My first time biking Bangert I was alternately delighted and frustrated. A bicycle allowed me to…read morecover the entire island, something I've never done on foot. Every time I came to a path fork I took the trail heading away from the interior. So, it was a delight to cover the perimeter and finally explore areas I hadn't been in before. However, the lack of trail markers--even at the forks--meant much of the time I had little idea where I was. The trail map was no help and only by checking the sun's position and knowing where the river was did I have an idea of the general direction I was headed. That was frustrating. I kept thinking how a walker wouldn't know where they were, nor how far they were from the next fork that could take them back to Bangert's entrance. Beyond that, the island's trails are fairly easy. Paths nearest the River Road and along the north are solid and mostly flat. Trails along the river are sandy with frequent dips and switchbacks. I began by heading north toward Interstate 70 and its traffic roar. Once I made the turn south and biked further from the bridge the noise subsided and the ride became more serene. However, the trail also got narrower. Trees close in and it's easy to snag a handlebar or pedal. There were a few small tree trunks across the trail--part of the fun of mountain biking--but most were level with the ground. A few trunks showed recent evidence of large trees having been cut to allow the path to run between the sections. Carey in what you need: There are no facilities of any sort here.

Would love to give this a 5 star review, but went on the Slough Loop Trail and got about a mile…read moreinto the "loop" and hit a dead end with lots of downed trees and heavy brush covering the trail, with no real way to get around. Had to backtrack and try another trail. That trail was open with no dead ends. Hopefully St. Charles County parks will clear the downed trees this winter and open all the trails once again for Spring 2022. Anyway, nice overlook of the Missouri River just south of the I-70 Blanchette Bridge. The trails are mostly wooded with several spots that have views of the river.

Private trail…read more.. Yes, I know it sounds strange but it really is a semi-private trail for residents only. Nonetheless, many nonresidents make great use of this beautiful trail (including yours truly). Gorgeous, tranquil path. Perfect for walking, running, chilling, people watching, sky gazing, meditating, picture taking & whatnot. Short trail but excellent segway to Chesterfield Central Park. #iWillwhatiWant, ~Christy

I just recently discovered this little gem of a trail after walking the trail around Chesterfield…read moreCentral Park. It's a beautiful 1.5 mile walk!

Beautiful park with even better views great place to come walk some trails and relax. Secluded and…read moreoverlooks the Missouri River. There is a nature lodge nearby that you can rent out. Plenty of parking. My family rented out the nature lodge to host our family reunion. Plenty of space and has an upstairs and downstairs. Very clean and security/staff on sight to empty trash and make the check in/check out process easy.

Great park in north county. Accessible, clean trails and lots of opportunities for picnics. Hike…read moreto the river and admire the view.

Great running trail with step-up hills and nice mix of flora and fauna throughout the year!read more

Best hiking rest stop on the trail! Excellent views all around. Perfect snack stop while on your…read morebike ride or hike/walk.

For a raw nature experience Howell Island is one of the top spots in the St. Louis area. By "raw" I…read moremean undiluted by development. Except for a gravel parking lot and a few informational signs there's little human imprint to Howell. However, if you're a mall walker, bothered by insects, or fastidious this isn't the place for you. It is a natural area with little maintenance. And it is an island. A hundred yards or so from the parking lot a narrow causeway provides pedestrian access. When the causeway floods, which isn't unusual, Howell is inaccessible except by boat. Though technically in St. Charles County, access to Howell is from St. Louis County off Eatherton Road in west Chesterfield. At over 2,500 acres there's plenty of roaming room. Bicycle and walking paths are mapped. Other Howell activities include fishing, birding, trapping, and hunting. Because Howell accessibility can quickly change following upstream flooding or heavy rains, check the Missouri conservation website before visiting to ensure you can visit. No restrooms or other services here.

I come here often. Sometimes for solitude, sometimes to get active with friends. My only issue was…read morethat the restrooms were not available -- likely because it was out of season when I went. Love how BIG it is.. and I can get my steps in with one lap! If you go when it's cold, the portion of the trail not blocked by trees is very cold! Dress warm!

Creve Coeur Lake is such a beautiful local spot. The sandy beaches, the trails through the trees,…read moreand the walking loop around the lake are so pretty. I also love that you can rent kayaks to explore the water! One of my favorite spots to visit when I need more nature in my life.

Beautiful trail with great access and not crowded in early May. Many birds (including a turkey.)…read moreRent bikes right on the trail in St Charles from the Bike Stop Cafe.

