The Sandy Creek Covered Bridge in Jefferson County is a classic fall season view. “This probably doesn’t count as a hike,” St. Louis Hikes wrote on her Instagram post, “but it’s a neat place to check out on the way to other hikes!”
The best kind of hikes? Just after temperatures dip, fall slips in, and the leaves begin to rust. But where to go?
We asked the St. Louisan who runs St. Louis Hikes on Instagram (who asked that she stay anonymous). “I’m no expert,” she's quick to say. “I am just an average person who enjoys hiking.”
It's with this mindset that she is recommending St. Louis–area hikes to her nearly 4,000 followers. Because she notes she's not necessarily an advanced hiker, her trail recommendations are not intimidating.
She originally started the page just to document her own favorite spots. “I was going to so many new places and I was getting confused as to which one had the waterfall or which trail was completely uphill,” she says. Along the way—and aided by her photography—the profile has become a great resource for anyone looking to get out and about. During the pandemic, more and more people have asked her for the best places across the St. Louis region.
So what separates an OK hike from a really good one?
“If there's a good view, I think the hike is worth it,” she says. “There are definitely some trails that are kind of just through the woods and then there's not much else other than it's a good workout and you're in nature. I really enjoy going to trails that have something to look forward to.”
In autumn, there’s plenty. Here are her top hikes for the season.
"These two places are gorgeous in fall, but they're always so busy," she says of Klondike and Castlewood. "The last time I went, I was walking in a line of people." So try to go for unusual times of day as many, many people are looking to this park for their walking or hiking exercise.
Salt Lick Trail, Valmeyer, Illinois:
"The drive out there is the best thing ever," she says. "You're driving through fields on one side and bluffs on the other. It's a big open road, and you see every single color on the trees." The trail itself goes uphill and overlooks picturesque farmland—even prettier with falling leaves.
St. Louis Hikes calls Illinois' Pere Marquette State Park and Hawn State Park classics. This trail has a bonus flowing creek and scenic greenery—or rusty oranges if you plan your trip right.
Devil’s Honeycomb Trail, Hughes Mountain:
This trail is best summed up as a short trip with a big payoff—just look at that view!
Choose between a 5- or 7-mile hike through the woods with views of the Missouri River. It's a trail that experienced hikers might consider a breeze, but St. Louis Hikes notes that it often leaves her exhausted.
In addition to sharing photos, difficulty levels, and what to look for on her Instagram, St. Louis Hikes has also mapped out all of her favorite places. Other adventure—or just pretty view—seekers can use her map to plan their weekends:
Although she's traveled across Missouri and Illinois for hikes, there are still plenty of trailheads she has her eye on. Next up, she's planning trips to Garden of the Gods in Illinois’ Shawnee National Forest, Taum Stauk Mountain State Park (Missouri's highest peak), and the Bell Mountain and Wilderness Trail in Mark Twain National Forest.
