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    Castlewood State Park

    4.6 (116 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 8:00 pm

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    Valerie T.

    Wear your hiking boots because this is a real hike. Lots of elevation climbing to the bluff. Very rocky so be careful and don't trip and fall in the rocks. That was painful. Some flat areas but not many. The stairs going down to the river are interesting. You can still see the steps to the right from when it was a recreation area in the 1930's. Very cool. As we got down to the bottom of the steps, there was one area where the stair treads were missing. Then around the corner I had to jump off a small ledge. The path along the river was seriously eroded enough to make us turn around because I didn't want to fall down into the river. All that rain really did some damage. Beautiful views!

    A River that run along side trails to the park.
    W S.

    Super fun. Lots of trails and great places to explore. Rangers station up front with a bunch of trails off to the left and right. Farther in the park there are tons of open spaces for games, playgrounds, tables, bathrooms, and plenty of parking. Towards the right of the playground is a great trail to see up above the tree line and over the cliff!! Great spot for couples/picture taking!!

    Educational vista
    Russ B.

    My 8 year old son and I did the lone wolf trail on a nice weekend and had a blast! There a plenty of great vistas and the hike was challenging for him, but not too bad. I've done trail runs, here too and it's always been fun. The trails are well maintained and dog/bike friendly.

    Leah N.

    I have been hiking here for several years. This place never disappoints. I love seeing the trees and the river during many different seasons. The hike is relaxing. There are several hiking paths. Each path vary in miles. The river scene trail has a nice view of the river. This hike is considered to be of moderate intensity. There are several parking lots. The parking lot can get somewhat full in the summer weekend peak hours. I tend to come here early to find good parking spot in the summer time. For wintertime, there are quite a lot of empty parking spaces.

    Madison N.

    Hands down the most magical place in STL. Fall is so beautiful in STL, especially in our local parks. Castlewood Park is a hidden gem to some and one of my favorite places to visit! It's free admittance, a 30 min drive west of the city, and has all different trails to keep you coming back. My favorite trail is the Riverscene Trail! It's around a 2.5 hour hike and takes you to the top of the hill then back down by the river so you experience several different landscapes.

    Penny in some flowers along the trail
    Laurie T.

    I can't believe this was my first time coming here. This place is gorgeous! My husband and I enjoy walking at the trails at Queeny and decided to come here for a change. He has been here before and knew his way around. There are different trails for different abilities. We apparently chose a more challenging trail. I don't recall the name, but the trail had red markers. The trail we were on included the wood staircase that is definitely a challenge. Mercifully, there are landings that have gorgeous views and historical information about the park. Along the top of the ridge there are several benches that also provide a spot to rest and enjoy the spectacular view. It was a gorgeous day. Plenty of parking. There were some others there enjoying the park as well, but the trail was not crowded by any means. Our Vizsla Lola decided to take an impromptu jump in the river while our 12 y/o Penny sniffed around on the beach. I felt really safe at this park. Not just because I was with my husband, but the trail has markers indicating your location and I always had cell service. This is a great park to go and enjoy a new and challenging walk and take in the views. It felt like a mini-getaway!

    Sandra K.

    Good signage and beautiful! Such a great place to visit in the fall. Easy parking and easy to find and get to.

    Happy trail partner
    Rachel H.

    I was a bit homesick for fall in Upstate NY so my partner brought me here for a lovely hike. Easy parking, clearly marked trails, and not too busy. Dogs are allowed on leash. While the trails were well marked, they are very rocky and have quite a few loose stones to fumble on.

    Tigra C.

