2008 Trailnet season

Busy outdoor schedule for young hikers, bikers

Trailnet's 2008 Calendar of Rides gives young people in the St. Louis area a host of interesting activities for walking, running and biking. There's even a new caving event.

April events start the 2008 Trailnet season and runs through October.

Kathi Weilbacher is the public relations/program manager for Trailnet, which promotes active, outdoor living in the metro area. The 2008 calendar covers activities on both the Missouri and Illinois sides of the Mississippi.

photograph by Trailnet

Ms. Weilbacher said the April activities include two hikes and three bike rides. In addition, during April, two newly completed trails will have ribbon-cuttings and another trail will have a ground-breaking.

Many of the activities, especially the Pedal in Our Parks series, link bike rides with a special festival or activity. That way, kids can have a fun activity at the end of each ride.

(Trailnet has published a printed version of its 2008 calendar. These can be obtained at area bike shops or by calling Trailnet at (314) 416-9930. Or you can visit www.trailnet.org for a complete rundown of the group's events and programs.)

The first April event is the "Sightings of Spring" hike on Saturday, April 5. The 3-mile hike will be at the Bellefontaine County Park and starts at 10:30 a.m. A naturalist from the Missouri Department of Conservation will describe migratory birds, wildlife and budding plants.

The "Prairie Pedal Bicycle Ride" will be Sunday, April 13, starting at Hamel, IL. Registration is from 8:30 to 10 a.m. and routes are 26, 37 and 44 miles. The ride route is described as flat to moderate.

photograph by Trailnet

The "Pedal Through the Past" ride will be Saturday, April 26, starting at the Missouri Historical Museum in Forest Park. Registration is from 10 to 11 a.m. This 5-mile ride is through some of the lesser-known parts of Forest Park.

At the end of the "Pedal Through the Past" ride, participants are invited visit the Museum and special exhibits celebrating the National Day of Puppetry.

The 2nd hike in April is the "Wings of Spring" walk at the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary at West Alton, MO., on Saturday, April 26.

The 3rd ride is the "Spring Chicken Bicycle Ride" on Sunday, April 27, starting at Libory, IL. Registration is from 8:30 to 10 a.m. in the city park. Routes are 23, 35 and 44 miles with flat or gently rolling routes.

After the ride, participants are invited to an all-you-can-eat chicken dinner at the Chicken Restaurant or get barbecue at the American Legion.

(Visit the Trailnet website or the printed 2008 Calendar for directions and fees.)

Starting in May, Trailnet and Great Rivers Greenways District are offering a series of free Wednesday night "Hike It, Bike It or Cave It" events at Cliff Cave Park. The "hike it" and "bike it" portions are along a paved 5-mile Mississippi River Trail.

Registration is needed for the "cave it" portion of the event; call (636)391-0912, Ext. 28. This involves exploring the cave which gives the park its name. The cave has a spring so be sure to wear old clothes and shoes and expect to get wet.

The "Hike It, Bike It or Cave It" events are May 21, June 18, July 16 and Aug. 20. Hours are 5:30 to 8 p.m. so it won't be dark at the end of the event.

photograph by Trailnet

The Trailnet 2008 Calendar also includes free "Tuesday night Riverfront Trail Rides," May 6 through Aug. 19, starting at 5:30 p.m. You have a choice of routes from 7 to 27 miles. Ms. Weilbacher said these rides are excellent for kids.

However, she said the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night road rides are for more experienced adult riders. She said these rides are longer and hillier and part of the rides may be in the dark.

The April trail ribbon-cuttings involve the "University of Missouri-St. Louis Trail" and a portion of the "Monarch Chesterfield Levee Trail." The ground-breaking is for the Deer Creek Park and Center Trail.

The UMSL event is Friday, April 18, starting at 11 a.m. The Monarch Levee event is Tuesday, April 29, starting at 10:30 a.m. The Deer Creek groundbreaking is Friday, April 11, starting at 10 a.m.

These trails are among 120 trails and bikeways located throughout the St. Louis metro area. (The Trailnet website at www.trailnet.org has a map and directions to all the trails. Once on the website, click on to Trails and Bikeways.)

The Trailnet website also provides a lot of information you can use to plan your own outdoor activities. For instance, under the Rides and Events section, you can see the whole 2008 schedule of rides and events.

Also, there are links to regional rides throughout the area. These can be good routes to use in planning your own excursions. There's sure to be a route near where you live.

The St. Louis area has a big and growing number of trails and bikeways that can give you a chance to trying something different every week of the spring, summer and fall. Outdoor living is fun and good for you.