Nature - admission is still free!

Just about anywhere you live there are trails to hike, bike, explore.  Here a few near the St. Louis area - these are several opportunities around Hwy. 94 in St. Charles County

Hidden Treasures of Weldon Spring

They say if you tell others about a secret place, it becomes “not so secret.”   Although I love the quiet serenity of what I am about to reveal, it would be criminal to not share with others.  Many have traveled the section of Hwy 94 going West of Hwy 40, on their way to the various wineries.  What considerably fewer people are aware of, are the beautiful trails you pass along the way.  Even though my family has only lived here for five years, I often find myself telling folks who have lived in the area the majority of their lives about the treasures in their own backyards.   I will share some details of these treasures, hopefully allowing you to discover the beauty they have to offer.

Lewis and Clark

Shortly after you pass Francis Howell High School, on the left will appear a gravel parking lot.   This is the trail head of the Lewis and Clark trails.  The trails are loops of 5 and 8 miles respectively, and somewhere near the 3 mile mark, you have the option to make it an eight mile or a five mile trek.  For the less adventurous, from the parking lot take the trail to the right.  Just after the one mile marker, you will find a wonderful overlook of the Missouri River, and ideal spot for a picnic on the rocks.  Compared to the majority of the trail, this 1 mile stretch is relatively flat.  If you choose to end your journey there, you will miss much of the beauty this trail has to offer.  In the five mile loop, there are actually three observation points over the river.  My personal favorite is the third, and a photo from this spot is the header of the Cottleville/Weldon Spring Chamber of Commerce website.  Near the halfway point of this trail is a spring fed creek with interesting rocks, and a connector to the Katy Trail.  You enter the Katy trail near mile marker 54, and in my opinion in the most scenic area of the Katy Trail.  The Lewis and Clark trail is strictly for pedestrians, mountain bikes are not allowed.

Lost Valley

Just a short way past the Weldon Spring Katy Trail Access Point, to the right is the Lost Valley trail, where mountain bikes are most definitely allowed.  At one time, this was a large Boy Scout camp.  The trail is an eight mile loop, after you travel about a mile down a gravel road.  As you enter the park, there is a beautiful stream that you will come across multiple times on your trip.  This is a challenging mountain bike course in places, but I consider myself a novice cyclist, and have been able to complete it a few times.  If you take to this trail on foot, I would strongly suggest a heavy dose of bug spray, as the mosquitoes can be very heavy in this area at times.



Where the Hamburg dead ends into the Katy Trail



Hamburg Trail

The Hamburg Trail is a one way trail, eight miles in length, with multiple access points.  At one end, is the Busch Nature Preserve, which contains many miles to explore, and the other end terminates at the Katy Trail near mile marker 57. Between these points, the trail travels along Hwy 94, with a few small parking areas right off the highway as you travel west.  This trail also serves as a connector from the Katy Trail to Lost Valley.  There are some distance runners in the area that will run all of the trails mentioned in a single outing. 

 See more pictures of these trails on facebook at my “Missouri Trails” page.



Weston running Lost Valley