Gateway Arch: Riverfront Trail Walk

Views of the Mississippi River, the Gateway Arch, and graffiti art are part of our walk along the Riverfront Trail.

This is about a 2.5-mile out-and-back walk along the pavement in St. Louis below the Gateway Arch near the Mississippi River.

Our journey was more like three miles since we also went through the Gateway Arch National Park grounds.

Starting the Walk

I parked on the street close to where Chouteau Avenue and S. Leonor K. Sullivan Boulevard meet. The paved Riverfront Trail begins at this corner. Be aware of bicyclists who also use this trail.

I am walking the trail, but my son is coming along on his little blue dirt bike.

*They were working on it the day we were there.*

The Mural Mile

On the day we were here, graffiti artists were creating art on the levee wall, known as “The Mural Mile.” Over 250 graffiti artists created different styles of paintings along this wall. What is displayed, changes throughout the years. More information on the graffiti at Paint Louis.

If you head left down S. Wharf Street you will see more of it along the wall, about a mile worth. If you are not comfortable walking down the road you can also drive along it, which I’ve done in the past.

My son liked the vivid green with red colors of one and he posed with it. ( Main blog photo)

Going Under Two Bridges

Next, we were under the original double-decker 1917 constructed MacArthur Bridge.

At one time it supported both auto traffic and train traffic, but now strictly a railroad bridge. I’ve been on this bridge as a passenger on Amtrak. It is the 17th busiest railroad bridge in the U.S.

After this bridge we were below the Congressman William L. Clay Sr. Bridge or what locals call the Popular Street Bridge completed in 1967. It is not a pretty bridge, since it is a wide cement bridge for interstate traffic.

*Riverfront Trail below the Gateway Arch*

Below the Arch Grounds

Now we entered the lower area of the Gateway Arch National Park. Completed in 1965 the arch is 630 feet high. It is the tallest arch in the world and the highest monument in the U.S.

Andrew on his bike on the cobblestones with the MacArthur Bridge behind him

Next, we went down a cement ramp that goes to the cobblestones right on the banks of the Mississippi River.

Back in the 1800s St. Louis was the major port outside of the coast. Hundreds of riverboats would line up along the riverfront.

You can relive river cruising with rides on the Tom Sawyer or Becky Thatcher riverboats parked down here. The Gateway Arch manages the boats. We didn’t have time to do that today, but I wanted to take my son closer to the water.

Another ramp goes up further along the cobblestones. A helipad is also along the river for helicopter rides.

*Andrew on the ship with Lewis and Clark*

The Captain’s Return

A larger-than-life sculpture of Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and their dog, Seaman in a wooden boat was our next stop on the Riverfront Trail. My son stood close to the statues. He really liked the dog.

Eads Bridge

The next bridge we came to was the Eads Bridge.

This 1874 metal and stone bridge is my favorite. It is the oldest bridge on the Mississippi River. It was also the first large-scale use of steel for bridge construction.

MLK Bridge

The last bridge that we went by was Martin Luther King Bridge.

Once called the Veterans Bridge but renamed for King in 1968 after the national civil rights leader was assassinated that year.

Road Closed

I was hoping to walk further along the Riverfront Trail, but the levee entrance was closed.

Cobblestone streets of Laclede's Landing. — *Cobblestone streets of Laclede’s Landing.*

What We Did Instead

We headed up Morgan Street and then made a left on Second Street going through the warehouse and restaurant district of Laclede’s Landing.

Then we headed to the Gateway Arch grounds.

*Andrew posing by one of the Arch legs.*

Gateway National Park has a number of sidewalks and we followed the one along the river then used a ramp that heads back down to the riverfront and then again along the trail.

*Sculpted rock near the trailhead and the graffiti wall.*

Final Thoughts

My son enjoyed going into the Arch grounds. He also liked the graffiti and riding near the river. However, he is not a fan of the cobblestones, which are tough to walk or ride on, when down at the river.

We only walked a small section of the Riverfront Trail that goes 12.2 miles north along the river ending at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge.

*Signs along the Riverfront Trail by the Arch grounds help guide you around.*

DETAILS

Drive: The easiest direction to where I parked is to get off at Jefferson Avenue from Interstate 64 go south to Chouteau Avenue and make a left onto it. Next, take this street until it ends make a left onto S. Leonor K. Sullivan Blvd, and look for street parking along it.

Nearby parking is also located along S. Leonor K. Sullivan Boulevard down on the cobblestones along the river if it is not flooded. Also, note the Riverfront Trail can also be closed due to flooding.

Hours: Sunrise to sunset

Address: 998 S Leonor K Sullivan Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63102