These are the top five hiking books that helped me find the best trails in exploring the terrain of the Midwest in 2022. I return to them for details on finding waterfalls, canyons, mountaintops, springs, or shut-ins. One Hundred Nature Walks in the Missouri Ozarks by Alan McPherson It is a detailed book on the many trails that you can find throughout the Ozarks. This…
Take a short hike among sugar maple trees, by a pond, and through prairie grass at Claire Gempp Davidson Memorial Conservation Area. Come here with the kids they can learn about the natural world with the many information signs and tree identifiers. The walk is .6 mile with a 16-foot elevation gain along a wood chip path with a boardwalk. This area serves as an…
Take a walk around ponds in the woods and let your kids explore nature-themed playgrounds at Bicentennial Park in Belleville, Ill. This hike is .8 miles long with 56 feet of elevation gain. The 43-acre park is not far from the Belleville Crossing Shopping Center and Illinois Highway 15. BICENTENNIAL WALK At the Trailhead My son joined me on the walk and we started it…
Watching mountain bikers go down cliff-like steps and taking in the faraway views is part of the day at West Tyson County Park. My Hike Overview West Tyson County Park has the trailheads of both the Chubb and Flint Quarry Trails. I am starting at the Flint Quarry Trailhead. The Chubb Trailhead is further up the main road to the park. I am hiking the…
Rock Bridge Memorial State Park gives hikers a chance to scramble through caves and see a rock bridge and sinkholes. I went with David and my son. We only had a few hours to explore two sites, but even in that short time, we were left in awe of the place. DEVILS ICE BOX TRAIL This .5-mile rugged trail is primarily a boardwalk. Rock Bridge…
A hike by a clear stream that leads to a waterfall and finding a mineshaft are two highlights of my time at St. Francois State Park.
Hike to a flowing spring and walk along the clear Little Femme Osage Creek on the Lost Valley Trail at Weldon Spring Conservation Area. Parts of this trail follow along old roads so this makes it easier if you are hiking with a friend. Used heavily by mountain bikers so be aware of them as you hike although the good part of that it is…
A spooky name for the heavily wooded area in suburban St. Louis County creates the setting for a hike at Phantom Forest Conservation Area. Where Did the Name Come From? The origin of the name is not so scary. Thirteen acres were donated to the Missouri Department of Conservation in 1994 by Ray and Claire Moore. Ray More was an illustrator and co-creator of The…
The Great Godfrey Maze is usually done with corn, but this year it is filled with hemp, which makes this a whole new adventure. This is due to soil nutrient deficiency and several years of corn crops that failed. Hemp thrives on low-nutrient soil and grows tall, thick, and fast. Bonuses are that it is cheaper to grow and does not require chemical treatments. The…
Hiking through an upland forest, by an oxbow lake, and being spooked on the trail was part of my time at Robertsville State Park. I hiked the 2.8-mile Lost Hill Trail which has 292 feet of elevation gain on a natural surface that can be rocky at times with some up and down. Lost Trail Name “Lost Hill” received its name from the upland hill…
