Bates Memorial Park: Joachim Loop Trail

Take a hike along a creek through the bottomland forest and by a unique playground with a volcano on the Joachim Loop Trail.

The hike is 1.3 miles with only a slight elevation gain at about 30 feet at Bates Memorial Park in Herculaneum, Mo., off of Interstate 55 south of St. Louis.

Entering the Park

The road for the trailhead is along the gravel road north of the main area of Bates Memorial Park. If you park in the lot by the playground you went the wrong way.

Starting the Walk

The trailhead is straight ahead along a gravel road by baseball fields.

You will find the start of the trail is a black and white trail sign. Behind it are four white brick columns that you walk between as you head into the woods.

Beginning the Hike

The trail starts out wide and in gravel.

I went straight ahead where the loop started to follow along the creek instead of further into the park.

Narrow tall trees are on the right and on the left is Joachim Creek.

Along the walk, I came across a number of brown and grey boulders of all different sizes. I guess from past mining.

Where the trail turns away from the creek I took a moment to walk down to the creek. If the water is low, below Riverview Plaza Drive are the remains of a low water dam creating a small rapid. I couldn’t get close since the creek widens and backups here.

Away from the Creek

Now the trail follows a slough on the left and woods on the right.

Along this part of the trail on the right are two trails that cut through the forest. I kept going ahead until the trail turned to the right at a large rock.

I found a rock right before I came out into the woods that had a hole straight through it adding to my thoughts of mined rocks.

Field Walk

Now I walked through a field then the trail curved around a baseball field before going near the playground.

It has a volcano theme since the town’s name is Herculaneum which was a Roman town destroyed by a volcano. (Blog Story Below)

Going Back to the Trailhead

After walking by the playground, I went by more baseball fields and then a busy dog park.

*View of the baseball fields from the park section of the loop. Further back you can see the smokestack for the former Doe Run Lead Smelter.*

Final Thoughts

I enjoyed learning the history of the volcano playground. The low-water dam was a scenic stop along the trail.

DETAILS

Drive: Take Interstate 55 south of St. Louis to exit 178 and make a left onto McNutt Street then a left onto U.S. Highway 67 then a right onto Joachim Avenue and then a right into the park and take the gravel road to the trail parking behind the baseball fields.

Hours: Sunrise to Sunset

Address:

850 Joachim Ave, Herculaneum, MO 63048

Kade’s Playground in Herculaneum Has a Volcano

My son had an awesome time at a playground that includes a volcano surrounded by lava at Kade’s Playground in Herculaneum, Mo. Yet, the story of how it came about is inspirational. (Click the link for the full story!)