Last weekend, it was such a sunny and warm-ish day for January, so we decided to take a little trip to Cliff Cave County Park with the pup. This was our first visit and so we parked in the lot that gps took us to and then followed the signs for the hiking trail. We were impressed with the number of hikers and mountain bikers out and about. What I really enjoyed about this park is that the trails are all easy to follow and loop around so that you can choose any direction to walk. We started with the shorter hike and walked to the overlook which was so pretty! We spent some time just watching the river and then decided to try another trail for a bit. Honestly, it was really nice to be outside. Baxter was so happy to be able to play in the leaves and we all got really excited because we saw a bunch of deer while we were out walking! Of course, when we saw them, we all stopped and just let the deer have their space to get where they were going. The loop that we completed was about 3 miles and I really appreciated how easy it was to navigate the park. We did not get over to the cave during this visit, but will plan to visit again on another warm-ish day so that we can explore the other trails. read more

Cliff Cave County Park - Deer! - Parks Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

I've been to this park before and like that it offers walking trails not far from the city. The walking trails offer out and back trails, so I definitely got a couple miles of walking in. Fir those who want more of a "nature" feel there are some hiking and biking trails tucked away near the walking trails, which in my opinion, could use better trail markers. The hiking trails are still close to the border if the walking trails, so you don't go far into the wooded areas. My favorite part of the park were the caves, as soon as you enter the bottom of the trail where the caves are you can feel the cool air from the caves. It was great to check out and I wish the trails offered more scenic views in addition to this. read more

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This really is a great park for all ages and fitness levels. I love that you have the option of trails to hike/mountain bike or paved paths that are accessible for everyone. I see all ages, genders and fitness levels, plus lots of dogs, when I walk here. There are two parking areas. The main upper parking lot (where GPS takes you) has the real bathrooms. The lower parking lot is near the pavilion (it can be reserved) and sunflower garden. You can access trails from either parking area. Nice riverside overlooks. There is a bike fix-it station and bike racks by the bathrooms at the upper parking lot trail head. read more

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This was my first time coming here (my husband and boys 3rd) and I see why they like this park. The trails and views are amazing. We came with our dog on a nice day and really enjoyed our walk. They have signs with facts about wildlife at the park as well. Very nice! read more

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Cliff Cave County Park is hands-down one of the best spots in the area for running, walking, or just clearing your head. The paved path is a dream: 1.5 miles uphill, 1.5 miles back down--just enough incline to keep it interesting. There's also a flat 4-mile loop that you can easily stretch into 8, 12, or "why did I do this to myself?" miles without getting bored. Not a runner? The wooded trails are perfect for a short hike or a meandering nature walk. And yes--don't miss the bat cave. It's a quirky, can't-miss feature that adds a little mystery to the park. Parking is usually plentiful unless there's a big event, and the vibe is peaceful with just enough people around to feel friendly but not crowded. Whether you're logging serious miles or just out for a stroll, this park delivers. read more

Cliff Cave County Park - Molly the Super Dog! - Parks Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Fantastic park located by the river with miles of walking trails, nice restrooms, bicycle repair spot, large pavilion and lots of information about the history of the area. read more

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Huge Park off Telegraph Road with lots of nature trails. Historic cave and overlooks of the river. Two parking lots. I hiked (more of a walk) the 5 mile loop off the parking lot farther in the park. Flat and pathed. Well maintained. Wheelchair accessible the full loop. More forest Sun areas than shady. So, hat and water bottle recommended. I did the loop in 1-1/2 hours at a good pace. Large pavilion. Clean Public restrooms at the first parking lot. I plan on coming back and hiking to the cave and overlooks. read more

I have come several times now for walks. It seems there are multiple entrances and parking lots. I've only been in one lot so far, but it is easy to access, with several handicapped spots by the trail. There is a nice and clean bathroom as well. The walking and biking trails are well marked. This is a beautiful park in St. Louis County, and I look forward to visiting it regularly this summer! read more

Cliff Kay Park has numerous trails to walk and bike. There is a half mile loop paved course that's right next to the river and there is another course that is substantially longer that a lot of people bike that goes further south. There is a paved trail that goes up the hill and over a bridge where one can view the opening of Cliff Cave itself. There is a really nice outlook at the top of the hill where you can see a good view of the Mississippi river. There's also a dirt trail that's made mostly for mountain bikes, that in my personal opinion is much better to walk. read more

