Fall Hikes: Don Robinson State Park

See a sandstone canyon with its cave-like rock shelter and cross-clear trickling streams at Don Robinson State Park.

The park also has other trails and includes the former treetop residence of Don Robinson along with a cement lookout complete with rocking chairs.

SANDSTONE CANYON HIKE

I hiked the 4-mile Sandstone Canyon Trail blazed in Red. Since I explored the canyon I hiked more like 4.2 miles with 551 feet of elevation gain.

**Trail from the upper parking area to the trailhead.**

Also, you might have to walk further depending upon parking that is up the road from the trailhead by the cement terrace, restrooms, and former residence of Don Robinson.

Starting the Hike

I began my hike in the morning and parked near the trailhead. This hike goes up and down through the canyon with elevation going from 270 feet to 550 feet in the valley to 820 feet near the hilltops.

Paved at first. After a short way, you come to a covered bench where the loop begins. I went to the left on the paved trail.

If you go right, which is unpaved, you have the option to take a connector trail for a short out and back to the main feature here, which is the sandstone canyon. I talked more about this below on a hike I did with my son.

The paved trail continued and ended at another coverer bench. The unpaved trail continued straight ahead.

Going Towards the Canyon

This part of the trail is wide and follows what might have been a field road. Then goes to the right towards the canyon.

I kept a lookout for red trail markers on the trees. They are here fairly often so as long as you see them in front of you, then you are going the right way.

Next, I came to some wooden steps and now closer to the stream bed that created the canyon.

A short path goes to the creek and I find a former dam now broken into almost boulder-like portions.

Then I cross a brook using a log then spot a cave-like rock shelf before heading back through the woods.

Another crossing involves stepping stones people have left behind.

Up above me is a narrow ravine.

On the right along the trail is a huge area filled with lime and dark green moss growing on the rocky terrain.

As I walk the area below me becomes a large canyon. I step out on short viewpoints watching my way closely, though.

Down by the brook, I spot three green rocks almost in a row.

Main Canyon

Then I come to a turn-off. The trail on the left crosses a creek before going down into the main part of the canyon.

I explore this area. It is a huge rock shelf that dwarfs people if you stand inside of it. The rock shelf is orange, white, and brown, a mixture of colors the more you look.

Then I walk further along the creek as the canyon walls are high above me. Turning around when the creek goes up.

I walk back to the main canyon floor once more. At one point I look out with a cave effect since it goes deep into the rock. ( Main Photo)

Next, I notice a black rock waterfall, mostly dry since it has not rained in a while, although surrounded by yellow leaves in autumn.

Heading back to the main trail I stop to admire the creek that has small waterfalls and deep pools as it goes down towards the canyon floor.

Back on the Main Trail

Now I go left following the creek and finding a creek-created pond filled with bright yellow leaves.

Then the trail goes up and meets the White Connector Trail which goes back to the parking lot. I go to the left now away from the canyon and into the hills.

Hill Walk

This part begins through thick groves of trees.

Then I walk through a rocky terrain.

Eventually, this trail rounds a ridge and I have far-off views through the trees.

For a way, I see white cliffs with deep crevices and two create a face in the rock.

An evergreen grove creates an area of greenery.

A deep rock cut on the right probably has a waterfall during wetter weather.

Then I am back on the other part of the paved trail leading to the trailhead.

Final Thoughts

The best part of the hike was at the beginning going to the left and being above the canyon. If you wanted a shorter hike, I would combine this section with the White Connector. Overall on a fall day, this was a great hike to see autumn colors with the canyon walls.

WHITE CONNECTOR HIKE

I did an earlier shorter hike with my son Andrew and our dog Chewie combing the White Connector Trail with a section of Sandstone Canyon Trail and back.

In this walk, I had to park up near the former residence of Don Robinson for about a mile hike. This shorter hike was easier for my son.

The former residence is now in disrepair. — *The former* residence is *now in disrepair*.

Treetop House

We first walked around the former residence of Don Robinson. The only room in the house that was heated was his bedroom upstairs I had read. The place is in disrepair and there is a fence all around it.

It is an interesting structure, wooden in most parts with some masonry. In the second story, you can see a long room with lots of windows.

I can’t quite figure out what it originally looked like. It has a rocky front that might have been the original place and he kept adding on other sections.

*Cement lookout complete with rocking chairs*

On the left side of the house is a huge cement patio, that had once been a swimming pool, that now includes rocking chairs.

Then we took a short paved path down where the Sandstone Canyon Trail begins. (Talked about earlier.)

We came to the connector and headed downhill. It was muddy in places and I had to help him some and figure out the best way to go without slipping in too much mud.

Along this trail, we came to a very low natural bridge. I thought about squatting down and walking through it but it was filled with leaves and there might be snakes, so maybe next time if it is drier.

*Andrew takes a moment to play in the stream along the walk.*

After going down the connector .2 miles we made it to the Sandstone Canyon Trail.

*Andrew stopped for a moment on the rocky terrain.*

Then we took the short trail that led to the main canyon.

My son enjoyed exploring the canyon before we headed back the way we came.

*This picture provides a better scale of how massive the canyon is with people under it.*

Final Thoughts

This was a great hike for the kid since it was not too long, and we came to the best parts quickly. The connector also goes by the small natural bridge which adds to the interest of the hike.

PARK HISTORY

Named after Don Robinson. He was a self-made St. Louis-area businessman who became successful by producing and marketing the “Off” stain remover.

With his profits, he began buying rugged and wooded countryside in the Jefferson County area because in his words it was “wild and wooly with lots of canyons.”

Robinson bequeathed this 800 acres of land to the state of Missouri following his death in 2012.

*The trailhead is closer to the main parking area but below it.*

OTHER HIKE: LaBarque Hills Trail

A 2.4-mile loop trail on the western half of the park. It navigates through sandstone woodlands in the lower elevation with dolomite woodlands above.

DETAILS

Drive: Take Interstate 270 to exit 3 for Missouri Highway 30 and go southwest. Make a right onto Gravois Road before you get to Northwest High School in Cedar Hill. Then a quick left onto S. Byrnesville Road and stay on this road making a left in Byrnesville. Next, look for the Don Robinson State Park sign on your right. Know that the road goes one way when you are close to the parking area and goes up into the hills.

Hours: 7 a.m. – 9 p.m., Daily

Address: 9275 Byrnesville Rd, Cedar Hill, MO 63016