The scenic 5.6 miles of Forest Park's perimeter bike trail connects the Central West End, Dogtown and the Loop, taking riders past Jefferson Lake, wetland and prairie rehabs, a sprawling golf course and horses grazing near the mounted police stable. Zipping around joggers on the outer trail can feel like a round of Nintendo's California Games. This is good fun, but what makes Forest Park the best urban bike ride in St. Louis are the hidden, nearly deserted paths that wind through John F. Kennedy Memorial Forest. Take the paved, winding trails through a tunnel of dense, low-hanging foliage and try to not smile, lest bugs get caught in your teeth. With a mountain bike, you can dive even deeper into the heart of the forest, through technically difficult dirt paths that dip through creeks, cross sketchy wooden bridges and bounce over logs; these interconnected paths are so numerous that it is actually possible to get lost — which can be kind of nice in the midst of the big city.
Jefferson Barracks
| Sep 30, 2015
St. Louis Riverfront Trail
| Sep 26, 2013
Tower Grove Park to the Chain of Rocks Bridge
| Sep 27, 2012
River Des Peres Greenway to Christy Greenway to Carondelet Park
| Sep 22, 2011
St. Vincent Greenway to Ted Jones Path
| Sep 29, 2010
River Des Peres Trail
| Sep 30, 2009
Christy Green Trail
| Sep 24, 2008
Russell Boulevard from Grand Boulevard east to Lafayette Square and Soulard
| Sep 26, 2007
Mississippi River Trail
| Sep 27, 2006
Gravois Avenue
| Sep 29, 2005
Soulard
| Sep 29, 2004
Soulard
| Sep 29, 2004