We enjoyed a moderately strenuous (to strenuous by Midwest standards) hike on the Green Rock Trail…read moreat Rockwoods. Note that the trail is listed as 8.4 miles out and back on AllTrails, and does not loop back to the office. Near the beginning of the trail, you will see a sign that says "short loop". If you stay on the regular Green Rock Trail (for about 2 miles or so) you will see the other end of the "short loop", which is also marked "to office". This will bring you back to the short loop marking near the entrance, and can make for a 3-4 miles total trip. We hiked beyond this point, then backtracked and returned via the short loop for a total trip distance of 4.38 miles and 807 ft of total ascent. This is some good elevation gain for Missouri. Early Spring was a nice time to hike as it was cool and dry. It was not as pretty, though, as it was still brown from Winter. We look forward to exploring more trails at this location, and seeing what the rest of the park has to offer.

Went here for a nice 3.2 mile loop hike here with the dogs. We passed maybe 4 people on the trail,…read moreit was pretty sparse which was great. It was also convenient because the trail was right inside the park entrance. The hills and valleys were cool to walk though, neat for Missouri lol. The trail was well maintained and easy to follow, not too muddy or buggy early spring. Wish this place was closer, we will be back!

Another beautiful St. Louis County "park"/trail. There are a couple of picnic tables near the…read moreparking lot along with portable toilets. Otherwise, this "park" is really just a trail head and parking lot. The trail is open to bikes, horses, & pedestrians. Take the gradually descending path a half mile from the parking lot to the scenic overlook. From there, the terrain changes from a steep bluff into a gradual slope resulting in a leisurely hike through the woods. Two miles from the scenic overview, the Bluff View trail ties into the Al Foster trail. It was a great family hike and I can see this trail becoming one of our family's favorites.

(AUGUST 2025) I'd never seen the sunflower fields that my friends post about with their children…read moreand families until recently. It almost seemed unbelievable some of the imagery stemming from these 7,000 acres of natural beauty and outdoor recreation in the heart of scenic Missouri wine county. Once you are off highway 40, it's 50-55mph WINE-dy back roads to get there. Once you get into the turn in, it's a graveled road with a trailhead to the Katy Trail. Do not even think about having a clean car upon entering this place. It will get dirty and dusty. There are also (surprisingly) random humans running in the middle of the narrow driveway leading up to the sunflower field and ending at a boat ramp. I never understood why people never stick to one side of the road while on foot amongst VEHICLES. I find my friend and we exit our vehicles to begin our mini photoshoot in the sunflower fields. I felt like Candy(wo)man as the bees tended to the sunflowers while I freaked out thinking they'd sting me with my bright yellow shirt on and black skirt. It was so blissful to see sooo many beautiful BIG butterflies fly around us. The caterpillars were on like every leaf just hanging out like the Caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland. It was nature at its finest. Sunflowers for as far as the eye can see. The sounds of bees (and flies) buzzing about. I tried to relax, and we got a few non-frantic pictures of me. I will wear pants next time and try to relax more. I was invading THEIR space, not the opposite.

4/23/23: Updated this page to accurately reflect the reviews and location…read more WSCA is a Missouri Department of Conservation property left largely in a natural state. Consisting of two interlocking trails, the Lewis and Clark trails can be hiked separately for shorter walks or combined for an 8-mile trek. The trails are moderately strenuous, so good health and physical conditioning are recommended. Both trails descend into deep ravines and ascend to high ridges. Rocks, roots, and ruts make some sections treacherous. If you walk the Clark Trail counter clockwise you'll reach the high bluffs overlooking the Missouri River about 1-1/2 miles--or 30-40 minutes in. It's quite a view and worth the trek.

Rock Hollow trail is a 2.3 mile trail accessible from Ridge Meadows Elementary or via the Al Foster…read moretrail and Bluff View Trail. It is a wide, paved path meandering through the "hollow" between two ridges. From Ridge Meadows, the path gradually descends with many bridge crossings, benches, and rest areas located along the trail. The spring wildflowers fill the area with pops of color. We went on a weeknight and were practically the only ones on the trail, but I imagine it can get crowded with walkers, runners, and bikers on the weekends.

Paved shaded and a decent walk. Got to see a deer. Has a small waterfall. After a good rain the…read morecreek probably has a nice stream. Small view of the river at the end.

This is a spectacular park! I wish I knew about it years ago. If you get a chance, check out the…read moreSt. Charles County Parks site and find a Ranger guided bird tour. Bring some water, save a map, note the restrooms. Plenty of trails, tables, trees. Parking is good. Be prepared for a 2-lane winding road to get here.

Great park for pictures. Go to the area with the bathrooms and two swings, walk down pavement to…read morethe sand area beautiful water and views! The bathrooms avoid, very gross and filled with wasps and stink bugs. So we changed in parking lot.

This is a very flat trial. For most of the trail it is shaded…read more At the end of the trail there is Sherman beach. It is pretty shallow and muddy when we came here. There was also lots of mosquitoes so make sure to bring lots of big spray. I see a lot of people run on this trail. It is neat that there are rail tracks for small train.

This is a great, relatively flat and open, trail. There is a lot of shade and the trail is well…read moremaintained. There were enough people out that you didn't feel completely isolated, but no so many that it felt swarmed like can happen at Castlewood. The length is ~5.5 miles with some spurs that would like up to Castlewood eventually. I've never done the link but know it exists. As an additional shoutout there is a little train in the park too for kids. It is a nice, unique experience for kids. So go for a family walk and let the kids go for a train ride.

For a raw nature experience Howell Island is one of the top spots in the St. Louis area. By "raw" I…read moremean undiluted by development. Except for a gravel parking lot and a few informational signs there's little human imprint to Howell. However, if you're a mall walker, bothered by insects, or fastidious this isn't the place for you. It is a natural area with little maintenance. And it is an island. A hundred yards or so from the parking lot a narrow causeway provides pedestrian access. When the causeway floods, which isn't unusual, Howell is inaccessible except by boat. Though technically in St. Charles County, access to Howell is from St. Louis County off Eatherton Road in west Chesterfield. At over 2,500 acres there's plenty of roaming room. Bicycle and walking paths are mapped. Other Howell activities include fishing, birding, trapping, and hunting. Because Howell accessibility can quickly change following upstream flooding or heavy rains, check the Missouri conservation website before visiting to ensure you can visit. No restrooms or other services here.

Private trail…read more.. Yes, I know it sounds strange but it really is a semi-private trail for residents only. Nonetheless, many nonresidents make great use of this beautiful trail (including yours truly). Gorgeous, tranquil path. Perfect for walking, running, chilling, people watching, sky gazing, meditating, picture taking & whatnot. Short trail but excellent segway to Chesterfield Central Park. #iWillwhatiWant, ~Christy

I just recently discovered this little gem of a trail after walking the trail around Chesterfield…read moreCentral Park. It's a beautiful 1.5 mile walk!