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This is my first time here. It was a great park to hike and enjoy the river walk. There are so many trails. Easy to identify trail with markers. Definitely would recommend. There are several places to park within this park. It is such a great place to spend a few hours here. read more

Cliff Cave County Park - Parks Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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I've had this park on my "want to go" list for too long, so I finally made it a priority. I went on a Sat morning and it was busy, but not overly busy or crowded. Here's a few tips I didn't realize until I was there: 1) There's an upper and lower parking lot --- upper parking lot has air pumps for bike tires and easier access to mountain bike trails --- lower parking lot has access to the 4 mile gravel trail and easy access to the .5 mile loop --- the 1 mile Upper Access/ Lower Access trail goes from one parking lot to the other 2) The scenic point is most easily accessed from the upper trail. It is really just an overlook, minimal seating if you wanted to hang out. 3) There are benches throughout the .5 mile loop. There are not many benches along the 1 mile trail. 4) The 1 mile trail is a steady uphill or downhill trail depending on where you start. The incline is not TOO steep, but it is a big trail. I started at the lower parking lot and walked all up hill, then back down. 5) The 1 mile trail is mainly in the sun, not much shade. There is more shade on the .5 mile loop - maybe 1/2 of it is shaded. I walked the 1 mile trail up, then to the overlook, then back down and then did the .5 mill loop. It totaled right at 2.65 miles and was very enjoyable. I really liked that the trail is paved, wide and easy to follow. There are so many amazing signs keeping you going in the right direction! Even with a full parking lot, my time there was very enjoyable. I also hung out at the scenic overlook and just rested for awhile. There is also a nice viewing area in the lower parking lot by the pavilion. I really enjoyed this park and would absolutely come back. I did not see the cave and am not really sure how to find it, so I can't speak to that. But I saw educational signs about it. read more

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Very popular trail. Had to cut my hike short due to stray dog on the trail. A biker stopped to try and see if it had a collar. Yikes read more

Cliff Cave County Park - Share the trail - Parks Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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One of the less known or "talked about" parks in the St. Louis area is near the southern tip of South County. It's actually kinda tricky to get to as there are no signs that lead to it unless you're one of those people that always relies on a GPS. There are two parking lots, one north and one south (the south one is known as the Lower lot). The park was, of course, named after a cave that was used for many purposes throughout the centuries. Has a lot of interesting history: Native Americans used it for shelter and other uses; Anheuser-Busch once stored beer there; a tavern and a winery was once outside the cave (different times); the local mob once dumped their bodies there; and many other factoids. However today, it is closed off to the public. Not just for public safety reasons but apparently there was a joint effort made by many government organizations to help save the bat population. There are two rare bat breeds that reside in the cave. From what I've read so far, closing off the cave has helped preserve the bats. But I also have learned that every now and then the St. Louis County department does give tours....so who knows. You can still get up close to the cave and I'll admit: on a very hot day, it is very refreshing because it's like standing in front of a natural air conditioner as cold air comes out of the cave. (The Native Americans spiritually thought that the cave was breathing) You can also enjoy the stream that comes straight out of the cave, although the little waterfall was probably man-made. The trails here have been well-kept, especially the paved one - which is part of Great Rivers Greenway. I'm also impressed that the hoodlums (or graffiti artists) have stayed away from the bridge as well as other sections of the park. The Mississippi River overlook near the north parking lot unfortunately does not provide a great view looking downward at the river and Illinois. Instead, park at the south parking lot and take the .5 mile loop trail where you'll get a much better and closer view of the river, as well as the Jefferson Barracks Bridge. Even on a clear day you can see the St. Louis skyline and the Arch! Definitely check this place out. Plan on an afternoon or a morning here. read more

Cliff Cave County Park - Parks Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

