Finding a Horse Jumping Course in Queeny Park

Horse jumping obstacles across a hilly terrain are what I found on a high point in Queeny Park. A unique place where I started my hike today.

Up on the Hill

I turned into the park off Weidman Road and then made the first left onto a road that led to a parking lot upon the ridge in the park.

Heading the Hawk Ridge Trail — *Heading out on the Hawk Ridge Trail*

Starting the Hawk Ridge Trail

I headed down a short trail from the parking lot and that led to the Hawk Ridge Trail where I headed west. Today I was doing a four-mile hike on this trail that goes around the outer edge of the park.

The trail here is wide with gravel and goes through woods.

A two-story white house with black shutters came into view. A long-ago residence is now part of the park.

On my left stands a tall white oak tree. Along the park trails, some trees are marked with information signs.

Horse Jumping

This area is filled with horse jumping structures, stacked logs, one looking like a low log cabin, another like short park benches, some high and some low. These went across the fields all around me.

Enclosed and open towers went along some of them, maybe for judging, not sure.

Log structures for the horse to jump over. — Log structures for the hose to jump over.

Horse Jumping History in the Park

As I learned after the hike, former Director of St. Louis County Parks and Recreation Wayne Kennedy attended the 1978 World Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky.

Inspired by what he saw there, he returned to St. Louis and began work on a cross-country course at Queeny Park, which he felt had the rolling terrain necessary for a good event.

Nearby the sugar maple tree is an informational sign

Back of the Park

After seeing the horse jumping structures, I walked by a picnic area around a 200-year-old sugar maple tree. These trees are native to Missouri. A sign read “Takes 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup.”

Large suburban homes with landscaped backyards border the park. I would look in the yards at times seeing a pool or a created waterfall.

The path goes downhill intersecting with the Dogwood Trail that crosses the dam of a pond.

Then I walk across a bridge over a trickling creek and look for fish in the water.

Lots of up and down walking as I headed towards Mason Road.

In the woods on the left side of the trail is a mirror hanging by the trees. I assume it is an art piece. Trees and woods reflect back at me.

By Mason Road

I come to the intersection of the White Oak Trail and Hawk Ridge Trail, which now becomes paved. Traffic zooms by on Mason Road. Then pass near a large parking lot, which is another starting point for trails.

Jarville House Area

The trail goes by a former greenhouse with the metal structure still in place and the area is still used as a garden today.

Near the greenhouse is the Jarville House, one of the oldest residences in St. Louis County built in 1853. Once owned by Edgar Queeny, namesake of the park and the son of the founder of Monsanto, who expanded the brick home in the Georgian Revival style. Also, by here is a white framed carriage house near the gardens.

In the late 1960s, St. Louis County authorized a bond issue to purchase the 570-acre estate and the park was established in 1974.

The house is also the former home of the American Kennel Club’s Dog Museum which moved to New York City in 2019.

Down to the Lake

Heading downhill I walk by native prairie plantings which are brown from winter’s cold.

At the bottom of the hill is a swampy area at the back end of the lake where bald cypress trees can be seen with their large bottom trunks.

Along the lake is a sign pointing out an Eastern Redbud tree that greets spring with pink blossoms.

A bridge crosses a creek after the dam, and I head back through the woods crossing the road I came in on.

Up the Ridge

Back on the ridge, I see houses along the hills and faraway churches and ranches. Then I am back at the parking lot having hiked all of the Hawk Ridge Trail.

Final Thoughts

This walk goes through woods, by creeks and lakes, and the horse jumping course. It is hilly with 282 feet of elevation gain. I enjoyed my hike and will come back to explore the other trails in the park in the future.

OTHER TRAILS

Dogwood Trail – Rock Surface, 0.4 mile

Fox Run Trail – Rock Surface, 0.6 mile

Pond Spur Trail – Paved, 0.2 mile

Goose Trail – Paved, 0.2 mile

Owl Creek Trail – Rock Surface, 1 mile

White Oak Trail – Rock Surface, 0.6 mile

For the Kids

The park has a unique playground with a pyramid structure with tunnels and slides on different levels. Kids can even descend through a pipe going underground.

The surface of the playground is pebbles, which is fun for kids to scoop up. Yet with flip-flops or shoes, we’ve been flecking out rocks after each time we come here with my son.

Although he has had a good time playing here each time we’ve come back!

The playground is by the parking lot for the Greensfelder Recreation Complex, which is currently closed and going through renovations.

DETAILS

Drive:

1675 South Mason Road Parking Area: Take exit 24 off Interstate 64 and go south down Mason Road. Look for the park entrance on the left.

550 Weidman Road Parking Area (Where I parked): Take Interstate 64 to Interstate 270 and go south then take exit 9 for Manchester Road and go west. Then make a right onto Weidman Road and look for the park entrance on the right and then I made a left onto the first park road I came to and parked at the back left corner nearest the trail.

Hours: 8 am – 30 minutes past sunset

Addresses:

Weidman Road Side (Closest address for the parking lot and trail is on the west side): 550 Weidman Road, St. Louis, MO 63131

Mason Road Side: 1675 South Mason Road, Saint Louis, MO, 63131