Take a Six Mile Hike in Forest Park

You can hike around the perimeter of Forest Park on the Heels Path, passing by the Zoo and Science Center, through the woods, and by many streams and lakes.

This is close to a six-mile walk with 194 feet of elevation gain. This trail goes along the outer area of the park on a gravel and paved surface as is known as the Heels Path. The Wheels Path is a fully paved bike line that you can also walk that follows the same path. I chose the Heels Path since I didn’t have to watch out for bicycles as much.

Hiking around the whole area of Forest Park is a large undertaking and provides an overview of the park. Feel free to do part of this but it might be too much to do as a family.

Starting the Hike at the Visitor Center

Parking in the Visitor Center Lot, I began my hike here by going to the Dennis and Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center. This building originally served as the Lindell Pavilion Streetcar. Built in a Spanish style with a clock tower. Restrooms are open here. The center also has a coffee shop, Forest Park Perk, that is open 7 a.m. – 3 p.m., Wednesday- Sunday, and closed, Monday-Tuesday.

Heading East

I first picked up a detailed map of the park, then headed out the center’s back door and went right along the paved path, first passing by the racquetball courts. At .2 miles I crossed Cricket Drive.

Then I came to the Spanish Cannon “Examinador.” The copper Spanish cannon, a muzzleloader weathered to a green patina, is almost 12 feet long. Forged in 1783. Its name means “The Inspector.”

Cabanne House

Off-trail at .4 miles to the left of Union Boulevard is the Cabanne House. I stopped to take pictures of it. Modeled after the first brick farmhouse west of the Mississippi River built by Jean Pierre Cabanne in what is now Forest Park in 1819.

Constructed in 1875 it served as a home for the park superintendents and is now used for weddings and special events.

General Franz Sigel

At the corner of Union and Grand Drive is the bronze statue of General Franz Sigel statue on a horse. Sigel was a German American who served in the Union Army during the Civil War.

The trail crosses Union and a stream is on the right. On the left is the former fish hatchery ponds.

At .7 miles I cross Grand Drive. On the left is Round Lake which has a historic fountain and is currently in restoration.

Then I come to a stream again and a trail on the right leads to the Victorian Bridge. I check it out before continuing on the Heels Trail.

Victorian Foot Bridge

Built in the late 1880s, the black metal Victorian Foot Bridge provides a pedestrian route to the park from a one-time streetcar stop.

*A view of the bridge after crossing it.*

On the other side of the bridge are many steps that lead out of the park and to the bronze Frank Blair Statue and the Jewish Tercentenary Memorial. Walking from there you can enter the dining and shopping district of the Central West End.

Going to the right. — *Going to the right*.

Jefferson Lake

Then at 1.1 and 1.2 miles, I cross two bridges near Jefferson Lake.

Next, I am on the west shore of the lake. I spot a blue heron along the shoreline.

I come to Clayton Avenue at 1.5 miles. To the left is Bowl Lake which is being renovated along with the nearby Seven Pools waterfall.

By the St. Louis Science Center

On the grounds of the St. Louis Science Center on the right of the trail is a Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus Rex standing upright with their long tail on the ground.

Fighter jet/ Photo taken on a winter walk.

Up the hill and off trail from the dinosaurs is a blue F/A-18B Hornet fighter jet. The aircraft is 56 feet long, 40 feet 5 inches wide, and 15 feet 4 inches tall, and clocks a top speed of Mach 1.8, or just over 1300 miles per hour.

Looking Up/ Photo taken on a winter walk. — *Looking Up/* Photo taken on a winter walk.

Also off the trail and down by the circle drive in front of the science center is the 33.3-foot, 7,000-pound Looking Up statue constructed by St. Louis native Tom Friedman. Looking Up represents humans pondering space and the stars.

Next, the path heads toward Interstate 64 and the back of the St. Louis Planetarium with its white circular roof. In winter they put a large red bow on it.

Mounted Police Stables

At 1.8 miles I walk along the front of the Mounted Police Stables. A brown and white spotted horse was out by the fence.

Then at 2 miles, the path goes around baseball fields.

Jewel Box and Zoo Area

Near McKinley and Clayton Avenue intersection at 2.4 miles is the Jewel Box, an Art Deco and glass greenhouse that houses palm trees and other flora that do not survive in winter. In front is a reflecting pool.

Before I walked through a tunnel under Hampton Avenue at 2.7 miles, I stopped to take a picture of the Animals Always sculpture by the St. Louis Zoo, the largest in any public zoo in the United States. The 100-ton Cor-Ten steel installation includes more than 60 animals arranged in a jungle-like setting of ferns, plants, and trees.

Next, I went by the stone soo sign that you can see from Interstate 64. When I was a kid, I would look for this sign when we came into the city to know we were close to the zoo.

