Reply to Riding LS Amtrak to PH RIT Trailhesd

Google maps shows 3-4 routes between LS Amtrak and PH RIT trailhead. I have driven 4 of these, two yesterday. The best appears to be Smart road south of US 50. I drove an alternate route through Greenwood and south of the town there were road closures, hills, and no pulloffs along the roads. Smart Road is a straight shot south. Paved and smooth for much of the route. Mostly level to slightly downhill for most of the route. No shoulder but a wide smooth grassy verge on either side if you need to pull over for traffic. The last 1/4th has bad pavement, small hills, and gravel, but ridable. This route joins the RIT Spur, a bike path running north of PH. Not paved and not a rail trail, so in wet weather it can be muddy, but when dry it cuts 2 1/2 miles off the road route. Many options getting to Smart Road from Amtrak. There is a lightly trafficed crossover just before which is the best crossing option. A Quick Trip is near that crossover if you need last minute items or a toilet stop. Note: Google maps shows access from the frontage road north of US 50 to the south side on Smart Rd. This crossing has been closed and blocked. Use the previously mentioned crossover. It is on the preferred route. There are alternate routes to join Smart Rd further south, but these routes have more traffic, more hills, and less shoulder in spots. This route passes Pleasant Hill Lake which is the camping spot listed for Pleasant Hill.

Update to above: Google maps takes you across a rather busy road out of downtown LS. Follow 5th to Vista to 7th to Shenandoah. This will take you to the Blackwell Rd crossover to the south side of US 50. This route passes Quik Trip and McDonalds.

Anonymous, thanks for taking the time to drive these routes to see which is best. It's got to be frustrating to live in the KC area and be so close to being able to jump onto a cross-state trail. I am lucky enough to have several sets of relatives in the KC area who have hosted me and then dropped me off at the PH trailhead. I told them they should offer that service to others!

Thanks for the tip. We are getting off the train at LS from STL and riding to the campground at City Lake. I've been looking for the best route.

I think I had mapped taking Ranson south and cutting through JAR to Smart. Is there more traffic on Ranson?