Prairie fields, a clear lake, a cedar forest, and historic farmhouses are part of the hike at Towne Park, located north of Wentzville on U.S. Highway 61. Towne Park Hikes I hiked 1.9 miles with an elevation gain of 62 feet on several trails in this park, which included both paved and natural surfaces. The trails encircle the park, allowing you to use different sections…
Hike along the flowing waters of a creek on the Meramec Greenway: Flat Creek Trail, starting from Lions Park in Eureka, MO, to Route 66 State Park. The hike is a 3.1-mile out-and-back along a paved trail, with only the last part into Route 66 State Park being unpaved with a gravel surface. It involved an elevation gain of 50 feet and took me approximately…
Hike by a rebuilt fort from the War of 1812, the 1884 Heald Home, and along the spring-fed Lake Whetsel at Fort Zumwalt Park in O’Fallon, Mo. Parking Here I parked along Jessup Drive West near the restrooms and took a connector trail to the paved Lake Path, which is one-third of a mile long. I combined this hike with the mile-long paved Walking Trail,…
Walk from the oldest church west of the Mississippi River to a bluff overlooking the Missouri River on the Sunset Greenway in Florissant, Mo. This hike is 6.4 miles out and back on a paved trail through an urban environment that ends near the Missouri River. Parking by the Old St. Ferdinand Shrine I parked in the lot at the end of St. Francis Street,…
You can enjoy a short hike and find adventure in the woods at Shady Springs Park in St. Peters, Mo., north of Interstate 70. Hiking here is not easy, as the trail is not well-marked. I managed to complete a 0.15-mile loop on a natural surface with a 3-foot elevation gain. The Park I parked in the paved lot next to the playground, which has…
Enjoy hiking around the lake while watching for waterfowl and strolling alongside a clear, rocky stream at Rotary Park in Wentzville, MO. This 1.2-mile walk goes along a paved trail, park roads, and even by the grounds of the St. Louis Renaissance Festival. Start of the Walk I parked along Lions Lane on the lakeside. Next, I headed towards the Community Club Lake and went…
The Gulf is a massive sinkhole created by a collapsed cave found in Mark Twain National Forest about 33 miles north of Poplar Bluff. It is an amazing sight to see and worth the stop if you are in the area visiting Clearwater Lake, Lon Sanders Canyon, or staying the night at Markham Springs Campground, which I will talk about in a future blog post….
Discover gardens adorned with blooming plants and shrubs and a Veteran’s Memorial in Blanchette Park, St. Charles, MO. In the park, I walked various loops to see the gardens and explore the entire area. There is much to explore in this 44-acre park, the oldest in St. Charles, established on Sept. 26, 1914. I entered the park from Randolph Street, went to the right, and…
Hike to three different waterfalls and gaze across the Grand Canyon of the East at Letchworth State Park about 40 minutes south of Rochester, N.Y. The Genesee River roars through the gorge creating these waterfalls between cliffs as high as 600 feet in some places surrounded by lush forests. If you are visiting Niagara Falls and want to see a more rural alls Letchworth State…
See waterfalls, shut-ins, creek cascades, pink boulders, and pine-studded hills at Lower Rock Creek, located 12 miles southwest of Fredericktown, MO. This is a 4-mile natural surface hike with a 325-foot elevation gain. The trail is unclear in some places, so consider bringing a map and compass. I used the AllTrails app but encountered some issues. Be aware that this is a remote location. The…
