HomeMissouriSt Charles › Busch Greenway Howell Trailhead

Busch Greenway Howell Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 213 Google reviews · Running trail in St Charles, Missouri · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Paved
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Busch Greenway Howell Trailhead's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

PavedOpen 24hShadedScenicDog-friendlyStroller / ADARestroomsWaterTrailhead parkingQuiet

Dog-friendly nature area offering biking, hiking and walking, plus restrooms.

What runners say about Busch Greenway Howell Trailhead

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (213 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“Amazing place and very well maintained”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 8 mentions

“I enjoyed this particular trailhead because of the nice entrance to the Katy trail that has a beautiful stream that runs along the side.”

🌳 shaded & cool 5 mentions

“There's a pretty little tree covered path with a few small Bridges up to the Katy.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 4 mentions

“Very quiet, at least it was this morning.”

Awesome place to run, walk, ride and connect with nature. Approx .60 mi to Katy Trail and then however far your heart desires in either direction!

★★★★★ — Jodi , May 2022

I moved here from Mobile, Al. It's not really a bike friendly town. I know some people say that about here in St Charles county but at least there are lots of actual bike lanes here. We didn't even have that in Mobile. When I moved here I discovered the Katy trail and fell in love with it.

★★★★★ — Alan , Jun 2021

Fantastic, shaded, decent length trail that leads to the Katy Trail. By bike, it's probably a 7-10 minute ride to the Katy. By walk, it's around a 20-30 minute walk depending on how fast you go. Very quiet, at least it was this morning. The trail is well taken care of, and there is a small creek that runs alongside it.

★★★★★ — Jamie , Aug 2024

Excellent 1.5-mile fairly flat roundtrip (out and back) paved trail. It leads to the Katy trail so you can extend your bike or hike once on the Katy Trail. Mostly shaded so great for those hot summer days. A decent amount of parking at the trailhead.

★★★★★ — Barry , May 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 213 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🅿️ Trailhead parking 20 mentions

“There's always plenty of parking at this trailhead and there's a station to air up your tires and a few tools to address issues with you bike if needed.”

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🏞️ Scenic views 8 mentions

“I enjoyed this particular trailhead because of the nice entrance to the Katy trail that has a beautiful stream that runs along the side.”

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🚻 Restrooms 6 mentions

“As a matter of fact, there are stations all up and down the trail that have bathrooms, rest areas, interesting facts and history, maps, as well as bike stations.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 5 mentions

“There is a paved path for about 3/4th of a mile then it meets the Katy trail.”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 5 mentions

“There's a pretty little tree covered path with a few small Bridges up to the Katy.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 4 mentions

“Very quiet, at least it was this morning.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 3 mentions

“Great place to bring the dog or a bike and meet up with the Katy Trail.”

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🚰 Water fountains 2 mentions

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Stroller / ADA accessible

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Plan your run at Busch Greenway Howell Trailhead

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
  • Websitemostateparks.com
  • Phone(314) 436-7009
  • Social Facebook

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Busch Greenway Howell Trailhead

St Charles, Missouri

Get directions

Running trails near St Charles

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Hamburg Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 8 reviews

St Charles, MO

under a mile away

Weldon Spring Lewis & Clark Hiking Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 120 reviews

St Charles, MO

8 miLoopNatural surfaceShaded

Popular hiking area offering scenic overlooks and views of the Missouri River.

1.4 miles away

Lewis and Clark Trailhead Weldon Spring Conservation Area

4.8 ★★★★★ 292 reviews

Defiance, MO

8 miLoopMixedScenic

Scenic nature preserve featuring 5- and 8-mile wooded trails with river views and cliff overlooks.

1.4 miles away

August A. Busch. Memorial Conservation Area

4.6 ★★★★★ 973 reviews

St Charles, MO

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Hiking, hunting & fishing within a designated 3,000-acre wildlife conservation area.

1.9 miles away

Katy Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 35 reviews

St Charles, MO

Crushed gravelShadedScenic

1.9 miles away

Bluebird Meadow Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 48 reviews

Dardenne Prairie, MO

1.5 miLoopPavedShaded

Park with a lakeside trail, plus walking/cycling paths, and a prairie restoration.

2.2 miles away

All running trails in St Charles, MO →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.