For my thousandth review, I had to pick somewhere special and to me, there's nowhere more special…read morein the state of Missouri than the Katy Trail. My friend and I rode this trail in its entirety; just over 240 total miles of trail spanning Clinton, MO to Machens, MO east to west, and the three and a half days out here were paradise. The trees recently bloomed (mid-May) and formed a shaded tunnel for several miles along the ride. Aside from the occasional rural highway to cross, you'll ride free of cars in peace on this classic rails-to-trail state park. I don't know if it's the constant endorphins from riding, the unique sights and smells of nature, or just the unknown adventure of heading across the state by bike, but this equated to one of my favorite trips I've ever taken in my life. For the next trip, we're taking Amtrak straight to Sedalia so we don't have to get dropped off, plus, who doesn't love traveling by train? I want to break it down day by day below, as well as shout out to some great local spots that we found along the way. But first, trail details if you're planning a trip: It's crushed limestone, which can be dry and dusty some years, or a bit sloshy during others. I have a road bike but opted to take a cross bike for this one with 35 mm tires. While the trail packs down very well and is ridable from nearly any bike, I highly recommend at least 30 mm or wider tires. No need for mountain bike tires, but at least something wide enough to be more comfortable as you log miles. Day 1: We were dropped off at Clinton and had a destination of Boonville; all told it was around 78 miles with a break halfway in Sedalia. The Clinton stretch is a bit boring compared to the rest, with looser gravel and not a ton of scenery. Sedalia was a nice change of pace and we broke from the trail to find Kehde's BBQ in an old MKT train car, along with Ozark Coffee which is by far the best cup of coffee in Sedalia. There's a stretch after Sedalia with no trailheads, no water, no nothing, so plan accordingly. We finished our first day by staying in the historic Hotel Frederick in Boonville, ready to set out and get river views for day 2. Day 2: By far the most epic day. The bluffs as you approach Rocheport are towering and unlike most of Missouri's somewhat limited scenery. The Rocheport tunnel is amazing and you've got to get a photo there, and then shortly after you'll find Meriweather Cafe... the best spot along our trip. Not too far after that is the landing with music, Thai food (Chim's) and scenery. We dodged some thunderstorms in mid-May, but were able to get into our hotel at Jeff City right before the skies opened up. Day 3: Jeff City is not my fav, so we waited out storms and headed through a workmanlike, dodgy part of the trail. It got better as we got further away from Jeff City, and the sun popped out and the trail met the river again. Scenery slowly changes as you approach Hermann, MO, famous for all their wineries and festivals. Crashed at an AirBNB in the middle of nowhere that night, and got up before the sun to finish the trail on the final day. Day 4: My friend and I were up and out by 5:45 a.m. so we could make our train back to KC. Beautiful early morning ride through the country, then into Weldon Spring and a nature preserve just outside St. Louis. This was a beautiful stretch, but it starts to feel more suburban the closer in you get which feels weird after nothing but nature. We made it to St. Charles, took photos with the Lewis & Clark statues, and crushed some food at Bike Stop Cafe. All that was left is a somewhat odd 13 miles of loose track out to Machens, a total map dot. Not sure why the trail goes here, but we had to finish it all so we did it just this once. It would be a much more natural ending, or beginning, to situate in St. Charles as there are tons of places to stay and eat, plus a classic river landing. We got picked up from a scheduled shuttle with Bike Stop Cafe and they took us out to the Kirkwood Amtrak, about 45 minutes away for $80. We hopped aboard the train (only an extra $10 per person for bikes, but they can only accommodate 4 per train so make reservations) and took it back to Union Station back home in KC. This place is a win-win-win: A major win for cyclists/hikers/nature enthusiasts, a win for cars who hate cyclists on the road (c'mon man), and a win for Missouri as it showcases the longest rails-to-trails conversion in the entire US. They take good care of it overall, but I'd love to see some more water stops along the way as you really need to ration it at times. The Katy really is a special place, and whether you set out to do the whole thing, ride a day with friends to a winery/brewery, or take the fam to explore, I cannot recommend it highly enough. Typically when I take trips, I want to get AWAY from the state I live in, but having this one in my back yard makes for an unforgettable trip and one I'm hoping to make into an annual tradition.

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.

Neighborhood playgrounds are excellent, but otherwise lacking for a park. Kids will have fun or…read moreeat and watch kids play plus use the nice amenities for a restrooms. But don't come for hiking if any other adult activities.

While on a family reunion we had downtime and needed a cheap/free activity for the kiddos. This…read morepark was AWESOME. It is built very smartly. There are shaded overwatch towers for parents to watch their kids in any part of the park, there is a splash park and multiple playground areas dependent on your child's size. We stayed for over two hours and the kids did not want to leave. Our kids ages range from 10-4 and everyone had a good time. My mother in law walked the trail several times. The other parents/kids were very friendly too, great park, great atmosphere. The only downside, which isn't even bad, it's expected, is that the bathrooms were not that clean, but it was manageable for what was needed for the kiddos to pee and go back to playing. When I'm St Louis again, we would come back!!

When I lived in North O'Fallon I walked around the small lake in the late afternoons for health…read morereasons. I chose a different morning time when bikers came zooming along preparing for serious rides. There were plenty of trees, shade, birds, fish, frogs, picnic areas and I was never approached by criminals. I saw some children practicing "catch and release" in the large pond / small lake. It was serene, peaceful and beautiful.

Nice put together park for putting up Christmas lights called Celebration of Lights. Even has horse…read morecarriages for couples. Must get tickets in advance. Maybe traffic before you go in so come early. Might be a half hour cruise thru the parks lights. I do it every year!!