Located in Edwardsville Illinois,this is a nice 40 acre park with wetlands,woodlands and…read moregrasslands. Paved and gravel trails are well marked . Most trails circle the small lagoon. Pets are welcome. Plenty of parking.

The Watershed Nature Center is a hidden gem in Edwardsville! The folks who maintain the place do…read moresuch a good job making sure this area is preserved for nature and humans to enjoy together. You never know what kind of animals you may run into out here, and there is a beautiful view everywhere you turn! The actual nature center itself is excellent for learning about local wildlife, you might even get to meet one of the amazing folk who helps keep this place beautiful!

We enjoyed a visit to the largest archaeological site in the U.S…read more Quick visit advice: Park at the visitor center or across the street at Monk's Mound (if there are any spots in this smaller lot). Walk to and up Monk's Mound, which is the largest. I recommend reading the signs about the history of the mounds. Background: I visited just after finishing a book called "America Before" by Graham Hancock. He extensively covers the geoglyphs (mounds) across the Americas and describes their site-line survey complexity. They are basically dirt mound versions of Stonehenge, and line up with solar events during the equinoxes. The amount of precision from an ancient hunter-gatherer society is absolutely fascinating. I highly recommend a read before visiting.

We were in the area so we had to go check this place out, right? The history along should garner…read moreinterest. Pulling up, my kids were not amused. "What's with the big hill dad?" Oh kids... I mean it does look like just a big hill but... As a history buff, I thought it was kind of cool. We climbed the stairs to the top (great work out, a couple folks were doing just that) to get a view of the area. Not much at all is built up around this area, the small town that it is located in is barely a blip before you enter the St. Louis metropolitan area. It is actually pretty remarkable how rural this area is being only miles outside of St. Louis. Anyways, I tried to get my kids to understand that the people that built these mounds did not have Bobcats, dump trucks, or any huge equipment. We are talking woven baskets and such. Still not impressed. At least we stood on the top and say we have been there. I suggest you do the same. Check it off the list and say you once stood on one of the tallest pre-Columbian structures in North America. Can't say that every day!

Went with a group of boy scouts and the staff were all great with our boys that are a range of…read moreages. There is a wide range of climbing levels offered and even those who rarely/never climb had an opportunity to experience the evening. Always a good time out here no matter who you go with.

Staff is friendly! I'm maybe a V4 climber, but I really enjoyed the routes I climbed! I would…read morerecommend!

We just had our wedding here and it was absolutely amazing and beautiful! We used the outdoor fire…read morepit for our ceremony and then the nature center for our reception and it was perfect for our small intimate wedding (we had about 48 people). It was such a great value too, we rented the lodge and fire pit area for the entire day for less than $300 (not including the deposit which we got back after cleaning and turning in the keys.) The natural greenery made for such gorgeous outdoor photos and also reduced the need for extra outdoor decor aside from our arbor and chair sashes. Highly recommend for small events, it was a life and budget saver for us when our original venue booking fell through and I'm actually grateful that it worked out this way because the Nature Center hands down made our wedding unforgettable.

Easy walking trail. Not remote but feel a nice secluded hike. Has a dog park. Accessible,…read moreparking near trail. Park like setting before you begin trails. Friendly walking area

Be prepared for a 5+ mile drive off Highway 67 to find this state park literally at the end of the…read moreroad. Also, over 4 miles of the road is on gravel. Once at Jones Confluence Point SP you have a 10-minute walk on dirt and concrete paths to the point where the Mississippi and Missouri rivers meet. The feature here is the meeting of the waters: When the Mississippi is clear you can easily see the much muddier Missouri pushing its way far into the Mississippi's current. At the point three placards describe the rivers and the Native Americans who once lived nearby. Signs in the small pavilion (which lacks a table or seating) describe related area history. Outhouses are the only other amenities.

I visited here a couple of weeks ago and am still thinking about it. We stood on a point of land…read moreand watched the huge Missouri and Mississippi Rivers ripple together a few feet away. If you visit the Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower on the Illinois side of the Mississippi do circle around and visit Jones Confluence Point State Park in St. Charles County, Missouri, too. One of the things I appreciated about the park was that it had been cared for but not overdeveloped. We drove a winding gravel road through flat bottomlands and fields, ending at a small parking area, interpretive kiosk and restrooms. Then we leashed up our dog and hiked about a third of a mile through the woods to the confluence point. The first bit of trail is paved; the rest is well-marked dirt/gravel. At the end of the path is a *very tall* pole marking the high point of the 1993 flood - we couldn't believe there could have been that much water. A low monument explains how the two rivers come together. It was all very low key, and *awesome*. We thought about the history of the area and how many travelers through the centuries had stood there. On the drive back to the highway we saw a bald eagle circling overhead.

This is a great park for just about anything you want from a park. Some moderate trails for a hike…read moreor some friendlier walking on paved areas. Nice shelters and playground area. Easy access from the road. Has open and close

A gem of a park. Scenic, rolling hills, a few hikes to choose from, an old log cabin and an off…read moreleash section all combine for an enjoyable experience for all members of the family. Clean bathrooms and a variety of picnic tables. Lovely place to spend the afternoon.

Whether you are an experienced bird watcher or just beginning,this is definitely a place you want…read moreto visit . This huge nature preserve with visitors center offers bird exhibits as well as educational programs. We spoke to one of the employees who told us where to go to see various birds. You can walk the trails or drive around as there are numerous pull offs for picture taking. Plenty of parking as well as public restrooms and picnic tables. There is no admission fee but a small donation is suggested.

Do you love bird watching? If not, after a visit to Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, it may be…read moreyour new interest and hobby. There's 3,700 acres of diverse conversation land and 1,200 of wetlands, making it perfect for all types of birds. 60% of North American migrating bird species use the Mississippi River Flyway and they do it with no TSA or Flight Controllers. On any given day, you'll have a chance to see a variety of waterfowls including; Pelicans, Swans, Geese and Ducks. You'll also get a glimpse of, Herons, Egrets and Ring Necked Gulls. During the colder months, like January and February, you will definitely get to see an American Bald Eagle. In addition of bird watching, you can enjoy one of the many trails for hiking and biking. The staff from Audubon Center and the US Army Corps of Engineers are on site and can ask any questions you may have. I recommend that you get out and not only explore nature, but enjoy it too.