I’m back at my favorite Missouri state park solo hiking Pickle Creek Trail in Hawn State Park. This is a lovely little Missouri hiking trail following Pickle Creek. AllTrails has it marked at 1.6 miles out and back, but I cross the creek and create a nice little loop trail.

Featuring a creek and two overlooks without much elevation gain Horseshoe Glad Trail is a perfect kid-friendly hike to add to your trip to Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park in Missouri!

I went chasing waterfalls at Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park just outside Middle Brook, Missouri. I waited for a day after it rained for my solo hike on the Johnson’s Shut-Ins Trail hoping to see some great waterfalls and I wasn’t disappointed.

I switch things up a bit in this YouTube video and explore one of St. Louis County’s biggest parks, Queeny Park. This was really more of a nature walk with the trail being half paved and half rock, but I was lucky enough to catch the Dogwood Trail with all the dogwood trees in full bloom.

Today I head an hour west of St. Louis to Klondike Park in St. Charles County Missouri to hike Hogsback Trail which is a 1.5 mile loop trail I was hoping would have good cliff views… it did not.

Instead of going south I switch things up and head north across the Mississippi River into Illinois and hike the Outer Loop Trail in Pere Marquette State Park. The day started off rainy and wet, but made for a beautiful hike into the clouds.

Bison and elk and deer, oh my! Who knew there were bison in St. Louis?! That’s what you’ll find at St. Louis County’s Lone Elk Park. If you’re want to see wildlife in St. Louis, Lone Elk Park is for you, and it’s completely free!

I’m back in Missouri for a 13.3 mile solo hike of Bell Mountain in Mark Twain National Forest, about 2 hours south of St. Louis. This Missouri hiking trail is a lollipop trail to the 1703ft summit of Bell Mountain, which is Missouri’s 4th tallest mountain.

Part II of my favorite winter cabin trip. I’m back off the grid at Caps Cabin in Wilderness State Park northern Michigan. On days 3 and 4 of my favorite winter camping spot me and the boys do some slack lining in the snow covered forest, play disc golf out on the ice, and cook up more delicious camping food. It’s Pure Michigan.