How to get there...
Berryman
Trail
Drive Option 1 (via Steeleville) - 1 hr 45 min to 2 hrs drive time:
Take I-44 southwest approx. 77 miles (from 44/Jamieson)
from St. Louis to Cuba.
Exit at Cuba, and take Highway 19 south 8 miles
to Steelville. Follow the signs for
Highway 8 once
you're in Steelville, and take Hwy 8 20 miles east to Berryman
Campground. Look for the Forest Service
sign on the left about 2 miles east of the
tiny town of Berryman - it's very easy to miss. Berryman Campground is about a
mile north of Hwy 8, on the left. You will
pass one fork to the right - stay left.
Drive Option 2 (via Bourbon) - better for dropping
aid; same drive time as above:
Take I-44 south west approx. 66 miles (from 44/Jamieson)
from St. Louis to
Bourbon, MO. Drive through town, and follow the
signs for Highway N south
(or follow the signs for
Blue Springs Campground and Riverview
Ranch). Hwy N will
head southeast out of Bourbon.
Just past Anthonies Mill (about 12.8 miles on N),
turn right on Highway W. Follow Hwy W 8.6 miles total,
passing Brazil Creek
Campground. Continue past Brazil Creek to a fork in the road.
Turn left onto a
gravel road, and continue to where the road forks.
Take the right fork and continue
to the Berryman Campground (it will be on the right).
Total distance on the gravel
Forest Service road is 4.9 mils from W to Berryman Camp.
For a map of the trail, click
here.
There are pit toilets at Berryman Campground, but
no water. One full loop is 24.6
miles. Aid can be dropped at approx. miles 8, 15,
and 18.5 (see map).
Castlewood
Take
Big Bend west to Ries Rd. Go south (left) on Ries to the dead end. Go
left into Castlewood Park. Continue on over the bridge,
and park in the first
lot on the left (by the restrooms & picnic pavilion).
Chubb
Trail
Lone
Elk Trailhead:
Take I-44 west to the 141 N exit. Stay in the far
right lane - immediately
after getting on 141, take the first right and continue
down and around.
Go left at the T-stop. Continue along the access road
parallel to 44W
until you enter Lone Elk Park. Go right (up the hill)
until you get to the main
gate to the park. Don't enter - park along the side
of the road.
The trailhead starts through the gate on the right
and up the dirt road.
Follow the signs.
West Tyson Trailhead:
take I-44 west to the Lewis Rd exit (a few miles past
141). Continue right
(not a hard right) about .25 miles to the marked West
Tyson park entrance.
Turn right into the park and follow the asphalt road
straight ahead to the
picnic shelter. Park along the loop or road.
Distances: Trailhead to trailhead has been wheeled
at 6.7 miles. From Lone
Elk to the second RR crossing and back is 7.4 miles
round-trip. From the West
Tyson trailhead to the first RR crossing and back
is 6 miles round-trip.
Creve
Coeur Park
Park
at the southeast end of the park by the waterfall. Take 270 to Dorsett;
go west on Dorsett to where it dead-ends at Marine.
(Don't turn before then.)
Go right on Marine, down the hill into the park. When
you get to the bottom of
the hill and see the lake, take a left into the first
parking area. Keep going left,
all the way to the far end of the parking lot by the
Taco Bell Pavilion and
waterfall. The trail starts by the woods.
There's a porta-potty by the parking area, and a real
restroom about a mile
down the path. We figure the exiting loop to be about 6 miles.
Grant
Trail
Starting from the parking lot by I-55 & Hoffmeister:
From 55 South, exit at Union; continue left over 55.
After the bridge, make a hard
(probably illegal) left onto Hoffmeister. Continue
past the Grant Trail Lodge until you
see a large parking area on right. Trailhead is by
the trees/sign.
From 55 North, exit at Reavis Barracks. Go right,
then left on Union. Continue on
Union until just before the bridge over 55; turn right
on Hoffmeister and follow
directions above to park.
Full out and back: approx. 13 miles. No water on trail;
carry your own.
OR Starting from Whitecliff Park:
Take Gravois to Grant Road, as if you're going to
Grant's Farm. Continue
past the Grant's Farm entrance. At the next stop sign
(Pardee), go straight.
(You'll now be on Pardee.) The entrance to Whitecliff
Park will be on the
left. Turn in, and take the first right - park by
the pavilion. If it's reserved,
don't turn in - continue over the bridge, up the hill,
and park by the community
Center.
Greensfelder
Park
Take
44 W to Allenton/Six Flags exit. Go right at exit-ramp light. Continue north
on Allenton Rd. past Six Flags, approx. 1.5 miles.
Parking lot will be on the right, by
the St. Louis County parks sign - park in one of the
few spots to the left by the
outhouses and gate.
Distance: out/back gate to gate on the Scenic Loop
drive is 3.6 very hilly miles
Katy
Trail
DEFIANCE
TRAILHEAD:
Take 64/40 West to 94 South (Weldon Springs exit).
Continue south on 94
about 9 miles, to Defiance. The Katy Trail parking
lot is just past town on
the left - it's very obvious.
No facilities - bring plenty of water & snacks.
WELDON SPRINGS TRAILHEAD:
Take 64/40 West to 94 South (Weldon Springs exit). Continue south on 94
for about 5 miles. The Weldon Springs Katy Trail parking lot and access
is on the left - look for the sign. If you get to Lost Valley, you've gone
about a mile too far.
Facilities: restroom, but no water.
Lewis
& Clark Trails
Take
64/40 West past Chesterfield. Continue past Boones Crossing and across
the
river to 94 South. Take 94 south approximately 2 miles - it's not far past
the school. The parking lot will be on the LEFT just
past a sharp curve.
Distance: The longer loop is approximately 8 miles.
The shorter loop is the
same trail, with a shortcut connector a few miles
in, and is about 5 mile.
Trail is somewhat difficult single-track. No facilities.
Lost
Valley
Take
64/40 West past Chesterfield. Continue past Boones Crossing and across
the
river to 94 South. Take 94 South 6 miles. Watch for a parking lot on your
right
- this is the Lost Valley start. If you cross a bridge, you went a bit too
far.
Distance: one loop of Lost Valley is 8 miles; every
mile is marked (signs posted to
to be visible if you run the loop clockwise.
Queeny
Park
Upper
Weidman Parking Lot:
Exit onto Manchester westbound from 270 north or south.
Continue west on
Manchester to light at Weidman Rd. Go right on Weidman.
Continue to Queeny
Park, and take a right into the park. Turn left at
the first opportunity and drive
up to the parking area. Park near the top of the lot
by the woods.
Distance: One "outer" loop of the park is 4.2 miles.