A paved hike leads to views of St. Charles across the wide Missouri River at Riverwoods Park in Bridgeton, Mo. The route is an out-and-back hike along the Missouri Greenway Earth City Levee Trail and Riverwoods Trail. It covers 3.9 miles and is mostly flat, with just 62 feet of elevation gain. This walk used to be a loop, but flooding on the Missouri River…
Hiking through rocky terrain and enjoying views from an overlook of forested hills is part of a day on the Beulah Trail in Greensfelder Park. The St. Louis County Park, spanning 1,734 acres, is situated on Allenton Road, north of Six Flags. Beulah Trail is a natural surface hike that I walked 4.6 miles with 407 feet of elevation gain. However, it is listed at…
Hamilton Hollow Trail is a short hike through the tallest trees in Cuivre River State Park, which is located north of Troy, Missouri. This is a 0.9-mile hike on a natural surface with an elevation gain of 92 feet. Start of the Hike I parked in the lot at the end of Big Sugar Creek Drive. The trail begins near a stone picnic shelter constructed…
At Marais Temps Clair Conservation Area in St. Charles County, waterfowl soar above your head and deer splash through swamp grass. I hiked 6.3 miles on levees that were gravel and natural surface in parts. This was a mostly level hike with only 56 feet of elevation gain. Start of the Hike A short drive leads to a gravel lot in the conservation area. At…
Hiking the Dogwood Trail at Greensfelder Park, located north of Eureka, takes you deep into the woods through rocky terrain. This is a 2.6-mile hike with a 230-foot elevation gain on a natural surface. At the Dogwood Shelter Trailhead I began this trail at the Dogwood Shelter trailhead, which is located off Hencken Road. You can also access this trail from the Allenton Road trailhead;…
Take a hike along the Mustang Trail at Greensfelder Park near Eureka, which leads to a clear pool of water by a rocky brook. This is a 1.9-mile hike on a natural surface with a 348-foot elevation gain, rated as difficult due to several ridge climbs and uneven terrain resulting from horse activity. Start of the Hike The trail begins to the right of the…
Hike through woods and along a stream in the heart of suburban south county St. Louis at Officer Blake C. Snyder Memorial Park. Long Loop and Out and Back I hiked about 3.2 miles using the different trails in the park and taking some short trails out to Gravois Creek and back. Starting the Hike I parked near the playground and shelter house and headed…
Along the Lakeside Trail, you will see blooming flowers and wildlife at Cuivre River State Park, located north of Troy, Missouri. This is a 3.6-mile loop hike on a natural surface trail that can be rocky, with an elevation gain of 112 feet. It took me about an hour and a half to complete. Trailhead Information I began the hike near the boat ramp by…
At Paul A. Schroeder Park in Manchester, MO, walkers can view a unique statue in the center of a waterfall and pass by a large aquatic park. The hike is 0.9 miles on paved paths with 66 feet of elevation gain and can be divided into smaller loops using other sidewalks. Start of the Walk I parked in the lot closest to the park entrance…
Faust Park includes numerous historic buildings, a former Governor’s Mansion, the Butterfly House, and a hike along Missouri River hills. I hiked a trail that goes along the Missouri River hills along with doing a walking tour of the historic village. FAUST HISTORIC VILLAGE Many St. Louis County 19th-century structures were lost to St. Louis County’s suburban development. The St. Louis County Parks Department rescued…
