Forested ravines with creek views can be found at Pleasant Ridge Park just north of St. Clair Square Mall in Fairview Heights.
By the Cabin
We started the North Picnic Area Spur Trail near a cabin to hike the Main Trail.
The cabin is the Kinsella family homestead from 1860. It had been restored during the United States Bicentennial in 1976 by the U.S. Army and the City of Fairview Heights.
On the Spur
After passing by the cabin we headed into the woods on the spur. Near the trail, we passed by a large piece of metal machinery.
Then we came to a bridge created by two logs over a small ditch.
Next, we had to walk up a small ravine and here we found a tree angled over the trail and another loose next to it. Andrew climbed around the roots of the tree.
Main Trail
We came to the Main Trail and headed down by a small creek near a huge trunk of a large tree.
Crossing a bridge we came to where two ditches came together to point. The banks were green with moss.
Creek View
The creek flowed fast through ice creating interesting cuts and jags below us. With each season you gain a different perspective of water movement or the land you cross. Sometimes green in spring with flowers or white with snow on cold winter days.
Back Out
We didn’t do the full Pleasant Ridge Main Trail and took a spur back up into the main park up on the hill.
This is the nice thing about the trail system, if you only want to do a section you can take a spur back up to the area of the park along the park road and walk back through grass fields to the parking areas.
Final Thoughts
I would like to come back and walk through more of the trail system. The Main Trail is about a mile total not including the spur trails.
It is rough and narrow, but our son liked going up and down the ridges and crossing the many bridges. So I think it is a good adventure for the kid.
The trail is not well maintained so expect it to be rough in spots, but an interesting place to take a walk near the St. Louis metro area.
DETAILS
Drive: Take Interstate 55/64 out of downtown St. Louis and then exit onto Interstate 64. Next exit onto Highway 159 near St. Clair Square Mall and go north on this highway. Then make a left onto E. Ofallon Drive and look for Pleasant Ridge Road make a left onto this road. Look for the park entrance on your right.
Hours: 8 am – 7 pm daily
Address: 401 Pleasant Ridge Rd, Fairview Heights, IL 62208
Other St. Louis Metro East Hikes
Dad Hikes: Olin Nature Preserve
A bubbly waterfall and a monument to the Underground Railroad were found on the trails at the Olin Nature Preserve.
Illinois Mississippi River Bluffs
My journey today was to explore two trails along the bluffs on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River just south of St. Louis.
Horseshoe Lake State Park
Walking among the green stalks of a cornfield and admiring the lakeside flowers were part of our adventure on Walker’s Island at Horseshoe Lake State Park.
