River's Edge Park Hike Near Shopping Centers in Chesterfield

Walking around a 40-acre lake and checking out the fast-moving Missouri River was my hike at River’s Edge Park in Chesterfield, Mo.

Sign for the RIver's Edge Park — Sign for the RIver’s Edge Park

At the Start of the Hike

Parking for River’s Edge Park is on the far west corner of what was known as Chesterfield Outlets and now is The District at Chesterfield.

The trailhead for the 1.9-mile gravel trail is directly in front of the parking and crosses over a river levee. If you wanted to do a longer hike you could walk along part of the eleven-mile paved Monarch-Chesterfield Levee Trail.

To the River

Next, I headed down from the levee towards the woods ahead.

I reached the lake and walked along the western shore.

Trees here had a stripe. I’ve seen this before, this is created from when this area is underwater when the river floods. The trail came to a curve where I could continue the loop or keep going straight down a side trail to the river.

I decided to do the side trail and crossed over another levee and into a river bottomland forest and then came to a muddy lookout.

Below me was the fast-moving Missouri River.

For a minute I puzzled at what I thought was a turkey, then laughed at myself, a fake one.

A narrow trail went along the river and another went along the woods. It was muddy in here so I decided against exploring these homemade trails.

Back Along the Lake

Birch trees hung over the gravel road.

Along the lakeshore, trees had come down due to some busy beavers.

Yellow flowers filled a nearby field.

Then I walked along the east side of the lake. Here you could look out over it. Down in the water, I saw turtles. Then I saw some large fish near the surface together as a group their mouths breaking the surface for some reason.

Around the South Side

I stopped briefly at a bench to look out over the lake.

Then I came to a shelter fronted by a dock.

Out on it, I felt strong breezes roll across the water.

Heading Back

I took the entrance trail back and stopped briefly letting a jogger go by.

Final Thoughts

It is surprising to be so close to nature and near so many shops down in the Chesterfield valley. If I am out with my son I might take him down here to do a hike to steal away a moment in the woods away from the big box stores.

Map of the area including the boardwalks and Mulch Trail.

One More Trail Here

After you head down to the levee on the main trail on your right you pass by the .5 mile Mulch Trail.

The trail goes to the right and into the woods.

Boardwalks along this part of the trail. — Boardwalks on this part of the trail.

It connects back to the main gravel trail from two short boardwalks or you can make a full loop a long it to the front area of the gravel trail.

DETAILS

Drive: Take Interstate 64 to Exit 17 for Boones Crossing and go right and then make a right onto North Outer 40 Road and then take the next left into the parking lot. Look for the trailhead to the north by the levee.

Hours: Sunrise to Sunset

Address: 16975 N Outer 40 Rd, Chesterfield, MO 63005