    This park holds a special place in my heart. Even though I grew up here, I did not know about this place until el ADMV told me about it. I went the very next day and having been frequenting it ever since. The park is huge. As many times as I've gone I still haven't covered all of the territory. There are many trails but the majority of the traffic tends to stick to the Lone Wolf Trail, which is rated with a moderate difficulty level by the All Trails hiking app. I like this trail as it fluctuates from moderate, to easy, to WTF along the journey. One way is about 1.5 miles. I always double back to make it 3 miles. Also, you can hit those infamous, seemingly infinite stairs on this trail. I go down first then hit them going up on the way back. It's a total boost (or faint) to your workout! There are some plateaus with beautiful views on this trail. I love doing my Qixong and meditation as the sun rises above the treetops. It's so peaceful and calm. The park is pet friendly, just please, for goodness sake, pick up after your pooch! There's a section with a separate trail for mountain bikes, which is nice. And since the bikes can't (or shouldn't) to the steps, that area is always biker free too. If you're gonna hike/run the Lone Wolf Trail wear trail running shoes. I found hiking boots were too stiff and regular running/tennis shoes did not traction well. There are some serious rocks on this trail, so the tread on trail shoes is what will save you from tumbleweeding down and off a cliff. LBVS There seems to be lots of picnic areas around the park and I think I saw a playground too. There are Pokestops, for those of us true trainers who still play. And while the hiking trail doesn't lead directly to the river, there are several others that do. Castlewood is my number one spot for hiking in the area. I do not compare it to hiking in AZ, OR, or CO, because SW and NW pacific hiking are in leagues of their own. It's free, it's clean, it's nature's gym, and I always get an amazing workout.

    One of the scenic views at the park
    Paul L.

    Great park for a trail walk, but be prepared for parts of some of the trails to be pretty rough. If you go up the side of the mountain where the steps are they're some sharp rocks and tricky footing at times, so just beware.

    Cian D.

    Wow this place gets busy on the weekends! We have driven out and visited about 4 times. I personally love how the parks water levels ebb and flow. Sometimes it's flooded and sometimes you just need good boots not to get wet. This park has solid trails (there are parts that don't flood) and a bunch of pavilions. It is a beautiful space and clearly well cared for. The roads can get curvy and slim so drive careful. Why three stars? Locked bathrooms everywhere even when the park is crawling with visitors. I got pretty annoyed when by the second locked bathroom we drove to the park office to use one and a sign on the door told us to go to a trail head. That felt unkind and stupid. Why on earth would you lock up bathrooms during peak mushroom hunting season? It's pretty obvious the park is bustling. Also there's plenty of ticks and mosquitoes when exploring so wear bug spray, tuck your pants into your socks and do a tick check after getting home!

    Stairs down to an overlook on the Riverscene Trail
    David B.

    It's been a minute since I've visited this park. We're talking childhood. As a child I probably only cared about the playground and playing wiffle ball, playing catch, etc. I don't remember going on any of the trails as a kid. Well, I finally went on a trail here. I chose the Riverscene Trail, which is probably the most popular trail in the park. The amazing views are the obvious reason why. It's a loop trail about 3 1/2 miles long. The trail is well marked, and well worn. There are a few difficult areas of the trail for both hiking and mountain bike riding. As you climb, there are some rough rocky areas in the more steep sections. For those riding, you will find some tough areas where tree roots are difficult to maneuver around, as well as some large ruts. Once you reach the top of the climb there are several places to stop along the route to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the river valley below. A nice staircase then leads down to a path that follows closely beside the river. Bikers have an alternate trail down at this point. It had rained the day before my visit so there were a few muddy spots in the valley. One in particular was difficult to maneuver around without getting a little muddy. There is some construction going on in this muddy area as they are adding a paved portion of the trail here. Hopefully once finished, this section will be easier to pass through, and keep your shoes a little cleaner. I enjoyed my afternoon here and would like to come back in the fall to check out the fall foliage.

    Matthew W.

    My paradise. Amazing trails. I combine them together to go from short hikes with the dogs and kids to 10+ mile training. Keep it clean mountain bikes have right of way. Watch for deer

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    6 months ago

    Busy park and trails. Hiking for all levels. We make several trips a year from the Western burbs.

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    3 years ago

    Love this park!! Multiple different options to hike! Great place to take a Sunday stroll!

