Missouri Bicycle News

Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt said Friday that the state of Missouri will begin developing the nation's longest river water trail -- 500 miles -- in honor of famed explorers Lewis and Clark.

"This will tap into the growing nature and adventure tourism trade by encouraging and facilitating the use of the Missouri River by canoeists and kayakers," Blunt said. "More than 500 miles of the Missouri River borders or bisects the state, offering us an unprecedented tourism and economic development opportunity."

The 500-mile water trail could emulate the tourism and economic success of Katy Trail State Park, the nation's longest developed rails-to-trails project, which runs 225 miles from St. Charles, Mo., to Clinton, Mo.