It's time to turn off the computers, televisions and cell phones and head outside. This region is home to wonderful hiking trails, many within a short driving distance of St. Louis city. Some are short and stroller-friendly, others are rugged and right for older kids, but all offer a good dose of fresh air. So put down the iPhone, pack up the bug spray and hit the trail.

Shaw Nature Reserve
Hwy. 100 & I-44, Gray Summit
636-451-3512
www.shawnature.org
Shaw Nature Reserve features 14 miles of hiking trails that lead visitors through glades, prairie, woodlands and forests. There is something for everyone here, with paved, unpaved and riverwalk trails in varying degrees of difficulty. An outpost of the Missouri Botanical Garden, the reserve is dedicated to environmental and conservation education. A Visitor Center, open seven days a week, offers trail maps, information and access to its family-friendly programming.

Babler Memorial State Park
800 Guy Park Dr, Wildwood
636-458-3813
www.mostateparks.com/babler.htm
A perfect way for families with older children to spend a day outdoors! Twelve miles of rugged trails with several inclines and declines provide plenty of opportunity for spotting wildlife. Four total trails range from 1.25 to 2 miles and can be easily combined for longer hikes.

Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
11715 Cragwold Road, St. Louis
314-301-1500
mdc.mo.gov/areas/cnc/powder
Near the intersection of highways 270 and 44, Powder Valley lets you get away from it all—without leaving the suburbs! Three paved trails offer something for everyone, including a short, flat stroller-friendly option for young families. Other slightly more difficult trails (think hills and switchbacks) feature bridges that traverse a beautiful creek and a cool suspension bridge that crosses the main drive. One drawback—its proximity to ‘civilization’ means the peace and quiet of nature is sometimes broken by highway noise.

Mastodon State Park
1050 Charles J. Becker Drive. Imperial
636-464-2976
www.mostateparks.com/mastodon.htm
The perfect hiking spot for dinosaur buffs! Mastodon State Park is an important archeological and paleontological site where bones of mastodons and other now-extinct animals were found. Today, the 425-acre spot is on the National Register of Historic Places and features several rugged trails—one with a steep hill. A full-size replica of a mastodon skeleton and a nice museum are highlights.

Rockwoods Reservation
2751 Glencoe Road, Glencoe
636-458-2236‎
mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/applications/moatlas/AreaSummaryPage.aspx?txtAreaID=5405
Near Babler State Park, Rockwood Reservation features several rugged trails—definitely meant for older kids, not strollers or little legs. Lots of wildlife, including raccoons, opossums, turkeys, deer, fox, songbirds, chipmunks and snakes are common on the reservation. Rockwood supports a diverse array of native plant and animal life and contains interesting rock formations and important springs and caves.

Did we miss your favorite hiking trail? Share your favorite trail in the comment section below!

After living and writing in St. Louis for almost 15 years, Meredith Boggess has plenty of good things to share about her adopted hometown. She and her husband recently welcomed their first daughter into their home on The Hill, and, despite the sleepless nights, they are still awash in that new parent glow. Contact Meredith at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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