Meramec Greenway: Flat Creek Trail Hike

Hike along the flowing waters of a creek on the Meramec Greenway: Flat Creek Trail, starting from Lions Park in Eureka, MO, to Route 66 State Park.

*Map and information on the Meramec Greenway: Flat Creek Trail*

The hike is a 3.1-mile out-and-back along a paved trail, with only the last part into Route 66 State Park being unpaved with a gravel surface. It involved an elevation gain of 50 feet and took me approximately one hour to complete.

The Meramec Greenway system has trails throughout the St. Louis area.

At the Trailhead

I parked in the Lions Park lot. At the front is a playground featuring a boardwalk, slide, and swings.

Start of Trail

A sign at the trailhead talks about the Lions Club that helped establish the park and the history of Eureka.

*First section of the trail along Bald Hill Road*

The trail starts as a broad sidewalk along Bald Hill Road, situated south of the lot and adjacent to the ball fields on the left.

Next, I made a left on the trail as it turned into asphalt and went between athletic fields and an elementary school.

*The trail goes under the Central Avenue bridge.*

The trail crosses Flat Creek using the Central Avenue bridge and then curves beneath it to follow the creek.

Creek Walk

I stopped momentarily to look at the creek as the water flowed below the Central Avenue Bridge.

The trail then goes underneath the Missouri Highway 109 bridge.

Flat flows along the trail as I walk on.

I notice a fenced-in lagoon to the left of the trail.

Kircher Park

The trail curves into Kircher Park and follows the park road to the right. Next, it crosses a bridge that leads into the park’s main area.

I make a left to continue along the trail towards Route 66 State Park.

*You can read the sign for some history on the area.*

A sign along the trail provides some history. Route 66 State Park was formerly the location of a town named Times Beach along the banks of the Meramec River. It provided a weekend escape from the hustle and bustle of St. Louis before an environmental disaster and flooding devastated the town. Then, it also relates to the importance of Route 66, an earlier highway that leads west through here.

To Route 66 State Park

I arrive at a brown sign that indicates the trail continuing under Interstate 44 along the creek.

Then I find a small parking lot for the Meramec Greenway in the state park. I turn around here, but you can continue into the state park for many more hiking trails throughout the park, which I discussed in an earlier blog.

*The sign shows the distances of landmarks along the trail.*

Returning to the Trailhead

As I return, I pass a sign indicating distances; there are several of these along the trail.

As I look beneath the interstate bridge, I find a creek and a train parked along the rail line.

Entering Kircher Park, I notice a playground with slides, a boardwalk, and climbing structures.

Then, I walk along the creek once more.

As I head back to the park, I take a moment to glance back and view downtown Eureka, Missouri. You can walk to the road for a meal or snack at nearby restaurants. I decided to complete the hike before heading to downtown to park.

Final Thoughts

This is an excellent option if you’re looking for a flat hike beside a creek. It is stroller-friendly and passes by two parks with playgrounds. You can also enjoy a meal after hiking since it is near downtown Eureka.

DETAILS

Restrooms and drinking fountains are in Route 66 State Park, Kircher Park, and Lions Park.

Drive: Take Interstate 44 to exit 264 and go south on Missouri Highway 109, then make a right onto Legends Parkway, then a right onto Bald Hill Road. Parking for the trail is Lions Park on the right side of the road. Look for the Meramec Greenway sign on the right side of the road.

Hours: Sunrise to Sunset

Address: Lions Park, 340 Bald Hill Rd, Eureka, MO 63025

Outside Sarah's on Central — *Outside Sarah’s on Central*

Lunch Stop: Sarah’s on Central

I had a BLT and egg sandwich on toasted bread with coffee. For dessert, I enjoyed a brownie topped with a cookie.

Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 9 p.m., Saturday- Wednesday; 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Sunday; Closed, Monday- Tuesday

Address: 127 S Central Ave, Eureka, MO 63025

MORE NEARBY HIKES

A Route 66 Ghost Town Hike

Hiking along a former street in a ghost town near the skeletal remains of a Route 66 bridge across the Meramec River was my destination. This area has a lot of history, from once being a resort town to becoming contaminated by the dangerous chemical of dioxin.