RCO Grant Anchors First Mountain Bike Trail in St. Louis City

Ryan Hanlon of Friends of Carondelet Park at the new Federer's Folly trailhead. (Route 3 Films)

It’s official: St. Louis mountain bikers now have a trail within city limits to ride.

“Federer’s Folly,” a one-mile trail in Carondelet Park in south St. Louis, opened on August 12 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The first-ever mountain bike trail in St. Louis City, Federer’s Folly was built entirely by volunteers with support from private donations. The new trailhead is located at the intersection of Livingston Drive and Holly Hills Boulevard and was funded by a River City Outdoors (RCO) “Outdoors for All Micro-Grant.”

“The [Outdoors for All] grant has definitely been huge for us,” said Ryan Hanlon, Friends of Carondelet Park Board Member and trail builder, “not only financially but also as a way to promote and legitimize the efforts of Friends of Carondelet Park. We’re so grateful and excited that mountain biking is happening right here in the City of St. Louis on Federer’s Folly — a trail that our community helped build.”

Designed for riders of all skill levels, the highly anticipated natural-surface trail marks a significant milestone in expanding outdoor recreational opportunities for St. Louis residents and visitors.

“We want people to recognize you can do cool outdoorsy things in St. Louis,” said Matt Green, executive director of RCO. “You don’t have to go out west to do it.”

Green says that both new and experienced riders will find much to appreciate at Federer’s Folly. More seasoned riders can make the trail as fun as they want, he says, and ride as fast they want, even as, crucially, “You don’t have to drive 30, 40 minutes” to get there.

“We believe this new mountain bike trail will not only attract cycling enthusiasts but also encourage more people to discover the joy of our city’s green spaces,” added Hanlon.

A South City Otters rider on Federer's Folly. (Route 3 Films)

The grand-opening ceremony was attended by Hanlon, St. Louis City Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer, representatives from the NICA South City Otters (a youth mountain bike team), South Side Cyclery, DJM Ecological Services, ATK Studios, Gateway Off-Road Cyclists (GORC), and RCO. An inaugural ride followed the ribbon cutting.

Designed and built by volunteers under the direction of GORC, Federer’s Folly is both a mountain biking and hiking trail. The trail build also removed truckloads of invasive species from the site thanks to donated equipment and expertise from Doug Bauer of DJM. Care was taken to ensure the route followed the park’s natural topography, making it approachable for riders and hikers of all skill levels.

The trail was inspired by Hanlon as a way to create a home base for the South City Otters, a composite mountain bike team for 6th–12th graders.

Carondelet Park is also home to the Big Shark criterium races on Tuesday nights, and organizers hope the new trail further establishes the park as a bike-friendly destination.

Established in 1875, Carondelet Park is one of the oldest parks in St. Louis and has long been a vital part of the Carondelet neighborhood’s identity. Spanning more than 180 acres, the park was designed as a public green space for a rapidly growing city, with rolling hills, winding pathways, and two scenic lakes.

From left: Jarrid Snyder, Matt Green, Chris Geden, and Brad Kovach of River City Outdoors. (Route 3 Films)

Today, thanks to Federer’s Folly and the support of partners like RCO, St. Louisans and visitors can add mountain biking to the list of ways to experience this historic park.

“Your grant has really connected and touched a lot of people,” said Hanlon. “This trail represents our commitment to providing diverse recreational opportunities and promoting healthy, active lifestyles for all St. Louisans. Thank you!”