Kress Farm Garden Preserve has wet weather waterfalls and cliff caves and is only 40 minutes outside of St. Louis. Arriving at Kress Farm A long driveway leads to a farmhouse and behind it is parking. The Pavilion has copies of hiking trail maps which we used to find our way to them. Yellow Trail We started with the three-fourth mile Yellow Trail. It has…
Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge is an area made up of Illinois River views, bottomland forest, and swampland. The refuge serves as an important stopover for hundreds of thousands of ducks and geese each fall along with bald eagles. Also, my son loves taking the free car-ferry to Calhoun County where a large part of Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge is located! History of Two…
Finding my way to viewing the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers was my goal at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area. Entering the Conservation Area I parked at the lot for the Confluence Trail after driving on gravel towards the river. Start of the Hike I checked out the information board and found a brochure on the area in a box nearby. It was not…
Wet weather waterfalls and bluff-top views above the Meramec River are found at Myron and Sonya Glassberg Family Conservation Area. Parking At Glassberg Conservation Area A small gravel lot for the conservation area is on the left off of Highway FF south of Eureka, Mo. I headed along the main trail to the loop passing by a memorial to Myron and Sonya Glassberg who donated…
Small waterfalls splash across sandstone brooks and a rock shelter cave can be found at LaBarque Creek Conservation Area south of Eureka, Mo. Our Time at LaBarque Creek Watch for potholes as you drive the gravel road to the parking area. To one side of the lot are two carved wooden benches if you need a break after the almost three-mile hike. Start of the…
Walking along a cliffside boardwalk high above Osage River highlights our time at Painted Rock Conservation Area. The 1.6-mile Osage Bluff Scenic Trail also has an ancient Native American burial cairn and a small cave to discover. History Painted Rock State Conservation Area’s namesake is rock paintings done between 1200 and 1300 A.D. and seen by explorer Zebulon Pike in 1806, although not accessible by…
Blaze a trail below cliffs with water views along with plenty of hikes and activities to choose from at Lake of the Ozarks State Park. Our Time Here at Lake of the Ozarks State Park We chose the 1.5-mile Lakeview Bend Trail loop, which included a variety of Ozark terrain. Starting the Hike This trail begins near parking by the camp store and the entrance…
Castle
Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park has a cave-like spring, Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) architect, and many hiking trails to explore. I walked numerous trails in the park and have included the highlights of my adventures here. Dogwood Trail This trail is a two-mile loop going through woods and going up and down hills and through ravines. Starting the Hike I parked at Guy…
Pickle Springs Natural Area is a two-mile hike that highlights some of the best of the Missouri Ozarks. It has wet weather waterfalls, springs, sandstone rock formations, and even views of the surrounding mountains. Natural History of Pickle Springs The sandstone rock here was formed from the sandy beaches of a shallow ocean that existed here 500 million years ago. Since then years of erosion…
