Halloween Hikes: Arnold City Park

Walking along former residential streets through the bottomland forest was my hike at Arnold City Park.

FIRST HIKE

A gravel parking lot for the hike can be found at the end of Bradley Beach Road past the main area of Arnold City Park. This walk is along gravel roads and parts of them are still used for auto traffic.

Starting the Hike

I began the hike by going north of the parking lot up a gravel road heading to Hollywood Beach Road.

Be aware that this road does have some vehicle traffic on it.

At Hollywood Beach Road I made another right and headed past the “Road Closed” gate and now had the walk to myself.

Hollywood Beach Road

This road follows along the Meramec River.

As I walked, I noticed a clearing with a path and decided to investigate. Going down by the river I found a high foundation with stairs. I assumed this might have been a house on the river at one time.

Near it was an old boat ramp. Peering further down the river I saw an old train bridge.

Back on the gravel road, I came across another structure in the woods.

A short path to the river afforded me better views of the metal railroad bridge supports. Then the trail went under it.

Further on I found overturned stairs laying on the ground. Possibly destroyed by a past flood.

If you continue to look in the woods, you will see more foundations and former rock walls. It is a fascinating area.

Although, don’t get close to the Meramec River which is muddy and deep here as it is close to meeting the Mississippi River. Also, be careful around the remains, stone and metal pieces lay all over the place among the trees. A former area of town lost to nature.

Stop sign and yellow marker on a closed road.

Hollywood Beach Road came to a stop sign and a yellow arrow sign pointing right. Now I was to walk down the Bradly Beach Road section.

Bradley Beach Road

This part of the hike went by old mining pits and muddy ponds. Near one was large stones for some long-ago structure.

I crossed the train tracks and looked both ways and then headed back to the trailhead.

Final Thoughts

This is about a 2.4-mile hike with walkouts to different sites. It was interesting to see the remains of civilization here. You could let your imagination go wild with life on the river at one time before finally the river destroyed it all.

SECOND HIKE

A 1.2-mile hike can be done through the bottomland forest and the city park lake. This includes a .6 mile round loop around the lake and an out and back hike east of the lake. You could do this hike with the first gravel road hike for a 3.6-mile hike, which I did.

Beginning the Hike

I walked down Bradley Beach Road for a short way then went left along a park road finding a paved path that led into the woods.

First, I passed by a muddy ditch that went into the woods.

Then a trail that went to the left which is a connector to a nearby subdivision. Then I came to the lake.

Along the Lake

I walked to the left first on the backside. Backyards of homes were to the south and the shoreline is on the north. This lake sometimes becomes part of the Meramec River during high flood times.

In the water, I saw tadpoles and turtles swimming about.

I passed by a large cypress with its roots in the lake.

I spied a few ducks splashing about.

Then the trail curved around. Another connector trail went to the left leading to another parking area and further into town.

I walked by picnic tables, picnic shelters, restrooms, and a playground.

Then I came back to the trail through the woods and went back to parking.

Final Thoughts

This was a more tranquil walk watching wildlife in the lake and was a nice addition to the hike.

Along Bradly Beach Road with stone foundations in the woods

DETAILS:

Drive: Take Interstate 55 south of Interstate 270. Take exit 195 for Butler Hill Road and make a left onto this road. Next, make a right onto Lemay Ferry Road. Make another left onto Bradley Beach Road and look for parking for the trails at the end of this road.

Hours: 7 a.m. – 8:15 p.m. daily Park can be closed for long periods of time during flooding.

Address: 2400 Bradley Beach Rd, Arnold, MO 63010