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Climb to Great Views at Salt Lick Point Trail in Illinois
Salt Lick Point Land and Water Preserve is one of favorite hikes on the Illinois side of the metro area. This hike is located on a former quarry site in Valmeyer, Illinois. The site was developed to protect the glades, prairies, forest, and wildlife. The preserve also contains the highest point in Monroe County, Salt Lick Point. There are three different trails here of different difficulties. Whether you prefer a more gentle hike through the trees or a rugged climb…
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Hike to Scenic Jackson Falls in Southern Illinois
Shawnee National Forest, Illinois We’ve done a lot of hiking and exploring over the years and one of our favorite spots to spend a day is in the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois. While we have visited many scenic spots including Bell Smith Springs, Garden of the Gods, and Ferne Clyffe, we somehow had never made it over to Jackson Falls. I can’t believe we had missed this awesome trail for so long! The trail starts at a parking…
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Cliff Cave County Park Trail in St. Louis County
Cliff Cave Park is a St. Louis County Park. The cave has a long and varied history of being used as a tavern in the 1700s, then part of the Cliff Cave Wine Company in the mid 1800s and finally used by Jefferson Barracks soldiers for recreation. In 1969 Cliff Cave was purchased by the county and opened as a park in 1977. Last year the park received upgraded trails and facilities. Two miles of trail extensions were added to…
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View Missouri’s Tallest Waterfall on the Mina Sauk Falls Trail
By exploring Taum Sauk Mountain State Park you can find both Missouri’s highest point as well as the state’s tallest waterfall. Springtime or during wet weather is the best time to visit this beautiful hike in southeastern Missouri in order to see the falls running. The rugged 3 mile Mina Sauk Falls Trail is one of our favorite hikes that shows off the beauty of the Arcadia Valley region of the state. Mina Sauk Falls Trail Distance: 3 mile loop…
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Explore the Devil’s Honeycomb at Missouri’s Hughes Mountain Natural Area
This Devil’s Honeycomb hike at Hughes Mountain is one of Missouri’s most unique trails. When I post photos from this spot online, people are often surprised to learn that such a place exists in Missouri! Now you can know about the unusual landscape and beautiful views from this easy and kid friendly hike. The Hughes Mountain trail’s main feature is the rock formation at the top known as Devil’s Honeycomb. The landscape was created as molten rock cracked and cooled.…