Along Interstate 64

Interstate 64 runs close by along this part of the walk. At 3.2 miles the trail crosses Tamm Avenue. On the other side of Interstate 64 to the east is the Turtle Sculpture Playground with its large cement turtles. It is worth checking out if you have the time and have your kids with you.

Then the pathway goes into the woods before coming to a picnic ground. At 3.5 miles the trail crosses another paved path.

The Wheels and Heels trails cross together at Wells Drive.

*Up above Skinker Boulevard with connections to the Kennedy Forest.*

Following Skinker Boulevard

The path goes along the Wheels Trail then at 3.9 branches to the right and goes up along a hillside through woods. The trail to the right goes into the Kennedy Forest with its own forested paths.

Then the trail goes back down to Skinker for the rest of the way.

Across the busy street are large homes, tall apartment buildings, and churches.

Musicians Memorial

Not from the intersection of Lagoon Drive and Skinker at 4.7 miles is the Musicians Memorial. This is off trail along Lagoon on the right, although there is not a path to it and you have to head through the grass.

Dedicated in May 1925, it honors Owen Miller and Otto Ostendorf, who were members of the St. Louis Symphony.

Washington University

Now on the left is Washington University, a large private university, with a sprawling campus.

At 4.8 miles the trail goes to the right on Lindell Boulevard.

East on Lindell Boulevard

Heading east along Lindell Boulevard I saw large mansions, some done in the Tudor style or another done in Art Deco or even Mission style.

*Benches can be found along the route. Flowers bloom around one when I took a walk in the spring on the trail.* Forest Park Golf Course grounds are behind it.

Forest Park Golf Course is to the right.

At 5.5 miles I had to use a closed road in front of the Missouri History Museum to continue the walk since the museum grounds are being restored.

Taking a paved port of the Heels trail back to the Visitor's Center. — *Taking a paved port of the Heels trail back to the Visitor’s Center.*

Almost to the Visitor's Center — *Almost to the Visitor’s Center*

Then at 5.6 miles just past Washington Drive look for the paved portion of the Heels Drive going at a diagonal towards the Visitor’s Center where the walk ends.

*Look for these maps along the trail to help guide you along.*

Final Thoughts

The is a long walk and gives you a great oversight of the entire walk. I enjoyed the start of the trail the best since this section is farthest away from the main roads.

It is mostly flat, but it did take me almost two hours to complete as I stopped and checked out sites and took photos along the way.

It was nice to see the horse, see the dinosaurs, walk along the creeks and lakes, or admire the huge mansions along Lindell Boulevard.

Short History of Forest Park

June 24, 1876: Forest Park officially opens consisting of 1,371 acres, and exceeds New York’s Central Park by more than 500 acres.
1904: The World’s Fair takes place in the park and more than 20 million attendees visited the Fair between April 30 and December 1, 1904 — upwards of 100,000 people per day.
1910: The city purchased its first exhibit, the Flight Cage, from the Smithsonian Institution following the 1904 World’s Fair. Established in 1910 in Forest Park was the St. Louis Zoo.
1917: A coalition raised the funds and interest to build the 10,000-seat Municipal Theatre or the Muny, as it came to be known. The theatre’s first productions were “Aida” and “I Pagliacci.”
1923: Deemed an “inexcusable nuisance” was the River des Peres by the Missouri Supreme Court. St. Louis residents pass a bond issue, permanently sending it underground forever through the park.
1936: Opening of the Jewel Box. It later achieved national recognition for its design.
1986: Forest Park Forever, a private, nonprofit organization, was founded to work in partnership with the City of St. Louis to make Forest Park the finest urban park in the nation.

History provided by Forest Park Forever

NOTE: I didn’t stop at any of the many museums such as the St. Louis Science Center, St. Louis Art Museum the Missouri History Museum, St. Louis Zoo (all free), or other attractions in the park since this would take me more than a day to do.

Playground

To the left of the Visitor is the Variety Wonderland Playground designed for all children – able-bodied and those with disabilities.

DETAILS

Drive: Take Interstate 64 to Exit 39 and go north on Hampton Avenue. You will enter the park from there. The park is a mixture of one-way streets so follow the signs to where you want to be. Be warned sometimes they close streets, so again follow the signs.

Hours: Park is closed from 10 pm – 6 am

Address of the Visitor’s Center: 5595 Grand Dr, St. Louis, MO 63112

MORE FOREST PARK EXPLORING

Kennedy Forest Hike

Take a walk deep in the woods crossing streams and through prairie grass in Forest Park at Kennedy Forest.

St. Louis Art Museum: Sculpture Garden Walk

Sculptures grace the grounds of the St. Louis Art Museum and in the Grace Taylor Broughton Sculpture Garden. The sculpture park is in the back of the Art Museum and you can also see more sculptures throughout the area around the art museum.