#dadhikes

Finding Camel Rock at Garden of the Gods

Awe-inspiring sandstone cliffs that form different shapes with views of the surrounding Shawnee Hills are what you will find at Garden of the Gods in southern Illinois. Driving In Heading into the Garden of the Gods Recreation Area you can see the high cliffs along the drive. After parking, we headed to the Observation Trail. Observation Trail Sign Observation Trail This is a quarter-mile…

Dad Hikes: Pomona Natural Bridge

A short loop hike through an oak and beech forest leads to the 90 foot Pomona Natural Bridge nestled in trees by a cliff. In the 1930s the Civilian Conservation Corps made improvements to the trail to make it more accessible to hikers by building stone steps and bridges. Information sign by the parking area My time here Looking at the natural bridge from the top. I headed down the loop trail…

The 2025 Top Ten Hikes includes Canyonland and Arches National Parks, along with rushing rivers in the Ozarks of Missouri. The list was compiled from summer travel, Midwest hikes, and outstanding natural beauty. (Rushing water at Lower Rock Creek in the Main Photo). Click the Titles for the Full Story. Explore Shut-Ins on a Lower Rock Creek Hike See waterfalls, shut-ins, creek cascades, pink…

Follow a paved path that winds through 150 different types of trees and plants at the Bethalto Arboretum in Illinois. The arboretum is next to Central Park, where parking is available and the path begins. This peaceful area was once a railroad route near downtown Bethalto, but now it’s a welcoming green space. The walk through Central Park and Bethalto Arboretum is 1.3 miles round-trip on a…

Walk the Centennial Greenway’s Ackert Walkway, starting from the Delmar Loop, where you’ll find the “Father of Rock and Roll” Chuck Berry statue, and then explore the Washington University campus. The walk covers 2.7 miles with a 141-foot elevation gain, all on a wide sidewalk. The walk involves stairs or ramps, depending on your preference for ease of access. I parked in the first third of the…

A paved hike leads to views of St. Charles across the wide Missouri River at Riverwoods Park in Bridgeton, Mo. Trail closures The route is an out-and-back hike along the Missouri Greenway Earth City Levee Trail and Riverwoods Trail. It covers 3.9 miles and is mostly flat, with just 62 feet of elevation gain. This walk used to be a loop, but flooding on the Missouri River closed a bridge. Now,…

Walk from the oldest church west of the Mississippi River to a bluff overlooking the Missouri River on the Sunset Greenway in Florissant, Mo. This hike is 6.4 miles out and back on a paved trail through an urban environment that ends near the Missouri River. Parking by the Old St. Ferdinand Shrine I parked in the lot at the end of St. Francis Street, near the Old St. Ferdinand Shrine (Main…

Discover gardens adorned with blooming plants and shrubs and a Veteran’s Memorial in Blanchette Park, St. Charles, MO. Park map In the park, I walked various loops to see the gardens and explore the entire area. There is much to explore in this 44-acre park, the oldest in St. Charles, established on Sept. 26, 1914. I entered the park from Randolph Street, went to the right, and parked in a…