Explore two short trails around former mining lakes and discover stranded barges at the Catawissa Conservation Area, located south of Pacific, Mo. The trails have a natural surface that is mostly level but can become overgrown. History The area was acquired by the state of Missouri in 1978 and was previously a gravel mining operation located in the floodplain of the Meramec River. At the…
Walking along a clear stream to waterfalls and going up into the cliffs to see a cave are some of the natural treasures at Ferne Clyffe State Park. The park has a large number of trails to explore. BIG ROCKY HOLLOW TRAIL This is a .75-mile natural surface trail that is mostly flat. Although, be prepared for some small brook crossings along the way. The…
Hiking into Ottawa and Kaskaskia Canyons at Starved Rock State Park we found two waterfalls and Council Overhang cave. This area was easier than many of the hikes at Starved Rock State Park since the terrain is more level and there are fewer stairs. At the Trailhead We parked at the lot for Ottawa/Kaskaskia Canyons along Illinois Highway 71. The parking area is on the…
See ancient Native American mounds on an easy-to-walk path at Dames Park in O’Fallon, Mo., just north of Interstate 70. This is a 1.3-mile walk on a paved surface that follows the side of one-way streets and sidewalks in the park. The route is mostly level, with only 30 feet of elevation gain. Start of the Hike I parked in the first lot I encountered…
French Canyon has walls that are 45 feet tall and is the first canyon you come to from the Visitor’s Center parking lot. It was named after the French explorers who first visited this area in the 1600s. Hiking to the Canyon You can either hike from the Visitor’s Center or descend 150 stairs from Starved Rock Lodge parking. We opted to start the hike…
A natural spring, a grotto, a quaint hotel, and a dairy with miniature golf was all part of our adventure in Yellow Springs, Ohio. It is located between Dayton, Ohio, and Columbus, Ohio. It is 20 miles east of Dayton and 50 miles west of Columbus Ohio and only about eight miles south of Springfield, Ohio from Interstate 70 on U.S. Highway 68. Our first…
Swimming in the Meramec River and hiking to an old cave entrance was our “Sunday Funday” as a family at Onondaga Cave State Park.
Hike around a large, clear lake, then above wetlands, and through the urban landscape on the Spencer Road Trail ending at City Centre Park in St. Peters, Mo. This hike covers 8.35 miles on paved trails with an elevation gain of 155 feet. The walk begins at 370 Lakeside Park and then follows the levee along Spencer Creek. It continues along Spencer Road into commercial…
Hike along a clear, pebble-filled stream and through forests on the Brookmount Trail in a quiet neighborhood in St. Peters, MO. This is a 1.9-mile out-and-back paved trail, mostly flat, with only 46 feet of elevation gain. Start of the Walk There is no dedicated parking lot for this walk, so I parked on Carrington Drive just north of Willott Road and walked south along…
Find a canyon with waterfalls, cascades, and pools combine to give delight to hikers at Matthiessen State Park near Oglesby, Il. History of Matthiessen State Park Frederick William Matthiessen purchased the land at the end of the 19th century to develop it into a privately-owned park. About 50 employees constructed trails, bridges stairways, and dams. After his death, the park was donated to the State…
