Run on the site of a 13th-century Native American urban center! Cahokia was at one time the largest prehistoric Indian community north of Mexico, covering an area of six square miles and including at least 120 mounds. The mounds contained settlements, and were built in part because of the floodplain. Today, a few of the mounds are preserved at the site of Cahokia Mounds State Historic Park. It’s located in East St. Louis, a ~15 minute drive from downtown. The site features a large parking area, visitors center (being renovated as of 2025), several mounds, and ~2 miles of trails on fields around the mounds. For such an important historical site, the whole experience is rather understated. PRO TIPS: Gorgeous sunsets from the top of the mound. Also, there’s a 5k trail race first weekend in November.
We recommend parking at the Monks Mound parking lot or across Collinsville Rd. at the Visitor Center. At Monks Mound, there are paths around the base of the mound. There are 150 stairs that climb to the top of the mound. Monks Mound is the largest prehistoric earthwork in the Americas, covering 14 acres and rising 100 feet. On the other side of the Mounds parking lot, there’s a large field with a mowed grass path. There are additional paths on the Visitor Center side of the site, around Mound 72. Overall, you can run a few miles within this site, including some laps up & down the stairs/mounds.
Monks Mound. Mark Lowenstein
Run on the site of a 13th-century Native American urban center! Cahokia was at one time the largest prehistoric Indian community north of Mexico, covering an area of six square miles and including at least 120 mounds. The mounds contained settlements, and were built in part because of the floodplain. Today, a few of the mounds are preserved at the site of Cahokia Mounds State Historic Park. It’s located in East St. Louis, a ~15 minute drive from downtown. The site features a large parking area, visitors center (being renovated as of 2025), several mounds, and ~2 miles of trails on fields around the mounds. For such an important historical site, the whole experience is rather understated. PRO TIPS: Gorgeous sunsets from the top of the mound. Also, there’s a 5k trail race first weekend in November.
We recommend parking at the Monks Mound parking lot or across Collinsville Rd. at the Visitor Center. At Monks Mound, there are paths around the base of the mound. There are 150 stairs that climb to the top of the mound. Monks Mound is the largest prehistoric earthwork in the Americas, covering 14 acres and rising 100 feet. On the other side of the Mounds parking lot, there’s a large field with a mowed grass path. There are additional paths on the Visitor Center side of the site, around Mound 72. Overall, you can run a few miles within this site, including some laps up & down the stairs/mounds.
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Essentials
2-3 miles of trails in the area, plus additional grass fields.
Flat except the mounds! It's 150 steps to the top of Monks Mound
The signature St. Louis run. Memorial Plaza, Gateway Arch National Park, the new Brickline Trail and other downtown landmarks in this ~5 mile run. Can add Eads Bridge or the Riverfront Trail for more.
One of the best places to run in St. Louis. Paved multi-use path stretches for 12 miles from downtown to the Chain of Rocks Bridge. Great variety for runners: Mural Mile, Gateway Arch, levees, river views, historic industrial sections, and a unique bridge.
This 1,400-acre park is one of the largest urban parks in the country, and a delight for running. Many miles of trails passing several museums, small lakes, sports facilities & recreation fields, open green spaces, landscaped sections, & forested areas.
A classic route through the bucolic Olmsted-designed 'Wash U' campus and the attractive Clayton neighborhood. Includes the historic Shaw Park. We've created a 7 mile loop, but a DIY run in this area is also a great option.
In the western part of St. Louis near Forest Pakr & Wash U., the Clayton, University City, and Parkview neighborhoods are wonderful for running, featuring grand, historic homes along quiet, tree-lined streets.
A 4-mile loop in around this small park close to downtown, running by the Missouri Botanical Gardens. There are many trails crossing the 300 acres of the park, with its 11 Victorian era pavilions. 39th st. nearby bounds a cool neighborhood for running.
This is a link to the publicly available Half-Marathon route run by the St.Louis Track Club. Features Forest Park, Washington University at St. Louis, and Forsythe Blvd. out to Clayton. Nice suburban running.
Multi-use path that runs for 10 miles from River des Peres to Kirkwood is one of the more scenic and popular of the extensive Great Rivers Greenway system. Seven communities, numerous parks, libraries, historic sites, and athletic facilities.
A lovely run combining the paths of Jefferson Barracks Park, a former military outpost, with a 1.5 mile section of the Mississippi Greenway along the water to the Casino. For a longer run, connect to the River des Peres Greenway.
This is a lovely run with excellent variety in St. Charles, a northwestern suburb of St. Louis situated on the Missouri River. Run a section of the Katy Trail, the St. Charles Historic District, several parks, and two running tracks!
Two wonderful parks outside St. Louis: Queeny Park & Castlewood Park. Also, the Katy Trail, located near the airport, is a 250 mile trail across the eastern part of Missouri, and is a few miles from the airport.
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Essentials
2-3 miles of trails in the area, plus additional grass fields.
Flat except the mounds! It's 150 steps to the top of Monks Mound
Review or Comment on This Route/Share a Photo!
Share your feedback on this route and see that of other Great Runs users. Click on the image icon to upload a photo. And please let us know if there are notes or changes we should incorporate!