You can explore the many natural springs or stay the night at the five-bedroom stone house at Markham Springs Recreation Area in Mark Twain National Forest. The name of the recreation area comes from the former owner, M.J. Markham, who acquired the property in 1901 and operated a lumber mill at the site until the 1930s. History of the Fuchs Estate Rudolph Fuchs built a…
Hiking on a boardwalk in a swamp along with Ozark mountain views is in the mix at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge. History Formed from an abandoned channel of the Mississippi River about 18,000 years ago when the river shifted east possibly due to a New Madrid fault earthquake. In the early 20th century settlers tried to drain the swamp for farmland as they have done…
Green Rock Trailhead
Rockwoods Range Conservation Area is a wooded area in St. Louis West County that is not as busy as the other nearby parks so if you want a hike close to St. Louis alone then this is the trail for you. I felt this way since I was the only person on the trail the whole time although it was mid-morning on a Wednesday, so…
Sun and Moon sculpture
A fairy garden, a little mermaid, and cement serpents can all be seen at Francis Park in St. Louis Hills. The walk here is along a 1.9-mile paved trail with two loops going through the middle on opposite sides of a water garden. Starting the Walk At Francis Park I parked on Eichelberger Street on the south side of the park. I began my stroll…
Exploring a clear flowing spring, a trout hatchery, and a former ironworks is a day of fun at Maramec Spring Park. Trout Farm at Maramec Spring Parking near the fish hatchery we went first to feed the fish. The Missouri Department of Conservation raises the trout in the spring water. Fish food dispensers are by the separated fish pools. We put in 25 cents and…
Surrounded by Victorian houses, this historic park is where vintage baseball teams play in summer and where you can stroll through a rock garden grotto.
A short loop hike through an oak and beech forest leads to the 90 foot Pomona Natural Bridge nestled in trees by a cliff. In the 1930s the Civilian Conservation Corps made improvements to the trail to make it more accessible to hikers by building stone steps and bridges. My time here I headed down the loop trail and went to the right. This part…
Larue-Pine Hills boasts stunning views and features Snake Road, a migratory route for snakes in spring and fall. This area is part of the Shawnee National Forest and has a diverse habitat to explore. Snake Road Migration This area is perhaps most famous for the biannual “Snake Migration” across the Larue Road at the base of the bluffs, adjacent to LaRue Swamp. This road is…
