While exploring Queeny Park, I discovered horses jumping obstacles across hilly terrain, as well as shoreline walks near tranquil ponds. Up on the Hill I turned into the park off Weidman Road and then made the first left onto a road that led to a parking lot upon the ridge in the park. Starting the Hawk Ridge Trail I headed down a short trail from…
Walking along Pickle Creek with its rapids and small waterfalls made for an enchanting hike as the creek gurgled beside me at Hawn State Park. Overview of Hawn State Park This 4,656-acre park has it all with sandy-bottom streams, stately pine, and oak trees along with exposed rock areas throughout the park. Hawn State Park was named for Helen Coffer Hawn, who had been a…
Deer Creek Greenway meanders alongside the picturesque Deer Creek, passing through suburban neighborhoods and landscapes adorned with native plants. I walked 4.2 miles out and back along this paved trail, which has 177 feet of elevation gain. It crosses Deer Creek several times and currently ends in Lorraine Davis Park, honoring an influential African American teacher. Starting the Walk I parked in the lot for…
On the Zombie West Trail, go into a shallow cave below a cliff overhang and listen to the sound of a dripping waterfall. This is a 7.2-mile hike with 443 feet of elevation gain, and I would rate it as difficult in parts due to hills and rocky terrain. However, there are some easy sections along the valley section of the walk. This trail is…
Hike along the clifftops and through dark hollows and explore the mysterious Zombie Trail East in Wildwood, Missouri. This rocky hike spans 7.4 miles with a 381-foot elevation gain. The trail has various surfaces, including gravel, pavement, and natural terrain. The trail does not have on-site parking, and you enter it from the Al Foster Trailhead. Why Is It Called Zombie Trail? Stories of hauntings…
Heartland Park includes the destination playground, Jake’s Field of Dreams, and a paved trail around a lake and prairie in Wentzville, Mo. My son explored the playground first, then rode his bike while I walked the paved trail through the park. JAKE’S FIELD OF DREAMS PLAYGROUND Story of Jake Jake had always dreamed of playing sports while growing up, but his early diagnosis of Duchenne…
Hike along paved paths through forests and hills, passing playgrounds at James S. McDonnell Memorial County Park in St. Ann, Mo. Overview This is a 1.3-mile loop hike on an asphalt trail with a 102-foot elevation gain. It took me about 25 minutes to complete. McDonnell Park was initially called Adie Road Park. In 1980, its name was officially changed to James S. McDonnell Memorial…
A view from 300-foot high bluffs, some of the highest along the Missouri River, await you at Grand Bluffs Conservation Area near Hermann, Mo.
Longview Farm Park has a paved path around a horse pasture and lake in the woods and a large playground for kids.
A walk in Moody Park (Longacre Park) takes you past a woodsy-themed playground and along the shoreline of a lake. My son and I walked a 1.5-mile paved loop with a gentle incline, gaining 19 feet in elevation in this 90-acre park. We started our visit by spending some time at the playground. In the late August each year, the park hosts the Midwest Salute…
