Are you training for a long run or bike race? Are you frustrated with all the short-ish paved trails that St. Louis has to offer? Do you wish that just once you could jog or cycle for 16-18 miles without looping or double-backing 2 or 3 times? Do you want to feel like you're out in the country but not have to drive outside the city? Well my friends, do I have a trail for you.
Grant's Trail, my ultimate marathon-training course, is the trail for you. Starting way down south at 55 and Bayless, it curves and slides all the way up to downtown Kirkwood, providing some of the most beautiful scenery and easy running/cycling in the metro area.
I've used the trail to train for a full marathon, and 3-4 other half-marathons, and when it comes to runs of 8+ mile runs, Grant's Trail has them all beat (the only close competitor is the Riverfront Trail). This is a rails-to-trails conversion, which means a couple of things:
#1, it's flat. Because all railroads had to adhere to a maximum grade (angle), they were all built relatively flat. The only significant hills are as the trail runs past Grant's Farm itself, and the section between Watson and Big Bend roads. But neither of these is significant, just long and somewhat challenging.
#2, the land around it is relatively undeveloped. Who wants to live next to a railroad? Well, not many, and therefore as suburbia sprung up, the stretch of land along the tracks was not built up as much as other suburbs. As a result, there are still mini-forests, natural creeks, and open fields in most parts of the trail. You would never think you were in the middle of St. Louis in some parts. There are still some industrial areas and houses/apartment buildings, but they are not overbearing and are actually rather quaint.
Other positives:
- It's still relatively unknown and while it can get a tad busy, it has nowhere near the highway-like volume of Forest Park.
- It's new and wide. Built in the last 10-15 years, the pavement is still new and well-maintained. Also, the width is what you would expect from a new-style trail, with 4 people easily being able to fit across, with even a dirt jogging path in some areas.
- There's little-to-no problem crossing streets/highways. There are plenty of signals to cross the major roads (Gravois, Big Bend, Watson), and the trail either passes over or under the 2 highways (55 and 44). The few roads that don't have a signal are lightly traveled and marked well.
Even though this trail is great to use, there are a few negatives:
- Not many facilities. There's a bathroom about 1 mile into the trail, and after that you're pretty much on your own. There are a few port-o-potties scattered around, but I wouldn't rely on them. Very few water fountains as well. Bring your own water/food/whatever, and go to the bathroom before you start (or be prepared to find a bush).
- There's a high speed differential on the trail. There are some cyclists who use this trail to try to set a new land-speed record, and there are some people who barely walk on it (or sometimes stand). Unlike Forest Park, where everyone is pressured to move at a steady pace, Grant's Trail is a free-for-all, and you have to be somewhat aware of your surroundings before you start passing people.
When I talk to people training for a race, this is always the first trail I tell them about. I've logged many miles on the trail, and while Forest Park and Riverfront trail both have their charms, pound-for-pound, Grant's Trail wins out for me. read more
