There are several popular hiking trails in St. Louis. Some of them are Confluence Trail, Meramec Highland Quarry Trail, Sandstone Canyon Trail, and Bee Tree Lake Loop. Each one offers a unique hiking experience, and each has its own charm and history. You can read more about them by reading St. Louis Sprout & About magazine.
Confluence Trail
If you’re a nature lover, you’ll love the Confluence Trail. This trail offers scenic views of the Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois Rivers. It’s also home to an outdoor interpretive display and trail brochure. Both will help visitors learn about environmental stewardship, the Corps’ mission, and historical events. The trail is also an excellent learning resource for both traveling individuals and local schools.
This easy-to-moderate hiking trail features a sculpture park, an 1800s graveyard, and a kids’ story woods. The trail winds through wooded paths and past a large lake. Along the way, hikers can stop to view two dozen sculptures. Life-sized bronze settlers line the Westward Journey section of the trail. Three Sisters are a group of bronze sculptures situated on an island in the lake.
Meramec Highland Quarry Trail
Hiking in this area is a great way to enjoy the springtime. The warm weather and budding trees make the area a wonderful place to visit. This hiking trail has plenty of wildlife to see, and it is especially colorful during spring. During this time, thousands of daffodils can be seen near Pinetrum Lake. You can also see bluebells, which bloom in April. You can buy tickets online, and the admission fee is only $5 for adults. Children under 12 are free.
Located west of downtown St. Louis, this trail is 7.0 miles long. It is accessible from Hanley Road and S Brentwood Boulevard. It is also close to Lorraine Davis Park.
Sandstone Canyon Trail
The Sandstone Canyon Trail is a paved trail that starts at the picnic area and continues through the woods. The trail has benches and picnic tables and is well-marked with red arrows to guide hikers through the loop. This trail is accessible to people of all fitness levels, and it has handicap parking. The trail goes through a sandstone canyon and is a great place to see butterflies.
Sandstone Canyon Trail is less than an hour away from St. Louis and is the perfect hiking destination if you’re looking for a unique canyon experience. This trail features an expansive sandstone canyon, waterfalls, ruins, and tropical-looking plants. Many locals go hiking on the Sandstone Canyon Trail to enjoy the scenery and the breathtaking rock formations.
Bee Tree Lake Loop
Hiking the Bee Tree Lake Loop trail is a great way to explore nature near St. Louis, Missouri. The trail winds around a small lake and branches out into the green hills. Hikers can stroll through the flowers pollinated by worker bees, and enjoy the sweeping views of the Mississippi River.
There are several trails to choose from. The Crow’s Roost trail leads to an overlook and then turns into the Fishermen’s Trail, which circles Bee Tree Lake. There is a parking area at the end of this trail. You can also choose to hike along the Mississippi Trail, which features scenic overlooks of the river and Mississippi River.
Another trail worth trying is the Missouri Flower Trail. This trail goes through fields of colorful Missouri flowers. This trail is wheelchair accessible and is popular with families and hikers alike. It’s also a great place to see wildlife, including deer and cackling geese.
Pere Marquette Outer Loop
Pere Marquette State Park is a protected 8,050-acre area located near Grafton, Illinois, at the confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. The park features a variety of hiking trails. The park is also home to a wildlife refuge.
The park has been home to hundreds of bald eagles during the winter season. The park also features a visitor center with enlightening exhibits and videos. The park also has three group camps and a youth tent camp.
The Outer Loop Trail is located at Pere Marquette State Park, about an hour north of St. Louis. You can hike on the path for 7 miles and enjoy the scenery. The park also offers some great overlooks and is the perfect place to enjoy a hike in the fall.