Walk a paved path around a five-acre lake that winds through old-growth trees at Horner Recreational Park in Lebanon, Illinois. This one-mile walk has some small hills and an elevation gain of 44 feet. The route goes along the side of a lightly used park road, which is two-way, until near Horner Park Hall, where it becomes one-way. I came here with my son, who…
While exploring Giant City State Park, I marveled at the massive boulders, cascading waterfalls, and the majestic Devil’s Standtable. The park is a little over two hours south of St. Louis near Carbondale, Ill. Our family explored three trails each with different amazing sites to see. DEVIL’S STANDSTABLE NATURE TRAIL The 1/3-mile Devil’s Standstable Nature Trail is a natural surface loop trail that starts flat…
Whitecliff Park in Crestwood, Mo., includes an abandoned rock quarry with a cliffside pond and 40 acres of woods to explore. Whitecliff Park Trail Whitecliff Park Trail is about a mile hike along a gravel surface through woods and along Gravois Creek. I parked to the right of the park entrance in a small lot near a picnic shelter. There is additional parking up the…
My journey today was to explore two trails along the bluffs on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River just south of St. Louis.
Bottom of the falls with a small pool
Take the children to play at Discovery Playground and then explore Jaycee Park on a paved path in St. Charles, Missouri.
Stroll through the Old Towne Park in St. Peters, Missouri, see a distinctive two-story cabin, and check out the nearby historic downtown. Overview This .6-mile walk is mostly paved but includes a field section in the park and a sidewalk tour through downtown St. Peters, Mo. Start of the Walk I parked in small lot on Gatty Street in Old Towne Park. Next I walked…
Walk along a paved path bordering Dardenne Creek at the 20-acre Sports Center Park near the Mid Rivers Mall in St. Peters, MO. Overview This hike is .6 miles on a paved surface with 3 feet of elevation gain. The Path I parked in the large lot facing a baseball field. I walked to the front of the lot, where the pathway began. Then, I…
See a natural spring and a creek with rapids in a canyon at Dixon Springs State Park in Southern Illinois. The park is located about 20 miles north of Metropolis, Ill., and Paducah, Ky. History Dixon Springs takes its name from William Dixon, who was an early settler here. A small community grew up at Dixon Springs and featured a general store, post office, blacksmith…
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…
