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Don Robinson State Park LaBarque Hills Trail
Don Robinson State Park has quickly become a popular hiking destination due to its proximity to St. Louis. While most people tend to explore the Sandstone Canyon Trail, the LaBarque Hills Trail is also worth a hike. While the LarBarque Hills Trail does not have the dramatic canyons and waterfalls on the Sandstone Trail, it has it’s own sense of beauty as the trail passes up and down hills and around a scenic creek. If you visit at the right…
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Discover a Hidden Treasure at Silver Mines Recreation Area
Back in the 1800s the rush was on to discover precious metals. While most people think of Colorado or California as the place to hunt for gold or silver, silver ore could be found even in Missouri. In 1877, the Einstein Mining Company began operations along the scenic St. Francis River. Silver, Tungsten, and Lead were mined here until operations ceased in 1946. The mining operation was not widely successful, but a small company town sprung up for the miners.…
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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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Explore Scenic Views and Lost History at Missouri’s Castlewood State Park’s River Scene Trail
Length: 3.4 miles or about 2.5 if you use the connector Difficulty: 3 out of 5, some moderate climbing up to bluffs Scenic Value: 4 out of 5, one of the best views around St. Louis The area around Castlewood State Park has been a popular escape for St. Louisans for decades. Amid the quiet beauty and wildlife here now, it’s hard to imagine that the park was once the site of a bustling resort that peaked in popularity after…
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Climb to Great Views at Salt Lick Point Trail in Illinois
Salt Lick Point is a favorite hike of ours on the Illinois side of the metro area. This hike is located on a former quarry site in Valmeyer, Illinois. In fact you can even spy interesting old remainders of this site’s former life. The preserve consists of three different trails. We like to make a loop by hiking a portion of the Salt Lick Trail along the bluffs, continuing along on a section of the Newman Trail, and then completing…
