|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
         
 Reporter |
Summary: This is the most scenic hike in the Metro St. Louis Area. Three sections of the trail pass by limestone cliffs and bluff escarpments where hikers enjoy a beautiful view of the Missouri River. These sections require you to take a short spur off of the main trail. The bluffs are usually about 25 yards from the main trail. These sections come up in the first 2 miles of the hike. Moderately strenuous for Missouri hiking. One possible, yet easy, creek crossing in wet weather. Be sure, at the creek crossing, to take the fork that heads NORTH or else you will be doing the full 8.2 mile loop (Lewis Trail). Apres Hike Activity: hop back onto Highway 94 and head south for approx. 15 scenic miles to Augusta. Stop by Mount Pleasant Winery, The Augusta White House Inn, or the Augusta Brewing Co. Well worth the drive! Trailhead: From St. Louis, take I-64 into St. Charles County, South on Highway 94, Continue on Highway 94 approx. 2.5 miles, Gravel parking lot for trailhead is on LEFT, Look for a wooden sign labeled "Weldon Springs Hiking Trail". (Lat:38.675 Lon:-90.7667) Trail Guides for Weldon Springs Clark Trail: Hiking St. Louis by Evie P. Harris (Evie P. Haris) Conservation Trails-A Guide to MO Dept of Cons Hiking Trails by Teresa Kight (Missouri Department of Conservation) Best Seasons: Fall, Spring, Winter, User Groups: Hikers, Dogs, Ranger Contact: MO Dep't of Conservation, St. Louis Regional Office, (636) 441-4554 Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Chris Rufkahr. To visit this reporters web site, click here. Trail Reviews Page 1 of 8 Submit your own review 
Reviewed by DEC on 3/26/2012 I love this trail. It is beautiful scenery with some challenging hills. The best time to go is in the spring but winter and fall are very nice too. I don't recommend this trail in the summer because of the voracious mosquitoes.
Reviewed by RayC on 1/1/2012 Wonderful trail in most seasons. Great for hiking and running. In mid-summer can be heavy with mosquitoes - wear good repellent and keep moving. Great vistas overlooking the MO River and Katy Trail. Some nice vertical climbs on both the longer and shorter loops. Most often hike the trail counter-clockwise to get to the bluffs earlier in the hike. 
Reviewed by Maggie on 10/15/2011 Me, my husband and our dog Maggie just did the Clark Trail for the first time and it was absolutely beautiful!!! The fall colors, the bluffs and the scenery were just breath taking oh yeah and so were some of the inclines! Unfortunately my husband and I are somewhat couch potatoes but we really enjoyed this hike, for me it was challenging at times but again I know I'm not in the best shape. However, it has totally motivated me to get my life together and get healthy so I can enjoy this wonderful state we live in by exploring the outdoors. Enjoy
Reviewed by AP on 10/8/2011 Enjoyed this hike in early fall. Perfect weather, nice fall colors. Did the Lewis hike in just 2 hrs 45 minutes.
Reviewed by Mike on 9/25/2011 Hiked the 8.3 mile Lewis Trail yesterday. The weather was perfect (about 65, but much cooler in the shade of the trail). Took us about 3.5 hours and that includes several stops for photos and about a 25 minute lunch break. I would definitely say that this one is one of the more physical hikes I have done in the St. Louis area. There are a lot of pretty steep and long ascents that provide some good exercise. The bonus of these climbs is some breath-taking views of the Missouri River. The photo ops are everywhere on this trail. I definitely recommend doing this one with well broken-in boots. I wore some boots that had only been on one other hike and suffered for it. However, I can't wait to do this one again!
Reviewed by Alicia on 6/4/2011 This was a great hike! The terrain made it A good, fun workout and there was tons of wildlife! I saw plenty of frogs and even a turkey right off of the path. I did the 8.3 mile hike on a day that had a high of 95 degrees but with all the shade it stayed fairly nice and cool. I sprayed bug spray on before hand and had no issue with ticks or Mosquitos. The hike took me 3.5hrs including stopping to take in the awesome views and take pictures of wildlife. I would definitely recommend this trail!
Reviewed by dec on 5/21/2011 Very nice hike, with a few moderately difficult hills. Enough to get your heart pumping. The 8.3 mile Lewis Trail is nice also if you want more distance but the scenery on the Clark is just as nice. This is a terrific early-mid spring, winter or late fall hike. I have hiked this trail many times, but I do not recommend it between Memorial Day and Labor Day because the mosquitoes are awful in the summer. This is probably my favorite place to go because it is so close to home (NW St. Louis County).
Reviewed by Matt on 3/6/2011 The most beautiful trail I've hiked. Don't be afraid to try the 8 mile. It's great. I'm over 300 lbs and I did it in under 3 hours in the summer. Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: Missouri Hiking, Missouri Trails, Missouri Hikes, Saint Charles County Hiking, Saint Charles County Trails, Saint Charles County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
