Hiking through a forest to lookouts of the St. Francois Mountains and stops along the rocky Big River were the highlights of the trail at Bootleg Access. Starting the Trail at Bootleg Access The trail is a loop starting at the farthest parking area. Here I headed to the left to head up the hillside first. I would recommend doing it this way otherwise you’re…
Box canyons, dripping waterfalls, and fern-filled cliffs are the sights and sounds and Hickory Canyons Natural Area.
See a wide variety of birds as you walk along trails in Mississippi River bottomland at Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary. The day we went we spotted a large group of pelicans, blue herons, gulls, white egrets, wood ducks, Canadian geese, and other birds. Overview of Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary Riverlands has over 8.5 miles of trails that include viewing platforms and bird blinds. Trails go…
A bright red mill next to a stone and rock dam on the clear waters of the Huzzah Creek is the setting for Dillard Mill State Historic Site. History of Dillard Mill Francis Wisdom built a water-powered gristmill in the 1850s with a dam. Joseph Dillard Cottrell purchased the mill in 1881. The village of Dillard developed around the mill. In 1895, the mill burned….
As a presidential election is at hand, near St. Louis you can visit the Liberty Bell of the West, which is older than the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, in Kaskaskia, the oldest town in Illinois. Kaskaskia had been the center of French colonial administration for the Middle Mississippi River Valley during the 18th Century and has much history to explore. Now, about that bell… Creating…
Hiking at Old Greenville Recreation Area includes a ghost town, retracing the steps of the Trail of Tears, and seeing a memorial to an unknown Civil War soldier nearby. Old Greenville Recreation Area At Old Greenville Recreation Area you can walk around the remains of a 1940s era ghost town. Greenville had to be relocated to higher ground following the construction of the dam in…
Graham Cave State Park is right off Interstate 70 and is a hike into ancient history. Hiking through the park you walk in the footsteps of hunters-gathers thousands of years ago who found shelter in Graham Cave. This state park also has waterfalls when it rains and babbling brooks along with a river nearby. Luckily the day we went as a family the waterfalls were…
Jayke Brown is an author of the children’s book Imagine That on an important life lesson amongst friends and adventures that you could have in your dreams.
Pink granite boulders and waterfalls await you in the Castor River Shut-Ins at the 1,632 acres Amidon Memorial Conservation Area just ten miles east of Fredricktown, MO.
A former telephone executive mansion, Mississippi River views, and a forested lake were part of my explorations of Bee Tree County Park in south St. Louis County.
