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…
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…
