routes are these the same???

[ronn12]

On ACA site theres maps for the Great rivers rout.. okay the ?? is. is the missi river trail or route the same as the great river route??  i would like to do the missi river trail route.,  If ther not the same. can someone help with the route for missi, riverr trail from north to south??   Thanks Ron

[JHamelman]

Hi Ron,

The two routes are probably the same or similar in parts but not in whole. If you want to do the Mississippi River Trail, I suggest looking at the maps and guidebooks available at their site:

http://www.mississippirivertrail.org/

Have a great ride.

.Jennifer.

[ronn12]

Is your great rivers in the same area??    if so is it good ride for a beginner??  From north to southThanks Ron

[JHamelman]

The MRT follows the Mississippi River pretty closely, our Great Rivers Route really doesn't. We also follow the Ohio River and the Natchez Trace for a long stretch. For a more detailed description, see this page:

http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/greatrivers.cfm?pg=more

I hope that helps.

.Jennifer.

[justbarb]

Ron -

I, too, was confused about the names of the routes along the Mississippi River, especially in Illinois!  I am planning on riding from Rock Island to Savanna, Illinois, this June on the Illinois' Mississippi River Trail (MRT), which I downloaded from the League of Illinois Bicyclists' website.  I also read Bob Robinson's book, "Bicycling Guide to the Mississippi River Trail."  The MRT is included in his book.

Internet research produced a few day rides in and around the Quad Cities, which will extend my time in that area.

I thought the MRT and Quad Cities were good places to begin multi-day touring for a living-into-the-last-third-of-my-life female.  Those villages look delightful, camping is readily available, and my adult children will continue to shake their heads about their wandering mother!;-)

Tailwinds,
Barb

[justbarb]

Ron -

Further research reveals that the section from Quad Cities to Savanna is also called the Great River Trail.
And there is a website for that, too.

Barb

[Westinghouse]

Parts of the route along the river are like a roller coaster. If you are not going up you are going down. Humidity in summer can be seen in the air and has you sweating like nothing in this world except a sauna. Back in 1987 the mosquitoes came in swarms that carried men away. The route a bit west of the river road may be more to level than the river road itself.

[mcparsons]

I'm also interested in any feedback on these routes.  I'm planning an unsupported trip with my daughter and part of it will be Muscatine, IA to St. Louis and then pick up the Katy Trail there.

Some interesting comments in these reviews of the Mississippi Trail Guidebook:
http://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Guide-Mississippi-River-Trail/product-reviews/0981895204/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1.

Careful investigation of the Adventure Cycling route in Google Maps seems to show really lousy shoulders in Illinois compared to our generous ones here in Iowa.  They don't look particularly scenic either - lots of farm to market roads. 

Anyone with recent experience care to comment?