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Very nice park. We took 2 short hikes. Beautiful views. Peaceful, clean. Would like to go back to hike a longer trail

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    4 years ago

    Was a beautiful day and had a beautiful time with my grand daughter! Would recommend Castlewood state park to anyone!

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    Review Highlights - Castlewood State Park

    There are several benches at the top to give you a place to rest and take in the view of the Meramec River below.

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    Chesterfield Central Park - Water

    Chesterfield Central Park

    4.6(26 reviews)
    7.0 mi

    This is a nice park in the heart of Chesterfield. However, despite being in the heart of…read moreChesterfield (close to the interstate, the amphitheater and library), it was very quiet and hardly anyone was there. We came to see the Sculpture "The Awakening" which is a massive sculpture of a giant who is struggling to get out of the ground. It's not a single sculpture but five separate sculptures that make up "The Awakening". Great park to visit - not only for the sculpture but for some peace and quiet.

    My husband and I came here when we came to St. Louis last week initially because I wanted to see…read more"The Awakening" sculpture, but overall, we loved it for many other reasons, as well! When we first got here, we noticed the park is in a pretty secluded area, and not many people were around unless they were going to the library that is connected to the parking lot. There are so many different parts of this park, including "The Awakening" sculpture, an amphitheater, a walking trail with a waterfront, and a Veterans memorial. The park was very clean, and we loved everything we experienced. The sculpture was so cool and is basically a steel man broken up into different separated body parts, who looks like he is trying to free himself from the ground. It's unbelievable how big this is in person, and we loved it. The Veterans Memorial was gorgeous and included significant quotes, a fountain, and American flags with every branch of the military included. The waterfront and trails were gorgeous, and we saw many HUGE ducks, cardinals, and wildlife. We loved the isolated walking trail because it had such beautiful views. Homes are being built around there, too, and the water would be such a gorgeous view to have every day from a home window. We weren't able to go to the amphitheater because they were getting ready for a summer night free concert event, but when we left, many people were gathering to go to the event. You can bring your own beer as long as it's in a can, so that's awesome and unlike many other public areas! Overall, if I lived in St. Louis, I could see myself regularly coming to this park and the surrounding area often. It's definitely a tranquil place where you can be one with nature and enjoy the views and entertainment.

    Photos
    Chesterfield Central Park - The larger pond.

    The larger pond.

    Chesterfield Central Park
    Chesterfield Central Park - Cardinal seen on the trail

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    Cardinal seen on the trail

    Lone Elk Park - Buffalo

    Lone Elk Park

    4.6(129 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    I was searching for a new park that we haven't attended and came across Lone Elk Park…read more Who doesn't want to see Elk and possibly Bison too. We came a bit later in the evening, close to closing time. You pretty much drive thru but there are areas you can get out of your car and sit at a picnic table, restroom break or even a little waking to sight see. You cannot get out of your car while driving thru the Bison area and dogs are not allowed at all, not even if they stay in your car. You can leave a small donation too that helps keep the park beautiful and maintained. A beautiful sighting for sure. The Bison were tucked away in the trees but we got a nice glimpse.

    Brought my parents out to ride through & see the animals/ scenery. After my father's stroke, he's…read moreexperienced mobility issues & prefers to stay in the car, meaning we're always looking for interesting things that require minimal to no walking. This his the spot. We were late for baby season but still had the opportunity to see young elk, bison, deer & racoons. It was a cooler, overcast day & animals activity was pretty high. Based on the behaviors of the raccoons, it's safe to say they have been food conditioned. They headed right for the car when I cracked the window for pictures & to give the parents a better view. There were a couple of fawns, still spotted & a couple of "red dogs", as well as some youngish elk. It was well-suited to our needs, easy to access & free. There are facilities that are accessible and, should you want to brave the ticks, mosquitoes & other pests, picnic areas with trails. We didn't!

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    Lone Elk Park
    Lone Elk Park - Baby buffalo

    Baby buffalo

    Lone Elk Park

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    Castlewood State Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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