See a sandstone canyon with its cave-like rock shelter and cross-clear trickling streams at Don Robinson State Park.
Fall Hikes: Don Robinson State Park
Pere Marquette State Park: Goat Cliff and Ravine Hike
Pere Marquette State Park has Illinois River lookouts, rocky cliffs, and springs among technicolor trees in the fall. Along with trails, it has a lodge with an indoor pool, cabins, campgrounds, horse riding, a restaurant, rock climbing, a gift shop, a winery, a tennis court, volleyball courts, shuffleboard courts, and a marina. You could easily spend a long weekend here not only hiking but doing…
Engelmann Farm Park Walk
Walk through grassy fields, among the trees, and by a historic family cemetery at Engelmann Farm Park in O’Fallon, Ill. This park is 143 acres and includes two homesteads circa the 1830s and 1880s. It is on one of the highest points in the Metro East. I hiked 2.5 miles at Engelmann Farm Park with 197 feet of elevation gain doing all the loops and…
Meramec Caverns: A Hike Underground
Walk into a hideout used by the notorious Jesse James bank robber and find huge multi-colored stalactites and stalagmites at Meramec Caverns. On a cold and rainy autumn day, my son and I went underground on a tour of Meramec Caverns. This one-and-a-half-hour-guided tour is 11/4 mile long and includes going up steps and a few places where you have to lower your head. Although,…
Schranz Memorial Park: A Castle Full of Fun
Explore the castle playground which includes towers and boardwalks going in all different directions at Schranz Memorial Park in Swansea, Ill. Castle Playground The castle structure has secret passages and places to hide which allows the kids to have a fun game of Hide and Seek. This game was going on with the kids at the park when we arrived and my son happily joined…
Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site: Whitehaven Tour
See a Civil War general and president’s estate at the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site across the road from the Grant’s Farm entrance. A visit to this national historic site includes a visitor’s center, home, museum, and more. Short History of Ulysses S. Grant in Missouri Known as the victorious Civil War general who saved the Union. He first came to Missouri in 1843….
Walking Grant’s Trail in St. Louis County
Walk along wooded Gravois Creek and near Grant’s Farm where you can see Clydesdale horses frolic in a field near the home of former President Ulysses S. Grant on Grant’s Trail. This hike is on a 9.9-mile paved trail with 267 feet of elevation gain. The path goes along a creek valley then follows along Interstate 55 before ending at the River Des Peres Greenway….
Love Park Hike
The Chipmunk Trail passes by small creeks as it goes up and down forested hills at Love Park in Manchester, Mo. It is a 1.3-mile out-and-back hike with 184 feet of elevation gain. The trail to the Ballfield The trail starts to the right of the parking area at the end of Love Park Road. You will see the trail next to the Ball Field…
See the Birdhouse Garden at Stacy Park
Stacy Park in Olivette, MO offers a nature walk through prairie grass and woods, featuring a garden of birdhouses. I walked a 1.3-mile loop with 59 feet of elevation gain in the park along the paved and woodchip paths. The park is located near Olive Boulevard and is bordered by the Stacy Park Reservoir. Start of Walk I pulled into the parking lot. I started…
Gateway Arch: Riverfront Trail Walk
Views of the Mississippi River, the Gateway Arch, and graffiti art are part of our walk along the Riverfront Trail. This is about a 2.5-mile out-and-back walk along the pavement in St. Louis below the Gateway Arch near the Mississippi River. Our journey was more like three miles since we also went through the Gateway Arch National Park grounds. Starting the Walk I parked on…
