Gateway Off-Road Cyclists // GORC // Advocacy --> Upcoming Trails

Gateway Off-Road Cyclists // GORC // Advocacy --> Upcoming Trails

Gateway Off-Road Cyclists is a non-profit organization dedicated to the interests of Eastern Missouri/Western Illinois mountain bikers. The club was formed to give cyclists a voice in trail user policy and land use in and around the St. Louis metro area. The club has current standing with Missouri State Parks, Mark Twain National Forest, St. Louis County Parks, Trailnet, and St. Charles County Parks.

Missouri Department of ConservationEarly this year, GORC founder John Donjoian met with John Vogel, the Manager at Lost Valley. The meeting was held to discuss trail erosion problems and GORC's proposed solution. The result of this meeting is an agreement to re-route a major portion of the Lost Valley 8-mile loop.

Mark Twain National ForestThe Mark Twain National Forest is the responsibility of the National Forest Service and the Conservation Federation of Missouri. GORC members have participated in initial design layout and route-marking of an extension to the current Ozark Trail leading from the South Trace Creek section down into Karkagne State Forest. This 26 mile trail is currently being built. See our links section for more information on the Ozark Trail.

St. Louis County Parks and RecreationMountain bikers in St. Louis have had an excellent history with the County Parks Dept. They have dozens of miles of trails open to cyclists that are the sites for several races each year. Work is needed on the Flint Quarry trail in Tyson, and sections of Greensfelder. STL county has scheduled Americorps to assist in some park trailwork and maintenance this fall. GORC will be supporting this.

St. Charles County ParksThe St. Charles County Parks project is what started it all for GORC. Matson Hill Trail, the 'flagship' trail for the club has been in use for a year now and has withstood an unusually warm, muddy winter very well.

On the HorizonGORC is busy working on new relationships with the Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (update: SIUE trails now exist. Ride them now.), Godfrey Parks, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to maintain and develop singletrack on both sides of the Mississippi River.