Biking Illinois' Schoolhouse Trail

Madison County Transit doesn't just run bus routes.  They also have 9 inter-connected recreational trails totaling over 130 miles, utilizing former railroad rights-of-way.  Their buses are all equipped with bike racks, thus providing convenient service to bikers. 

The Schoolhouse Trail is a paved 16 mile trail between Madison and Maryville, Illinois, just northeast of St. Louis. It follows the former Illinois Traction System/Illinois Terminal Railroad that ran from Springfield to St. Louis and connects with the MCT Foster Heritage, Nature, Nickel Plate, and Watershed Trails along its way.

This map shows its close proximity to three different Interstate highways and how it hugs the shore of Horseshoe Lake for a third of its distance.

The eastern end of Schoolhouse Trail starts at MCT's Goshen Trail about a mile east of Maryville's Drost Park (seen below) which offers parking, restrooms, water, a beautiful lake, and picnic facilities. 

Drost Park's parking area is in Maryville. From I-55, exit number 15B onto Illinois 159 (Main Street) and then go east on Main Street and north on Parkview and watch for the brown sign to Drost Park.

My favorite section of the trail takes you through lovely hardwood forest with occasional nice homes showing through the trees.

You'll emerge into suburbia, pass Metro East Park and Recreation District facility and trailhead, pedal under I-255, pass Schoolhouse Branch, cross State Highway 111, and intersect with a connection to the MCT Nature Trail.

Horseshoe Lake State Park will be next and you might also see the St. Louis Arch across the lake far in the distance. Nearly 300 species of birds have been seen here during summer season, and the park drains the southern section in late summer which draws waterfowl such as heron and egrets to feast on snails and clams.

There are a couple of paved paths that take you the short distance to the state park road from the Schoolhouse Trail...

You can bike the park road around one side of the lake and cross the dam/causeway for more distance on your ride. Washrooms, water, picnic tables, and fishing are available. 

The trail then continues another four miles beyond Horseshoe Lake State Park, crosses Illinois  Route 203 on a girder bridge, and turns north to its terminus in Madison, Illinois.

Photo credit and thanks to Ellen W.