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Reply to Machens Overnight Parking?
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Brian Prater from Findlay, OH on 3/29/2012 2:12:23 PM:
Can you park overnight at the trail head in Machens? If so is it a safe place to leave your bike for 5 to 6 days or so?

 
JMiller from Hazelwood, MO on 3/29/2012 10:32:34 PM:
There isn't an official parking lot at Machens, but there is one at Black Walnut which is only a few miles from Machens. It is located in a rural area. I'm not aware of any problems.

 
stevek from saint louis, MO on 3/30/2012 12:19:51 AM:
Brian, what I do is call the St. Charles Police Dept. at (636)949-3300 and request that they give you permission to leave your car in Frontier Park's parking lot(there are signs up for no overnight parking allowed). They ask for license number, contact info, etc., but there is no charge. I always tell them I am leaving it right behind the the Country Inn & Suites hotel, so they have an approximate location. That will put you on the trail at Mile Marker(MM) 40 instead of Black Walnut(MM30), but I think it is a little better option.

 
BikerBoy from Edwardsville, IL on 3/30/2012 9:41:12 AM:
Machens is a very remote area. On the one hand, I would not want to leave my car in an unlit area. But on the other hand, a burglar would have to be really desperate to go that far out of his way looking for valuables!

 
Anonymous on 3/30/2012 1:31:49 PM:
Out of practicality, overnight parking at Machens or Black Walnut might work if your vehicle is a junker. Black Walnut has a real road going by it; Machens does not. Both are remote, but not so remote that party-folks, pranksters, and vandals do not know about them. It’s somewhat risky.

Most bicyclists ride to Machens and back from St Charles. Yet, one might find dependable parking in West Alton or Port de Sioux if one really wants to start from that end of the trail??