Castlewood State Park in Summer
Today I’m back at my favorite Missouri State Park, Castlewood State Park in Ballwin, Missouri. I wanted to come hike Castlewood in the Summer to see what the River Scene Trail is like with all the foliage. Good news! Castlewood is the Missouri hiking trail with the best bluff views, even in Summer.
AllTrails Stats
River Scene Trail in Castlewood
Type: Loop | Rate: Moderate | Traffic: Heavy | Length: 3.1mi | Elevation Gain: 249ft
Started my AllTrails recording late so I really did about 3.1mi like the trail is marked.
Missouri’s Best State Park
For me, it’s a toss up for Missouri’s best state park between Castlewood and Hawn State Park. Hawn definitely gives you the feeling of being out in the wilderness, because you are, but Castlewood’s views and proximity to Saint Louis make it tough to beat. The River Scene Trail hands down has the best bluff views I’ve found in Missouri.
Most Missouri hiking trails with bluff views are covered in the Summer by the leaves and the foliage. That’s not the case at Castlewood. The bluffs on the River Scene Trail offer an unobstructed beautiful view of the Meramec River below.
Follow me on Instagram @mshepjordan9 for more photos from my hike.
If you’re a beginner hiker looking for an accessible hike with the best views in Missouri, then the River Scene Trail at Castlewood State Park is the trail for you. Huge bonus in that its only 30 minutes from Saint Louis in Ballwin, Missouri. It really is amazing that one of Missouri’s best state parks is so close to Saint Louis.
More Missouri Hiking Trails
Top 5 Best Views in Missouri
My favorite hike | Whispering Pines at Hawn
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