There are two entrances: the first entrance is at the top of the hill; the 2nd entrance is at the bottom of the hill closer to the Mississippi River. Both lots are flat and paved with well-marked spaces. There are two trails that start at the top parking lot. There is an unpaved trailed used mainly for mountain bikers. And a 2nd trails used primarily by walkers leads to an overlook of the MS River. Very flat and shaded surrounded by trees. From the overlook, you can choose to walk down the paved trail, across a bridge, and to the lower lot. From the lower lot, there are 2 loops. The left/north loop is only about 1 quarter mile. Very shaded and has access to the river if you wish to explore off-trail. The right/south loop is mostly unshaded and twists through a field. No matter where you start, between the lower trails and the upper trails is a brand new bridge the crosses the park road. From the end of the bridge, you can access the cave. The cave is blocked off to protect animal life that lives in the cave, and to prefect humans from getting harmed. When you go off-trail, I suggest wearing shoes with grippy soles. There are some rocks/water to climb over, but it is very simple. You can even walk above the cave on other dirt-packed trails other people have made. read more

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Great park and Trails! I love that this park Hidden in the middle of a neighborhood! Rows of houses and then BAM, tucked away and still not packed, busy but not packed! They offer paved trails (shorter trek to river views) and in unpaved through the forest (much longer, hilly and more scenic). Bathrooms, water fountain and bicycle repair station were all on hand. read more

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Cliff Cave County Park is officially one of my favorite place to go on a hike. This well manicured park offers a little bit of something for everyone no matter your level of "outdoorsy-ness." This park is incredibly easy to get to from Downtown St. Louis, and is so much closer to other similar State parks. A fairly short distance from Route 55, the approach to Cliff Cave County park is odd because you weave through a very residential area. It's such a different experience than going to a more remote park. We parked in the upper parking lot of Cliff Cave County Park, which was huge and seemed to have been recently paved with new bricks . There's a large bathroom in the parking area which is very useful. The park also provided a permanent air pump for bike tires. I've never seen that and thought it was such a great idea! The actual park is such a fun blend of paved and unpaved paths. We had our dog Clyde with us (hoping to get some of his cabin fever energy worked out) and used a few different trails. The parking lot's trail leads you directly to a breathtaking overlook of the Mississippi river. We stood there for quite some time just taking in the beauty of our region. The next path we took had lots of stones that our pup loved climbing over. It was a challenging trail that probably would not be suited for bikes or runners. We also went on two other trails that did not have as many rocks and did pass more bikers. One of the things I found very interesting about Cliff Cave County Park was how well cared for the trails were. You definitely got the vibe that the trails were human produced. Some of the turns on the trails had embankments for bikes to easily turn on that seemed to have been well planned. Some of the rocks on the trail we went on appeared to be moved so that you followed the path and didn't go your own way. I loved how this park has so much to offer, and know there's even more for us to explore all summer long. I was initially nervous that park would be packed and we would feel unsafe due to COVID, but with so many trails, park goers were well spaced. read more

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This park is super cool. You get great views of the Mississippi and the barges passing by as well a excellent hiking trails for the entry level and the medium level hiker. There are also a few mountain bike trails and they are well used. And also, there is a cave with historic significance, read all about it when you visit. The cave itself is gated and shut off to public to protect endangered bats. During high water, the lower level trails are flooded but when they aren't flooded, they are great. The toilet is a pit toilet but has running water and electric. The park, the shelters as well as the toilets are clean and well maintained. read more

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Came here to walk around on a weekday morning, had a lot of parking spots in the parking lot. Some part of trail is an actual trail and other parts are completely paved. The cave was cool but it's closed for bats. Didn't see many people, was a pleasant walk, trees are around but they're all dead (as expected). read more

view is amazing. totally worth the trip. if you are thinking about visiting, i cannot recommend it enough.

It was easy walking around these trails. The cave was hidden by trees and it was wet from recent rain fall. Plenty of parking. Will go again. read more

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Scenic overlooks, probably the best in the region, paved walking trail, bathrooms, picnic benches/covered picnic area, access to riverfront to watch barge traffic, bluffs with interesting ecosystem at base, brand New Greenway trail system with swing bridges over ravines. Need I say more. Simply beautiful. Thank you God. read more

Cliff Cave County Park - Cliff Cave Park view from my deck - Parks Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Beautiful park probably One of my favorite. Lovely river views, wildflowers, overlooks. Shaded walking paths. Always an enjoyable experience and not far from our home. read more

