Park Trails

Blue Heron Trail

This trail leads from the park visitor center along the north edge of Spring Lake to the park campground. Five minutes into your start, you will encounter the “Lost River” also known as “Onondaga Spring,” issuing from Onondaga Cave. A dam and millrace constructed in 1886 detains the water before it spills into Spring Lake. Possible wildlife sightings include beaver, river otter, muskrat and perhaps the trail namesake, great blue heron. This is an easy, mostly level trail.

Deer Run Trail

This trail starts at the campground shower house, turning uphill into the woods within 100 feet. This hilly, natural trail is of moderate difficulty with steps and bluff heights of 100-plus feet along the Meramec River. You will encounter dolomite forest and glades.  A south-facing glade is under restoration to eliminate invasive red cedar trees. At one point, you will pass a concrete building that is the man-made entrance to Cathedral Cave. Summer weekend flashlight tours of this fascinating cave can complement your hike. To extend your hike, you can access Oak Ridge Trail via the .80 mile white connector. 

Oak Ridge Trail

This hilly, natural trail is of moderate difficulty with one wet-weather stream crossing and some trailside drop offs. A few wet-weather waterfalls in a ravine on the north end of the loop are a bonus during rainy weather. A large, south facing dolomite glade is an interesting change from the shaded forest trail. Chinquapin oak, fragrant sumac, buckthorn, bluestem and switch grasses are present. Yellow coneflower, orange pucoon and Indian paint brush add a splash of color.  To extend your hike, you can access the Deer Run Trail via the .80-mile white connector.

Amphitheater Trail

Vilander Bluff Trail

Vilander Bluff Trail is named for Vilander Bluff, the highest bluff along the Meramec River. The 1.25-mile natural surface loop trail provides trail access to Vilander Bluff Natural Area, a 206-acre natural area known for its ancient eastern red cedars. Some of these cedars, from 300 to 500 years old, grow out of the rocks along the bluff. The trail features an outstanding example of a dry cliff community that contains two very rare species of lichens. The trail also takes hikers through a dry chert woodland and chert savanna before returning to the parking lot.

The trail was built and is maintained by the Miramiguoa Chapter of the Missouri Master Naturalists from Franklin County. In an effort to protect the rare species and the area’s natural features, the trail is limited to hiking only and was constructed without major ground disturbance.