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Rockwoods Reservation Lime Kiln Trail
Rockwoods Reservation is a great spot to hike not far from St. Louis. Several different trails wind through this rocky and wooded spot. The Trail Amoung the Trees is probably my favorite trail here, especially in fall. We recently tried out the more challenging Lime Kiln trail, and found it to be a fun and scenic hike as well. Lime Kiln Loop Distance: 3.25 mile loop Difficulty: 4/5 This is known as a good local trail for training. There are some…
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Beaver Dam State Park
Beaver Dam is a small state park in west-central Illinois. Located in a more rural area, this state park is less well known but worth exploring. Situated in an oak/hickory woodland, Beaver Dam State Park offers a variety of recreational opportunities including fishing, picnicking, hiking, and both tent and trailer camping. The park did offer a restaurant and small watercraft rentals, but the concessions have been closed for 2024. Best Time to Visit Beaver Dam offers a nice retreat no…
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Explore an Illinois Bayou at Cache River Natural Area
You may feel transported to a Louisiana bayou when you first visit Cache River State Natural Area. This unique landscape in southern Illinois preserves a rare remainder of the cypress swamps and bottomland hardwood forests that once existed in the Ohio River floodplain. Settlers attempted in the past to drain the wetlands and convert the land to farmland. Today, the Cache River Wetlands is one of the few remaining wetlands in the area and provides habitat for a diverse variety…
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Rock Bridge Memorial State Park
Rock Bridge Memorial State Park is a beautiful spot located near Columbia, Missouri. This park features a variety of unique terrain including caves, sinkholes, and a natural rock bridge. Clear spring fed streams run through the park and wildflowers are abundant. The park offers eight different trails to explore with the Devil’s Icebox Trail being the most popular. We hiked both the Icebox Trail and the Sinkhole Trail on our first visit. Devil’s Icebox Trail Distance: .50 mile trail Difficulty: 2/5.…
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Find Caves and Waterfalls at Kress Farm Garden Preserve
Kress Farm Garden Preserve is a hidden gem in Hillsboro, Missouri. The 142 acres preserve is dedicated to maintaining native plants and wildlife habitat under a conservation easement through Ozark Land Trust. The preserve features gardens, fields, forests, wildlife habitats, streams, and scenic bluffs. Volunteers work daily to maintain this scenic place for all to enjoy. The preserve features four different hiking trails plus a trail that combines several of the trails together. All are of easy to moderate difficulty.…
