St. Louis Area Running and Walking Trails

CLIFF CAVE COUNTY PARK

TRAIL DESCRIPTION : This heavily wooded 222-acre park has three separate trail loops (Spring Valley, River Bluff, Riverside) that go alongside and up over the top of the cave. Stop at the first parking lot for access to the trails.

This river-bottom park occasionally floods with the spring rise of the Mississippi River . Great view of the river from the hills. Poison ivy can be bad here in the summer. Don't forget to wash off with soap thoroughly after your run. Remember, poison ivy oils can be easily transmitted by your hands from shoelaces to your face, if you rub your eyes or something, so wash your hands thoroughly after your run.

WHY WE LIKE IT: Another great south county park with great trails to piece together a nice medium length run. Plus the cave is the perfect place to cooldown after a summer run.

DIRECTIONS: Take 270 south (south of 1-44), crossover 1-55, where it changes to Hwy 255, take Telegraph Road Exit (last exit before crossing the river into Illinois ). Turn right off ramp, head south on Telegraph to Cliff Cave Road . Turn left. Follow Cliff Cave Road through a neighborhood and then it goes right into the park.

TRAIL MAP

DISTANCE: 5 miles linking all three trails together
TERRAIN: Hard packed and rock.
RATING: Easy to moderate.