bhugh

Hello from Missouri! I run our nonprofit statewide bicycle & pedestrian federation here, going on the 17th year. And we're celebrating our organization's 25th Anniversary on November 7th, so w00t!

If you want some interesting things to think about in Missouri, you can check out some of the interesting cross-state touring and historical routes we've been putting together recently. Some of these are still more or less in draft state, but there is nothing stopping the adventurous from giving any of them a whirl (or at least starting to think about them).

Our goal is to have a mostly gravel option and a low-traffic/low-stress paved route option for each segment--though you'll see that many have one or the other option but not both yet.

Butterfield Stage Experience - 250 miles, mostly gravel--the longest overland stage route ever attempted. Amazing landscapes, welcoming communities, unknown history--and the opportunity to extend the route 2500 miles all the way to San Francisco CA. Ribbon cutting/Grand Opening Oct 26th:
ridewithgps.com/events/83976

Bike MOPAC - exploring the Missouri Pacific railroad, first railroad west of the Mississippi. 350+ miles St Louis-Kansas City. Much gravel.
ridewithgps.com/events/95944

Birthplace of the Santa Fe Trail - Explore the cradle of the Santa Fe, Oregon, and California Trails from Boonslick to Arrow Rock to Independence, Westport, and the Parting of the Trails. 450+ miles, paved & gravel options for many legs
ridewithgps.com/events/97552

Lewis & Clark Missouri River Adventure - For the river lover out there--you're going to get up close and personal with the Missouri River and you're going remote. Better have a few days' food with you. Around 1500 miles of routes, north & south side of the river covered (your choice, or make a loop & do both), mostly gravel, mostly remote, mostly beautiful, and mostly completely unseen by everyone. Gateway Arch St Louis to Sergeant Floyd Monument Sioux City.
ridewithgps.com/events/105329

Missouri Trail of Tears Historic Bicycle Route - Take a ride through history and through some of the most beautiful, wild, and scenic places in Missouri on the Missouri Trail of Tears Bicycle Route--featuring over 700 miles of gravel and low-traffic paved routes in a loop across southern Missouri.
ridewithgps.com/events/105467

Ozark Trail Mountain Bike/Bikepacking Network - Over 1000 miles of routes and loops based around Missouri's Ozark Trail, taking in vast swaths of Mark Twain National Forest and surrounding wilderness areas, conservation areas, and state parks, including over 250 miles of Ozark Trail singletrack. Mostly remote singletrack and gravel forest roads, with a few low-traffic paved routes as needed to complete the connections or reach civilization for a re-supply.
ridewithgps.com/events/95771

Rock Island Trail Connectors - You may have heard we're working on a new cross-state trail in Missouri, the Rock Island Trail. It will be 250-ish miles when done, Kansas City-St Louis area, and connect with the Katy Trail in two places, making some cool cross-state loop trail rides possible. But . . . it's going to be maybe 20-30 years before that is all complete and rideable. We're impatient, so you can ride a series of amazing gravel routes that connect every Rock Island community--and many in the surrounding region--and you can do it today. Main trunk Washington-Windsor is about 200 miles, with another 500-1000 miles of routes to surrounding communities and destinations ready to ride. Mostly gravel.
ridewithgps.com/events/95937

Connecting the Katy & Rock Island Trails to the Great American Railtrail - ~850 miles of connecting routes, gravel & paved options, from the western end of the Katy/Rock Island system to the Omaha metro area trail system:
ridewithgps.com/events/89808