Wet weather waterfalls and bluff-top views above the Meramec River are found at Myron and Sonya Glassberg Family Conservation Area.
Parking At Glassberg Conservation Area
A small gravel lot for the conservation area is on the left off of Highway FF south of Eureka, Mo.
I headed along the main trail to the loop passing by a memorial to Myron and Sonya Glassberg who donated to the development of the 634-acre conservation area.
The start of the 3-mile trail is an old road and follows a fast-moving creek on the day I was there due to recent rains.
Going Left
I decided to go left and do the part of the trail that went through woods, fields, and the upper part of the park first.
First Stop
I took a side trail at the start of this hike that went to a wet weather waterfall over green rock. I walked around it, seeing where it flowed from on top.
Through the Forest
After the waterfall, I headed down the trail walking along a wide lane with tall evergreens above me. Next, I turned to the right up into fields and woods leaving the road that ended at a gate in the other direction.
Woods and Fields
Hiking here went through the forest then back through open land. It was muddy so it was a slog today. It took me a while before the trail went up into rockier terrain along the Meramec River bluffs.
Along the Meramec
A side trail leads to a lookout once on the bluffs. On the way I found a large boulder with a poem that reads:
I came to the woods because I wished to live deliberately to front only the essential facts of life and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.
Henry David Thoreau 1817-1863
Following the Bluffs
Bluffs with views of the river below filled this area. I wandered around here on the cliffs high above the fields and river.
Walking further along a side trail to the right of the lookout I began to notice on my Alltrails app that I was heading away from the trail. I had thought this trail would loop back but it didn’t. So I had to backtrack up the hill.
If you want to do some extra hiking this is a scenic walk, but it is a workout.
Back at the Trail
The loop trail heads back down the river hills passing by a muddy pond.
The conservation department had drained the lake here for a more natural environment. Today it was partially filled once more from the rain.
Along the Creek
After stopping here the trail widens as part of another old lane and goes along a babbling brook filled with water today.
I came across a wet-weather waterfall with suds as it rushed to large creeks. If I had brought a lunch I might have stopped here and taken in the sight and sounds of the water.
At the Start
This trail continued along the creek with the gurgling of water as background sound. I walked back to the car stopping one last time at the other waterfall before heading to the car.
Final Thoughts on Glassberg Conservation Area
This is a great hike after a rainy day with the water flowing through the area. Even with the mud, it paid off to be here with all the water flowing around me.
The views along the cliffs and taking my time to walk around the cliffs here added to my enjoyment of the hike.
If you only wanted a short hike I think going to the right and heading straight for the lookout gives you the best of the walk.
DETAILS
Drive: Take exit 264 off of Interstate 44 and go south on Hwy 109 in Eureka, Mo. Then take State Hwy FF west for 4.3 miles and look for the gravel parking lot on the right.
Hours: 4 am – 10 pm
Address: State Hwy FF, Pacific, MO 63069
Nearby Hike
LaBarque Creek Conservation Area: Waterfalls and a Small Cave
Small waterfalls splash across sandstone brooks and a rock shelter cave can be found at LaBarque Creek Conservation Area south of Eureka, Mo.
More St. Louis West County Hikes
Much to Explore at Babler State Park
Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park has a cave-like spring, Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) architect, and many hiking trails to explore.
Many Trails to Choose From at Rockwoods Reservation
Hiking in Rockwoods Reservation you come across caves, old mines, and a spring. In this 1,880- acre conservation area just outside of St. Louis, you can hike several different trails through forest, grassland, and hills.
Dad Hikes: Along In the Woods at Rockwoods Range
Rockwoods Range Conservation Area is a wooded area in St. Louis West County that is not as busy as the other nearby parks so if you want a hike close to St. Louis alone then this is the trail for you.
Hiking Fox Creek Spur Loop at Rockwoods Range
On a spring day, I did about a 3.2-mile hike combining parts of four trails for a loop at Rockwoods Range Conservation Area. This hike includes an uphill hike and then downhill following a brook with small waterfalls and green lichen rock.
Dad Hikes: Spending the Day At Castlewood State Park
Cliffside walks along the Meramec River and wading in Kiefer Creek were part of our day at Castlewood State Park.
This park has an interesting past and is known for its trail along the Meramec River and especially the cliffs at the top.
HIking at a Route 66 Ghost Town
Hiking along a former street in a ghost town near the skeletal remains of a Route 66 bridge across the Meramec River was my destination. This area has a lot of history, from once being a resort town to becoming contaminated by the dangerous chemical of dioxin.
