Explore the remains of an ancient Native-American village at Millstone Bluff Archaeological Site in the Shawnee National Forest. This forest-covered 320 feet hill sits just northwest of Illinois State Highway 145. The top of the mesa-like bluff is ringed by a broken sandstone escarpment. It is here Mississippian peoples (AD 1350-1550) who built homes, carved their religion into the stone, and buried their dead in…
Willmore Park includes a playground for all children even those with disabilities and a 1.5-mile paved trail winding around two lakes. It is a 105-acre park located near the River Des Peres in the St. Louis Hills neighborhood near the intersection of Gravois and Hampton Avenue in St. Louis. MY TIME HERE Playground I parked along Jamieson Avenue near the park’s playground built with the…
A stair-step waterfall and distant river views are found along the .6-mile trail at August G. Beckemeier Conservation Area in Chesterfield. Finding the Parking lot The small park lot was right off Olive Boulevard. This 54-acre area is approximately 1.3 miles north of St. Louis County’s Faust Park. At the trailhead is a lone picnic table where I had lunch. Starting the Hike Beginning the…
Ball Mill Resurgence Natural Area is a short hike for a geologic wonder near Perryville, Mo. Nearby is a lithium natural spring. What Is a Resurgence? A resurgence is a karst formation wherein a sinkhole that ordinarily drains water into an underground stream system will back up after heavy rain – as a storm sewer will. In the case of Ball Mill Resurgence, it is…
Here are the top ten hikes I liked the most in 2021. I chose them based on length, how much I enjoyed them, and what natural beauty I saw. Pickle Springs: Best Missouri Ozark Hike Near St. Louis 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,…
These top five books on hiking help guide me to hidden gems and unique places as I take on the trails throughout the St. Louis area. Many times I return to them to find natural wonders such as waterfalls, cliffside mountain tops, springs, or shut-ins. Hiking Missouri by Kevin M. Lohraff A guide to 127 scenic day hikes in Missouri. This includes ones near St….
These are my 2021 Top Five Travelogues/Memoirs that I find inspirational and give me insight into how others see the world. I hope these books help you find a journey of discovery about yourself and others.
Stealey Way Trail crosses small brooks and goes along Peruque Creek through Quail Ridge Park south of Wentzville, Mo. The 2.3-mile natural surface trail is the longest one in the park and the most remote for being so close to the intersection of Interstate 64 and Interstate 70 in St. Charles County. MY TIME HERE I began at the Stealey Way Trailhead by the Group…
A 1.3 mile out and back trail that has a small cave, sandstone outcroppings, and rock formations can be found at Rock Cave Nature Preserve. Unusual for Central Illinois compared to northern and southern Illinois where this topography is more common. It is located about seven miles north of Interstate 70 and halfway between Vandalia, Il., and Effingham, Il. Overview Of Rock Cave Nature Preserve The…
Forested ravines with creek views can be found at Pleasant Ridge Park just north of St. Clair Square Mall in Fairview Heights.
