The best road cycling routes around Maryland Heights

There are over 60 road cycling routes around Maryland Heights, offering a wide range of options for different skill levels and preferences. You'll find everything from easy loops to more challenging moderate routes.

Road cycling in Maryland Heights primarily features mostly flat sections, especially around Creve Coeur Lake, which was historically a floodplain. These areas often have wide shoulders, making for comfortable and fast rides. You can also find some rolling hills along greenways like the Fee Fee Greenway, adding variety to your cycling experience.

Yes, Maryland Heights offers many easy road cycling routes perfect for beginners or families. With 26 routes classified as easy, you can enjoy gentle rides around scenic areas. A great example is the Mallard Lake – Creve Coeur Lake loop from Mallard Lake, which is just 11.3 km long and has minimal elevation gain.

Many routes offer picturesque views and pass by notable landmarks. You can enjoy views of the Missouri River, especially on routes like the Mallard Lake – View of the Missouri River loop from Craig at Craigshire. Other highlights include Mallard Lake, the Veterans Memorial Bridge, and the beautiful Sunset View of Creve Coeur Lake.

Yes, many of the road cycling routes in Maryland Heights are designed as loops, allowing you to start and end at the same point. For instance, the Katy Trail and Weldon Spring Loop and the View of the Missouri River – Veterans Memorial Bridge loop from Creve Coeur Lake are popular circular options.

Creve Coeur Park serves as a central hub for many cycling routes, and it offers ample parking facilities. You can typically find convenient parking within the park, providing easy access to the trails around Creve Coeur Lake and connections to greenways.

The road cycling routes in Maryland Heights are highly rated by the komoot community, with an average score of 4.2 stars from over 20 reviews. Cyclists often praise the well-maintained paths, the scenic views around Creve Coeur Lake, and the accessibility to the renowned Katy Trail. The variety of routes, from flat, fast sections to those with gentle rolling hills, is also frequently highlighted.

Yes, a significant advantage of cycling in Maryland Heights is the instant access to the renowned Katy Trail from Creve Coeur Park. This allows you to extend your ride and explore even more diverse landscapes along one of Missouri's most famous rail trails.

While cycling is enjoyable year-round, spring and fall generally offer the most pleasant conditions with mild temperatures and beautiful scenery. Summer can be warm, but routes with shaded segments, like the Shaded segment highlight, can provide relief. Always check local weather forecasts before heading out.

The area around Creve Coeur Park and Maryland Heights offers various amenities. While specific cafes directly on every trail might be limited, you'll find options within easy reach in the surrounding areas of Maryland Heights, especially near the main park entrances and commercial zones.

While many routes are easy to moderate, some offer a bit more challenge, particularly those that extend further or include more rolling hills. There are 3 routes classified as difficult, and 35 moderate routes, providing options for cyclists looking for a longer distance or more elevation gain. The Katy Trail and Weldon Spring Loop, for example, is a moderate 49.9 km ride that offers varied landscapes.

Maryland Heights, particularly around Creve Coeur Park and Lake, is a hub for diverse outdoor activities. Beyond road cycling, visitors can enjoy paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, hiking, and disc golf. There are also rock climbing gyms and a seasonal water park for more adventurous pursuits.