Outdoors

“If you like to get outdoors and explore, there are plenty of opportunities to do so in St. Louis; terrain and views vary widely, so you can really get a mix. Many of the hiking spots are also great locations for mountain biking and trail running, if that’s your thing. Short on time? Forest Park is a 1,326-acre urban park, immediately west of the medical school campus and immediately east of the Danforth campus. What FP lacks in elevation, it makes up for in good people watching and proximity to campus. An easy stroll if you want to catch some fresh air or walk your dog between study sessions.”

Kristin P., M1

[caption id="attachment_12636" align="alignleft" width="350"] Nikita S., Elizabeth C., Gopika H., and Amy L. Z. hike at Castlewood State Park.[/caption]

This state park’s trails wind along the banks of the Meramec, with gorgeous views from the bluffs overlooking the river. Expect woods, slick, rocky trails (trail shoes recommended), and lots of wooden steps. This is the closest legit hike you can get near St. Louis, and is a great place to see the fall colors turn.

Creve Coeur Lake trails are mostly flat and paved, but you can hike up the trail behind Dripping Spring for some mild elevation (and if you do this, you’ll see the zipliners swinging through the trees at Go Ape). The main trail (5.7 miles) encircles the lake, and here you’ll have views of dinghy sailboats, paddleboarders, and kayakers.

Queeny Park is a large expanse of land in suburban West County. Expect bucolic rolling hills and rocky, wooded trails (plus some paved portions). Queeny is incredibly dog friendly, and if you don’t have a dog but need some puppy therapy, one lap around Queeny will give you your fix. You’ll probably see some deer, too. The main loop is 4.4 miles, but there are quite a few shortcut trails.

Spend some time hiking the trails, but the main attraction here is the monstrous elephant-shaped boulders, formed from 1.5 billion-year-old granite. Leave the pups at home so you can enjoy a safe climb on the boulders and explore the various messages carved into their faces.

A “shut-in” is a term for a place where the river is narrowed by hard rock, and in this instance, the result is the creation of a natural water park. In the summer months, stop and take a dip in the shut-ins along your 10-mile (or longer) hike. Together with the adjoining Taum Sauk Mountain State Park, this area covers more than 16,000 acres.

Over 750 miles of trails. The Devil’s Honeycomb Trail (1.6 miles) is a must-see — named for its clusters of polygonal columns of rhyolite, located at the highest point on Hughes Mountain.

Head over to Illinois to hike high along the banks of the Illinois River. Stunning views, particularly during early fall. Notable for being a nesting place for bald eagles in January and February, so if you’re a bird lover, patriot or bona fide ornithologist, keep this on your radar.