Buder Park Hike

Views of the Meramec River and watching small planes take off are part of the hike at Buder Park in St. Louis County.

The park is near the busy intersection of Interstate 44 and Missouri Highway 141.

Parked near the entrance of the park close to the model airplane field.
Parked near the entrance of the park close to the model airplane field.

Hiking Here

I walked along a paved-paths, gravel paths, and roads to do a 2.7-mile hike with 95 feet of elevation gain.

By the trailhead
By the trailhead

Start of Hike

I parked in the lot near the entrance of the park. A paved trail starts to the left of the lot passing by a baseball field.

This trail crosses back over the entrance road following a road that goes by areas used for model airplanes.

Model plane warning
Model plane warning

Watch Out For Small Planes

A sign warns of the dangers of walking out into fields where radio-controlled airplanes are flying about.

Small plane flying above the field.
Small plane flying above the field.

Then I looked to my left and saw a small white plane zipping around the sky. In the distance, I saw a man keeping an eye on his model plane.

After it flew around it came in for a landing on a blacktop landing field made specifically for it.

One of the planes parked before a flight.
One of the planes parked before a flight.

Along a fence line, I saw a large red plane with painted-on shark teeth next to a fence, ready to be the next in line to take to the skies.

Soccer field
Soccer field

Far Side

After passing by the airfield I took the trail to the left around a soccer field.

Heading into the woods.
Heading into the woods.

Then the paved trail led into woods.

View of the river
View of the river

This trail eventually came to the Meramec River.

Closed Trail section
Closed trail section

Sadly, a section of the trail that went along the right to the right was closed due to past flooding.

I decided to continue to the right along this former road which had once been Larkin Williams Road until flooding in the early 1990s.

Closed trail section
Going under a railroad bridge.

This road went uphill passing under a railroad bridge and then ending at a circle drive.

Ravine area
Ravine area

Walking back, I noticed two rocky ravines going down from the nearby hillsides. This was the more wild part of the walk.

Dirt and gravel path
Dirt and gravel path

Going Toward the River

This time I decided to take a dirt and gravel path at the front of the soccer fields that led to a road that goes to the west of them.

Front of the closed trail
Front of the closed trail

I made a right turn onto this road to do a river walk. Looking back I saw the jungle growth that covered the closed trail.

Road Walk

Now I was going along the side of a road taking in views of the Meramec River (Main blog photo). I saw at one point a boat ramp on the other side of the river, I had walked near when hiking along the Meramec Greenway in Valley Park, Mo.

Then I took this road walk back to the parking area but first I stopped along the river.

Train bridge across the Meramec River
Train bridge across the Meramec River

I gained a view of the metal railroad bridge.

Archery range
Archery range

I stayed near the river on the former road since to my left was an archery range.

Evergreens by the start of the trail
Evergreens by the start of the trail

After checking out the bridge I walked this road back.

Bottomland forest along the trail
Bottomland forest along the trail

Final Thoughts

My favorite parts of the hike were watching the model planes and hiking the back section away from the fields and roads in the park. This is an easy hike with river and field views just off Interstate 44.

DETAILS:

Drive to Trailhead at Upper Buder: Take Interstate 44 at exit 272 for Missouri Highway 141 but don’t get onto this road. Make a right onto Meramec Street along this exit ramp and this street leads into the park the lot is on the left after passing by Valley Park Road which leads to the radio-controlled flying field.

Hours: 8 a.m. – 30 minutes past sunset

Address: 215 Valley Park Road, Fenton, Mo., 63026

Park History

Deeded to the City of St. Louis by Gustavus A. Buder in 1918, but was not developed at that time. In 1950 the deed was changed by G.A. Buder, Jr. to St. Louis County.

Separated from the southern part of the park by Interstate 44. The south section has a playground, shelters, and tennis courts.

MORE NEARBY HIKES

Emmenegger Nature Park: Hiking Along Bluffs and Creeks

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Powder Valley Nature Center

Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center has paved trails for families to explore the woods crossing wooden bridges over small rocky brooks and streams.

Dad Hikes: Lone Elk Park

Lone Elk Park in West County St. Louis is the only place where you are guaranteed to see elk or bison in a gated park. Here you can hike the four-mile earthen and rock White Bison Trail in the elk section or you can see the wildlife by driving through the park on a mostly one-lane road

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