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I had only done the flat hike down below before, which in retrospect was a mistake. The Mississippi trail is a 5 mile flat trail and is good for running and jogging, but the scenery is pretty much all the same. The upper trailhead is where it's at for trail diversity. There are rock formations, a scenic overlook, a pedestrian bridge, and a maze of winding unique trails that could keep you busy for a while. The trails up top are built for mountain biking. If I had a mountain bike, I would definitely be riding it. It looked like so much fun for the bikers. This will be my next park to bring friends for a unique hike. read more

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Great place for a family outing!!! Walking, biking, doggos!! Watching the barges!! And you can see the Arch.. as it shimmers in the sun light!!! Beautiful!!! read more

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Both paved and unpaved trails, good for biking, mountain biking, hiking, running or even horseback riding they boast. No shade coverage on the paved trails but very shady in the wooded areas. There are a couple different parking areas and intersecting loops to vary lengths of the trails. Free! And not far "out there" to feel immersed in nature! read more

The park has recently been updated with nice paved trails. Several trail options so you can customize how long or short your walk will be. read more

Cliff Cave County Park - Look out spot - Parks Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

The caves are fenced off because of cave life & human deaths. There is a loop trail to check out that will allow you to get some exercise around many sink holes. The loop once on top of the hill is surprisingly flat. There are a few shorter trails that lead to views of the Mississippi River. read more

I was there during last weekend when outside we have a 90F day but next to the entrance it was an amazingly fresh experience read more

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Absolutely beautiful, plenty of trails and beautiful views. It's a great place to unwind. Plenty of parking and well maintained.

We take our bikes here about four times a year. I love the path that goes from the upper parking lot, north parking lot, all the way down to the river. I would suggest for older riders, I'm 56, that someone park at the bottom ( south parking) so that you don't have to ride up the large hill. The trail from the upper parking lot to the lower parking lot is beautiful but it's downhill the whole way.We always ride bikes around the large soybean field which is about a little over 4 miles I believe. I like biking around the small trail that goes along the river and looking at the barges sometimes sitting on a bench and just enjoying the view. read more

I like this park. It is very scenic walking down by the river. There is a 1mile, 3 mile and 5 mile trail. The trail marked one mile I walked 2 times and probably could have gone for 3 times around. I am pretty sure you might have to walk 4 times to equal 1 mile. I walked by accident the 5 mile trail last time. I was OK but there is a patch of private farm land in the middle. Also, my cell phone signal dropped at certain points along the trail. I would love to be able to bike here one day. Hopefully in the spring I will be well enough to try. The 2 trails I have walked here are fairly level, with a few inclines. But still manageable for all fitness levels. read more

Cliff Cave is a great outdoor area in South County. We go there quite often to walk the 5.1 loop trail. Its flat and wanders you through shade at times but be sure to wear your sunscreen as most of it is in the open. Once you start the big loop, you have to either finish it or turn around if you decide not to walk it anymore as there are no trails across the fields as you continue on. There is a shelter area if you need a break or want to have an outdoor gathering. There is also a bathroom area. The shorter trails lead you to views of the Mississippi River. Enjoy the park! read more

Cave remains closed. If you plan to bring kids to the hike, make sure they are wearing sturdy shoes. Depending which way you go in there are small stream crossing over stepping stones. Trail access is about 1/4 mile from the first parking lot you see on the right side before the train tracks. read more

Cliff Cave County Park - Cave remains closed but is a great view! - Parks Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Very beautiful in spring & summer! Perfect for bike riding or walking the paths. Keep in mind very flat!

Were you aware that an asphalt bike path is planned to run smack dab through the middle of the upper part of Cliff Cave park? These woods are the best (of the very few) urban woods in the St. Louis area, w/ great trails that GORC helped create. The new trail will totally change the natural character of the area, put even more pressure on the resident deer and other animals, and require the removal of hundreds if not thousands of trees. The positive is that PERHAPS a few people will leave their cars at home and ride their bikes to the popular lower part of the park, but it does not seem worth it to ruin this great resource for that possibility. Is the community aware of this impending destruction? (the course of the path has already been marked w tape, which really brings home the extent of the damage it will do) Can anything be done? read more