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Exploring Caverns and Rock Art at Piney Creek Ravine in Illinois
Piney Creek Ravine Nature Preserve is a bit of a secret hike. Visit this spot even on a summer weekend and you may still have the whole trail to yourself. So many don’t realize this dramatic and historic spot exists tucked deep in the farm fields of southern Illinois. Not only does the preserve feature dramatic canyons and trickling creeks, but the main claim to fame here is the biggest display of prehistoric petroglyphs and pictographs in Illinois. You can…
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Wildflower Wonder at Valley View Glades Natural Area in Missouri
Less than an hour south of St. Louis lies one of our favorite and uncrowded spots to hike. Tucked away off the highway near Hillsboro, Valley View Glades is a 225 acre site with a mix of dolomite glades, woodlands, and trickling streams. This mostly undisturbed area looks very much like what would have greeted early French settlers to the area. Native wildflowers flourish in the open glades and put on an impressive display in spring and summer. In the…
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Ferne Clyffe State Park – A Secret Oasis in Southern Illinois
Many people think of Illinois as “flyover country.” They believe the state is nothing but flat and boring farm fields as far as the eye can see. While much of the state is geographically monotonous, far southern Illinois is drastically different. This rugged area is known as the Illinois Ozarks. Rising bluffs, trickling waterfalls, and jagged rocks create a lush and varied landscape worthy of exploration. Tucked away near the bottom of the state, Ferne Clyffe State Park has been…
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Hiking Myron and Sonya Glassberg Conservation Area
The Glassberg Family Conservation Area is one of the newest in Missouri. The park opened in 2012 thanks to a donation from the Glassberg family. Myron and Sonya were both active conservationists who promoted a healthy appreciation for the outdoors. Their legacy lives on in this beautiful spot of nature. This site along with LaBarque Creek and Young Conservation Areas preserve the quality of the ecologically diverse LaBarque Creek Watershed. Two trails have been developed with the main trail being…
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Step into Adventure on the 1,000 Steps Trail at Washington State Park in Missouri
Missouri’s Washington State Park is a hidden gem of the state’s park system. Less well known and crowded as some of the more popular trails further south, this park is well worth a visit. While the park has several hiking trails, the 1,000 Steps Trail is one of our favorites. While the trail is a great one any time of year, the hike is especially stunning in spring. Washington State Park History Washington State Park is an area steeped in…
