Don't know where to start? Here are some suggestions for adults, families with children, and visitors with impaired mobility.
Our favorites
We love these longer hikes and have done each several times: Hawn State Park - Whispering Pines Trail Ten miles through pine forests, along a creek, over rocky knobs HaHaTonka State Park - Turkey Pen Hollow Trail 7.5 miles through open savannah and glades. Great fall colors. Paddy Creek Wilderness - South/North Loop 8-9 miles across very varied terrain. Forest, bluffs, stream crossing, small waterfalls Rocky Falls to Klepzig Mill Beautiful creek and rocks. Meramec State Park - Wilderness Loop Trail |
Our kids' favorites
We hiked almost every weekend with our kids. These are the places we visited over and over: Lane Spring Recreation Area Shallow river for water play, two short trails, climbing Blossom Rock, play structure Johnson Shutins State Park Rocks by the water =endless play. Visitor center with exhibits. Elephant Rocks State Park 1 mile loop trail with rock formations, hidden passageways HaHaTonka State Park Devil's kitchen, big spring, castle ruins, natural bridge, play structure. Many short trails. Maramec Spring Park Spring, fish hatchery, playground. |
For people with impaired mobility
We visited many of these sites with people who can only walk short distances and need a wheelchair for longer distances. Meramec Conservation Area Wheelchair accessible 1.3 mile trail. Johnson Shutins State Park Wheelchair accessible walkway to the viewing platforms at the shutins. Elephant Rocks State Park Wheelchair accessible 1 mile loop trail with interpretive signage in Braille. HaHaTonka State Park Wheelchair accessible trail from upper parking lot to castle. The trail from the parking lot by the lake to the spring is wheelchair accessible for a large part; the last portion on the boardwalk has some steps. Millstream Gardens CA Wheelchair accessible 1 mile trail to overlook of Tieman Shutins. Rocky Falls and Alley Mill and Spring and Round Spring Coming from Rolla, these three destinations can be combined into a nice daytrip. Flat gravel path to Round Spring from the parking lot; a few steps at the end. Wheelchair accessible path to Alley Mill. Level gravel path around the spring. Short gravel path to Rocky Falls from the parking lot. |