Hiking a 10 mile loop from Russell Mountain to Taum Sauk, Missouri’s highest point. On the hike I learned about the Highpointers Club founded by “Guru Jakk” Longacre and stumbled upon several surprises including Taum Sauk Tower, which was awesome!

Hiking a 3.8 mile loop in Forest 44 Conservation Area near St. Louis. Forest 44 is right beside Kraus Farms Equestrian Center so all the trails are open to horseback riding. We saw several horses on our hike, and I have a good feeling anyone would when hiking these trails.

I get out early and hike Lone Wolf Trail in Castlewood State Park. At 2.1 miles Lone Wolf is the shortest trail I’ve hiked at Castlewood, and while I was skeptical at first by the end I was won over and wishing it was longer. One again, Castlewood did not disappoint.

Hiking and trail running along the stunning cliff top views of the River Scene Trail in Castlewood State Park just outside St. Louis, Missouri.

Wild and woolly Sandstone Canyon Trail in Don Robinson State Park in Jefferson County, Missouri. Don Robinson State Park is an 800 acre park that lies within the LaBarque Creek Natural Area and was donated to Missouri State Parks in 2012 by St. Louis businessman Don Robinson.

Today Abby and I hike 4.2 miles on the Grotpeter Trail in Castlewood State Park in Ballwin, Missouri. Castlewood State Park is one of the most popular state parks in Missouri and the Grotpeter Trail Loop circles the entire park. This is the first trail we hit as we start exploring Missouri hiking trails; as far as St. Louis area hikes go, it wasn’t too shabby!