Filed under Fitness, Things to Do on February 5th, 2009:
Outdoor Winter Recreation in St. Louis
Does the snow and the cold make you feel like staying inside your St. Louis apartment? St. Louis parks offer an abundance of ways to enjoy winter recreation in the Missouri outdoors. With over 105 parks and numerous bike trails in St. Louis, there are many options to help you stay fit and enjoy some fresh air at the same time. Whether you like to run, jog, bike, or ice skate, St. Louis offers something for everyone.
Biking/Jogging/Walking Trails in St. Louis
Bike St. Louis – a new 20-mile on-street bicycle route, connects Forest Park to the Gateway Arch and gives riders access to other regional bike trails.
Riverfront Trail – travel along the 12-mile paved recreational greenway for walking, biking or running, that begins in Laclede’s Landing just north of the Gateway Arch and parallels the Mississippi River.
Gateway Arch – a paved and tree-lined 1.7-mile walking/jogging route through the grounds that will give you a fabulous view of the nation’s tallest monument during your daily workout.
Columbia Bottom Conservation Area – a 4,300-acre conservation area at the confluence of America’s great rivers, the Missouri and Mississippi offering hunting, fishing, hiking, biking.
Old Chain of Rocks Bridge – a hiking and biking trail on the bridge that carried Old Route 66 over the Mississippi River.
30/30 HIKES Program – 30 trails that take 30 minutes to complete.
Ice Skating and Sledding in St. Louis
- Steinberg Skating Rink
- Shaw Park Ice Rink
- Art Hill in Forest Park
- Blanchette Park
- Suson Park
- Bluebird Park
St. Louis Running and Walking Events
- Big River Running Company – every Monday at 6pm
- STL Track Club at Forest Park – every Wednesday at 6pm
- Fleet Feet Runners Club at Creve Coeur Lake’s Sailboat Cove – every Saturday at 7am
Dress warm, keep your head and hands protected and make sure you have proper footwear as you leave your St. Louis apartment. You may think the snow will keep you inside, but actually the muddy conditions on St. Louis trails are what you have to watch for. So, if the snow has melted and it ‘s very wet outside, pick the paved trails. From a 1-mile walk to a 12 K run or an afternoon of ice skating or sledding, you can find St. Louis recreation opportunities that everyone will enjoy!