Parks & Natural Attractions
in St. Louis & St. Louis County

Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park 800 Guy Park Drive Wildwood, MO 636-458-3813		The Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park was created in 1934 and is an on-going commemoration of a well-known St. Louis family. The Civilian Conservation Corps worked to develop the park by cutting roads through the hilly countryside and building scenic viewpoints, trails and covered shelters. Twenty-two CCC structures at Babler State Park are now included in the National Register of Historic Places. This 2,500-acre state park green-space oasis that provides wildlife viewing, more than 13 miles of hiking and equestrian trails, camping, outdoor recreation, and the River Hills Visitor Center.
Castlewood State Park 1401 Kiefer Creek Road Ballwin, MO 636-227-4433		The Castlewood area originally provided St. Louis residents a welcome respite from urban life in the early 1900s. City dwellers flocked to several small resort depots along the Meramec River using the Missouri Pacific Railroad for weekends of water fun, dancing and clubhouse partying. The grand staircase at the Castlewood depot led to the big hotels and clubs. Today the park features more than 15 miles of hiking and equestrian trails, picnic facilities, fishing opportunities, canoeing, rafting and sunbathing. The World Bird Sanctuary is located in the park and houses live birds and features interpretive displays on birds of prey and their activities. Visit the Castlewood State Park website for more information.
Columbia Bottom Conservation Area 801 Strodtman Road St. Louis, MO 314-877-6014		Columbia Bottom Conservation Area is in north St. Louis County. This 4,318-acre area includes a view of the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, over 6.5 miles of river frontage, about 800 acres of bottomland forest and a 110-acre island. Public access facilities include roads, trails, a river access, and a viewing area at the confluence.
Faust Park 15185 Olive Street Road Chesterfield, MO 636-532-7298		Faust County Park is one of St. Louis County's most unique parks. Created in 1968 the park is home to many historical and cultural attractions. Visitors to the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House can view butterflies in the glass conservatory or in a natural setting. A historical village preserves the area's architecture and history with ten structures ranging from log to brick and spanning a period from 1840 to 1888. The St. Louis Carousel is an original carousel created by the Dentzel Company of Philadelphia in the 1920s that has been restored. Thornhill is the restored the estate of Frederick Bates, Missouri's second governor.
Forest Park St. Louis, MO		Forest Park is one of St. Louis' most treasured resources and one of the largest urban parks in the United States. It is the home to the region’s major cultural institutions—the Zoo, Art Museum, History Museum, Science Center and the Muny Opera. It also serves as a sports center for golf, tennis, baseball, bicycling, boating, fishing, handball, ice-skating, roller blading, jogging, rugby and more.
Jefferson National Expansion Memorial 11 N. 4th Street St. Louis, MO 314-655-1700		This national park on the Saint Louis Mississippi riverfront memorializes Thomas Jefferson and others who directed the westward territorial expansion of the United States. The park features Eero Saarinen's prize-winning, stainless steel Gateway Arch, the Museum of Westward Expansion, and the historic Old Courthouse.
Missouri Botanical Garden 4344 Shaw Boulevard St. Louis, MO 314-577-5100		The Missouri Botanical Garden is one of the top three botanical gardens in the world and a 79-acre urban oasis of indoor and outdoor display gardens. Known as Shaw's Garden to St. Louisans, the Missouri Botanical Garden contains a formal English garden, traditional Japanese garden, Margaret Blanke Grigg Chinese garden, the Flower Trial Garden, greenhouses and extensive landscaping. The garden also features the Climatron Complex, water lily reflection ponds and the William T. Kemper Center for Home Gardening. Facilities include meeting rooms, classrooms, historical buildings, a restaurant and a gift shop.
Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center 11715 Cragwold Road Kirkwood, MO 314-301-1500		Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center is 112 acres of oak hickory forest with 3 trails, one of which has interpretive signs and is disabled accessible. The nature center has 2 levels of exhibits related to backyard wildlife and conservation practices in urban areas. Movies are shown every weekend in the 250-seat auditorium. Fish in the large aquarium are fed at 1 pm on Sundays. The gift shop sells MDC produced publications, and educational gift items, as well as licenses.
Saint Louis Zoo #1 Government Drive Forest Park St. Louis, MO 314-781-0900		The Saint Louis Zoo has been named #1 zoo by Zagat Survey's U.S. Family Travel Guide in association with Parenting magazine. The Zoo is home to more than 22,000 exotic animals, many of them rare and endangered. The over 800 species represented at the Zoo come from all the major continents and biomes of the world. Set in the rolling hills, lakes and glades of Forest Park, the Saint Louis Zoo is always a great place to be. Features include the Fragile Forest, the River's Edge, the Cypress Swamp with the 1904 Flight Cage, the Insectarium, and Big Cat Country.
Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House 15193 Olive Blvd. St. Louis, MO 636-530-0076		The Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House is the only permanent attraction of its kind in Midwest. Its glass conservatory allows visitors to see hundreds of butterflies in free flight and watch the process of metamorphosis. The outdoors Native Habitat, the landscaped grounds of property offers the opportunity to see native butterflies in a natural environment. The center also offers classes and educational programs that increase public knowledge of the world of butterflies. An additional 8,000 square feet adjacent to the Conservatory houses classrooms, a theater, visitor amenities and a gift shop. Visit the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House website for more information.
Suson Park Animal Farm 6059 Wells Road St. Louis, MO 314-638-2100		Suson Park is real working farm for urban dwellers to come see and enjoy. The park features a big red barn and features most breeds of farm animals such as draft horses, cows, goats, and feathery fowl. Visit the Suson Park Animal Farm website for more information.
World Bird Sanctuary 125 Bald Eagle Ridge Road Valley Park, MO 636-225-4390		The World Bird Sanctuary is a unique St. Louis attraction and an entertaining environmental education opportunity. With over 130-acres and 350 animals in their care, the WBS offers a wildlife experience that is one-of-a-kind. Dedicated to preserving the earth's biological diversity and securing the future of birds of prey in their natural environments, the WBS is home to eagles, owls, hawks, falcons, vultures, parrots, mammals and reptiles. A team of naturalists offer an array of education programs covering a variety of environmental topics, all presented in an interactive and humorous style. Visit the World Bird Sanctuary website for more information.
For Travelers Heading Across the River
		Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway The Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway area is one of America’s newer scenic byways. With over 20,000 acres of forest and wetlands at the heart of the Mississippi Flyway, it is a nature lovers paradise. Visitors will find spectacular colors in the fall and bald eagles in the winter. History abounds in the region ranging from the prehistoric Cahokia Mounds to sites on the National Register of Historic Places.
For Travelers Heading Up River
		Meeting the Missouri River The two longest rivers of the United States, the Missouri and the Mississippi, meet at St. Charles County, Missouri. The Historic St. Charles downtown area offers visitors a variety of attractions including the Lewis and Clark Boat House and Nature Center, The Foundry Art Centre, and Missouri’s First State Capitol. Nearby is Confluence State Park and the Daniel Boone Home.
For Travelers Heading Down River
		French Colonial Country Down river of St. Louis and the Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway area is French Colonial Country. This five county area was heavily influenced by the French fur traders who inhabited the region from 1700 to 1840. Attractions include the town of Ste. Genevieve with the largest concentration of French Colonial architecture in North America, Forts de Chartre and Kaskaskia in Randolph County, and the Cahokia complex in St. Clair County.