illinois - so my thoughts were probably redundant to your data base, and you likely already have your favorite places to visit in St. Louis..., and you might not want to visit those on a loaded bike.

In reading my note, I notice I left out the fact that the River Front Trail is now picked up at the old power plant just north of the casino - not the most scenic part of town and no services along that section from downtown to Illinois by way of Chain of Rocks. 

Have fun.

[Dheis]

Thanks!