One doesn’t have to venture too far afield to find adventure in St. Louis. The greater metro area is packed with parks, greenways, conservation areas, and outdoor recreation hot spots. The hard part is deciding where to go first. This list is just the tip of the iceberg—St. Louis and the metro area have loads of outdoor places to explore and enjoy. Stretching more than 128 miles, the Great Rivers Greenway network of greenways and paved paths, for instance, links parks and recreation areas across the metro area and is ideal for walking, running, socializing, commuting, and connecting to nature and history.
STROLLING
At 1,346 acres, Forest Park is the crown jewel of outdoor spaces in St. Louis—and 30 percent larger than Central Park in NYC. It’s good for nearly every imaginable activity: walking, cycling, paddling, paddle-boarding, golfing, baseball, archery, picnics, hot air balloon races…and that’s not even to mention its cultural institutions. Tower Grove Park boasts elaborate gazebos, wide walking lanes, and a meticulous design, as well as plentiful trees and ample places to take a stroll. At 180 acres, Carondelet Park is the city’s third-largest park. Its paved walking paths wind among undulating green spaces and sparkling ponds and past the beautiful boathouse. Just north of Sunset Hills, the 105-acre Laumeier Sculpture Park is an internationally acclaimed open-air arts destination. Named for the oldest active military installation west of the Mississippi, Jefferson Barracks Park boasts the 2.5-mile Dennis Schick Trail, along with several museums detailing the barracks’ role in American military history.
HIKING
Located in Wildwood, 2,441-acre Babler State Park offers miles of hiking trails, along with a range of campsites. Farther north, the 8,398-acre Weldon Spring Conservation Area is packed with hiking possibilities, from the Lewis & Clark trails (8.5 and 5.5 miles, respectively) to the 11-mile Lost Valley trail. A St. Louis legend, the rugged Chubb Trail climbs and descends before tracing the Meramec River. The stretch from West Tyson County Park to Lone Elk Park is popular with hikers and mountain bikers alike. Situated just north of Grafton, Pere Marquette State Park has several hiking trails overlooking the Mississippi River valley, and its historic lodge offers welcome respite after a long trek. A West County mainstay, Queeny Park has a great network of trails that cater to runners of all ability levels. Look for deer and wild turkey along the way. Winding down switchbacks through a hillside forest, the heart-pounding Bluff View Trail connects with the Al Foster Trail network, opening up a variety of trails and terrain for runners and mountain bikers alike.
CYCLING
Celebrating its 30th anniversary last year, the beloved Katy Trail is a rails-to-trails crushed gravel path that starts east of St. Charles, in Machens, and stretches 237 miles across the state to Clinton. Closer to home, Penrose Park is one of only 27 velodromes in the United States. A favorite among local mountain bikers, Castlewood State Park has a bit of everything, from lung-busting climbs to screaming downhills. Mountain bikers also flock to the Rock Hollow trails (Zombie East and Zombie West, most notably), accessed by way of the Bluff View and/or Al Foster Trail, which offer berms, drops, and other features that avid cyclists crave. Local trail builders have done serious work at Cliff Cave County Park, developing a network of features and challenging trails for riders of every skill level. And Eureka Mountain Bike Park, opened in 2020, is a mountain biker’s dream and the first park of its kind in the metro area, with drops, berms, rollers, and a side-by-side slalom course.
PADDLING
The Missouri, Mississippi, and Illinois rivers are an indescribable boon to the St. Louis area. After all, they are what brought people here to start. The rivers and floodplains present a vast untamed wilderness right in St. Louis’ backyard. Canoe and kayak outfitter Big Muddy Adventures leads memorable trips. Not quite ready for the great rivers but still seeking adventure? At 218 miles, the Meramec River provides countless opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, standup paddleboarding, and more. Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park’s namesake is an ideal spot for kayaking and canoeing. There’s a boat rental area, and sunset standup paddleboarding yoga classes are wildly popular. (Cyclists and joggers also frequent the 3.8-mile paved path that encircles the lake, and those looking for another means of high-speed fun can try Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park.) Among St. Louis’ best-loved experiences is renting a paddleboat, canoe, or a kayak from The Boathouse at Forest Park and going for a spin to the picturesque Grand Basin.
WILDLIFE
St. Louis’ plethora of waterways provides vital refuge to thousands of migratory birds moving through the region. The Audubon Center at Riverlands spotlights these avian visitors, providing information, viewing platforms, and volunteer opportunities. The 6,987-acre August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area, near Weldon Spring, offers hiking, biking, fishing, hunting, shooting, and other outdoor activities. Lone Elk Park is famous for its herds of elk, deer and bison, and the nearby World Bird Sanctuary has rescued raptors from all parts of the globe.
