Katy Trail State Park

Pros: Scenic, flat bike riding trail
Cons: Grandma fell in the poison ivy

We have found a place where three generations of our family can spend time together, get exercise and enjoy nature, all the while inducing first numbness, then soreness to one's backside. From my 70 yr-old mother to my 7 yr-old daughter, my family bikes ...

Pros: Cool river towns, history, scenery, exercise, slopes and grades are hardly noticeable, good for kids, mature adults, families
Cons: Kids causing crashes, mosquitos, very few stopping places between trailheads, which leads to trail congestion, no toilets between towns

The KATY Trail State Park bisects Missouri on the old Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad line. It is a bike/hiking trail, and perfect for a day trip.

The trail starts (depending on where you live) in St. Charles, Missouri, just west of St. Louis....

Pros: Unique, great scenery, accessibility, safety
Cons: Limited facilities, difficult to plan point-to-point travels

Katy Trail State Park is a rails-to-trail that spans Missouri (about 225 miles) from Clinton on the west side to St. Charles on the east.

I rode the full length of this trail last summer on four-day biking/camping trip. The trail offers some...

Pros: Beautiful scenery, great exercise
Cons: bumpy or dusty at spots, always some dung in the way

My family and I have a new found tradition of going to the Katy Trail almost every Sunday after church. It is so relaxing to just ride your bike and unwind. The scenery is very beautiful. I also love beating the pants off of everyone in a secret race ...