Next group run

Mornings, evenings, night runs

Frequency
Multiple times per week
Seasonality
Paved/gravel winter route in Forest Park Nov-Mar; year-round otherwise

About This Club

St. Louis Trail Running Club is a free, no-membership group that runs trails around Forest Park and out toward St. Charles, including the Katy Trail. It's built for people who want to run dirt and gravel rather than pavement, with runs happening multiple times a week year-round, including night runs. If you're looking for a trail-specific group rather than a road running club, this is that.

Highlights

  • Trail-focused
  • Year-round including night runs
  • Varying locations in St. Louis and St. Charles
  • Free to join
  • All paces welcome
  • Year-round runs

Who It Suits

This suits trail runners who want 4 to 8 mile runs on dirt, gravel, or the Katy Trail around St. Louis and St. Charles, and who don't mind that the meeting spot changes run to run. It's not built for road runners, people wanting sub-4-mile distances, competitive racers, or anyone who needs walk breaks, since the record specifies walkers aren't accommodated. Dog owners and stroller users should also look elsewhere, per the record.

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What a Run With Them Is Like

Distances run 4 to 8 miles depending on the day, at paces from 9 to 14 minutes per mile, with the record noting all paces are welcome. Footing is trail, paved, or gravel, and from November through March the Forest Park route switches to a paved/gravel path for winter conditions. Some runs happen at night, and some wrap up with coffee or drinks afterward, though that's not every time.

Distance4-5 miles, 4 miles, 4-8 miles
Pace9-14 min per mile; all paces welcome
TerrainTrail, Paved, Gravel
Post-runCoffee or drinks after some runs

Your First Run

RSVP on Meetup and update it if your plans change, that's how this group tracks who's coming. Because the meeting spot varies by run, check the specific event listing for the exact meet point, it might be visitor center parking or a coffee house hallway depending on the day.

If you're heading to a night or holiday run, bring a flashlight. With pace ranging up to 14 minutes per mile and all paces welcome, you're not going to be the outlier for going slower, just come ready to run rather than walk.