Out on the edge of the St. Louis, Missouri, suburbs you’ll find Ellisville, a nice place to live with beautiful homes, busy shopping centers, and quiet parks. This small town is far enough from the city center that you can find plenty of good walking trails in the area. Not all of the trails on this list go through town, but those that don’t are just a short drive away.
-
Wildwood Greenway
The Wildwood Greenway is in Wildwood, Ellisville’s western neighbor, and includes over 18 miles of paved biking and walking trails throughout the city. Many of these trails follow the main roads through town, but others head off towards the residential neighborhoods and parks where you can enjoy some peace and quiet. Finding parking is easy since the greenway crosses several parking lots throughout Wildwood.
-
Rock Hollow Trail
The Rock Hollow Trail is a relatively short walk, just 2.3 miles, and is all downhill from the trailhead near Ridge Meadows Elementary School. This means it’s all uphill on the way back, but there are plenty of benches. The trail is very scenic and quiet, and you’ll cross 13 bridges on your way to the trail’s end. Once you get there, you’ll find the Meramec River and the Al Foster Memorial Trail, a 7-mile trail that follows the river east to west.
-
Monarch Chesterfield Levee Trail
A work in progress, the Monarch Chesterfield Levee Trail will eventually loop around the Chesterfield Airport north of Ellisville. Parts of the trail along Bonhomme Creek and the Missouri River are already done. To reach the trail, you can park at one of the many shopping centers along I-64 or Edison Avenue. Together, the two trail segments are 10.4 miles long, and since the trail passes plenty of stores and restaurants, you’ll have no trouble finding a place to take a break. If you’re looking for some peace and quiet on your hike, other parts of the trail are nothing but you and nature.
-
Katy Trail State Park
The Katy Trail is great if you want to go on a real wilderness hike. The trail covers a converted railroad that follows the Missouri River west for a total of 240 miles until it breaks off and continues toward Kansas City. The trail is on the north side of the river, so the best place to reach it from Ellisville is to take the Daniel Boone Bridge north of Chesterfield. Then, take the first exit after the bridge and head to the Busch Greenway, a short trail that takes you to Katy.
There are other trails farther north and south, and you may be surprised by how many nature walks you can find in St. Louis itself. So, if you’re a fan of nature or you just want a quiet space where you can relax and clear your head, one of the trails on this list should fit the bill. Lace up those hiking boots!
Image via Flickr by Heath Cajandig | CC BY 2.0.
Connect with us
Recent Blog Entries
Categories
