White Rock Nature Preserve Hike

TEMPORARILY CLOSED– Will provide an update when it opens again.

A clear rocky stream, a sealed cave, and a Mississippi River view highlight our time at White Rock Nature Preserve.

Sign explaining how to go to the trailhead.

Walking to the Trailhead at White Rock Nature Preserve

We parked in the small lot along Bluff Road. When you come here make sure to follow the signs to the trailhead.

Field with purple flowers along the walk along Bluff Road. The gravel road to the trailhead is at the end of the field on the left side of this shot.

First, we walked along Bluff Road to the left of the lot for a short way to a gravel road.

Then headed right down the gravel road crossing a wooden bridge over a small creek.

Signs along the gravel road to the trailhead. — Signs along the gravel road to the trailhead

The gravel road went in two directions one heading to the left into the creek and fields and the other to the right going towards the trailhead.

Finally, we came to another gravel road to the right that went up into the river hills. A gate was at the entrance of the trailhead.

By the trailhead, there is information on the nature preserve and we found trail maps.

Towards a Cave

Now the trail slopes slowly up along a ravine.

This is uphill and leads to Madeline’s Rest by Fogelpole Cave. The rest area has an information board on the cave and bats that live in it. After hiking up we found benches for a water break.

The cave is completely sealed with large rocks to protect the bats.

Past the Cave

This part of the hike was harder as it went more vertical and was not a favorite section of my son.

We kept going, but he was happy to take a break on a bench at the top of the hill. Now we were at the intersection of the one-mile South Ridgetop Trail and the one-fourth-mile North Ridgetop Trail.

North Ridgetop Trail

This trail had some up and down, but nothing like the vertical hike coming up here. It comes out to a point with far-off views of the Mississippi River valley with views of Missouri hills in the far distance. He didn’t want to hike the South Ridgetop Trail so we headed back down.

Down by the Creek

By the bridge, we took some time exploring the rocky creek that flowed through the area.

He threw a stick down and watched it navigate through the water. Then he realized he wanted it back.

He figured out that if he threw rocks the splashes would move the stick closer as it flowed downstream and he gained it back. I liked that he figured this out.

Final Thoughts

With a young child I think hiking the about one mile on the North Ridgetop Trail and back is doable, but a word of warning it is still a climb.

If you have an older child, you might do the South Ridgetop Trail which would be a total of 4 miles altogether. My son’s favorite part of the hike here was the creek.

DETAILS:

Drive: Take Interstate 255 to Illinois across the Jefferson Barracks Bridge and look for Exit 6. Go south on Highway 3 then take the first exit on the left for Palmer Road which becomes Bluff Road. In Valmeyer you will make a left onto Main Street and then a right on S. Mitchell Street/ Bluff Road. Look for White Rock Nature Preserve parking on the left side of the road just before Harris Road.

Hours: 7:30 am – 5 pm

Address: 6438 Bluff Rd, Valmeyer, IL 62295