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.

Missouri’s second highest point, Buford Mountain, isn’t the highlight of this 10 mile loop trail. Bald Knob at 1,575 feet is clearly the best point of interest on the Buford Mountain State Forest trail. And you can camp there!

The Whispering Pines South Loop is a roughly 6 miles extension of the trail. It’s a moderate mostly flat trail, an easy addition to add some miles to your hike. I recommend taking the Scenic Loop at the southernmost point of the South Loop as you’ll find beautiful rock outcroppings along Pickle Creek.

I closed out 2020 the best way I knew how, with an adventurous 13 mile New Years Eve hike on the Whispering Pines Trail in Hawn State Park. I had to take my shoes off, roll up my pants, and forge Pickle Creek in the first half of the Whispering Pines North Loop Trail.

Awesome winter hike of Labarque Hills Trail in Don Robinson State Park featuring a frozen creek, icicles, and the beautiful Missouri outdoors.

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!

The Al Foster Trail is part of the Meramec Greenway Trail which lies along the Meramec River bottomlands park of St. Louis County’s 273-acre lower Meramec Park. There’s no talking on my hike as I simply enjoy the relaxing nature sounds of the Missouri wildlife.