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Trail of the Month Program
800-334-6946

Hikers' Comments on River Scene Trail
Castlewood State Park

	Month Hiked	Comments from participants of the 2007 Trail of the Month Program
	October 2007	October was the best month to hike this trail. The colors were just beginning to change, it was cool, and there were no bugs!
	October 2007	A fairly steep climb to reach the plateau above Meramec River. Many couples enjoying the provided benches to enjoy fall colors and visions. There were also some bicyclists. A great fall walk.
	October 2007	WOW! This trail has a variety of different elements to hike that keep you going. You could spend hours here just looking at the landscape.
	September 2007	It was a fabulous trail. The views from the bluff were spectacular.
	September 2007	Awesome views from on top of the bluffs. Steep climb at first, but well worth the effort! We saw a hawk soaring on the thermals over the bluff, right overhead!
	September 2007	I would definitely recommend going up the hill first and then taking the flat section last. This will save having to go down a gravelly hill and will allow you a nice long cool-down session after walking up such a strenuous hill. This park was very busy on the Saturday that I was there and it was nice to see people enjoying the great outdoors.
	September 2007	A fairly strenuous trail for the first half, on the bluff side of the trail. I wouldn't recommend this one with younger kids or pets. Most of the trail is shared with bikers, who travel past very quickly on narrow paths. We walked the trail on Labor Day and met around 40-50 bikers.
	August 2007	This is a wonderful trail, full of all kinds of adventures. Up along the bluffs, some great stairs, along the train tracks and the river. We loved it even though it was not well marked and we took a few wrong turns. Well worth the effort. (It is a bit of a workout!)
	July 2007	This trail offers many sights, from the beautiful overlooks, to the passing trains and the walk beside the river. You see the trees from every angle.
	July 2007	Great views of the Meramec River but scary if you are afraid of heights like me! My kids loved scrambling up the hill and watching the trains below them. Not marked very well and the map at the park office doesn't really seem to match either.
	July 2007	Numerous breathtaking overlook views of river and lush wooded landscape below. I felt like I was standing on top of the world. In many places the trail seems to be "bleeding" from the rich red clay soil. Too bad all this natural beauty is spoiled by the Union Pacific railroad that runs along the river. The rumbles and noise from the frequent trains is really quite overpowering. But I would highly recommend this trail for its ruggedness and scenery. Well worth the effort.
	July 2007	We thoroughly enjoyed this hike. The first quarter-mile or so was fairly steep with loose gravel underfoot, but the views from the top of the bluff were so worth it! After taking in the panorama of the valley, we descended the 209-step staircase (according to our count) to walk beside the river for the second half of our hike.
	July 2007	High cliffs, spectacular views, railroading, the river and creeks, turtles, BIG vines, deer, and even bigger sycamore trees, squirrels and lizards as well as hikers and bikers! Nice trail and very accessible to the St. Louis area!
	June 2007	It was a real workout, but I enjoyed it. There is a trail for bikers also. The views of the river are lovely. As we passed from one part of the trail to another, a train roared overhead. The trail included a wooden staircase that was very intricate. Very enjoyable. Bring your walking stick.
	June 2007	This is a very popular park, so expect the trail to be busy. The hike is very much worth the effort with a magnificent view from several overlooks.
	June 2007	Who would have thought such a scenic location was so close to St Louis. We took the extra loop boosting the distance from 3.0 to 4.0 miles. Also, the most friendly park staff we have yet encountered in any of the five trails completed to date!
	June 2007	Very interesting trail. The first part of the trail is rugged and steep incline. All along the top, there are very interesting views of the valley and surrounding area below. I would like to climb this trail again in the fall. Descending the wooden staircase, I noticed decaying cement steps nearby. On the last river section of the trail, I encountered several bicyclists but did startle a small deer and captured a good picture. The end of the trail was confusing -- I lost the markers.
	June 2007	First part of the trail was a bit rugged but the overlooks on the top were magnificent. Enjoyed the scenery. Along the river path, I noticed a small spotted fawn -- captured a great picture.
	May 2007	Start at the trailhead and hike up the bluff first instead of starting on the flat ground for a little ways.
	May 2007	Funny to say that we were not even sure what trail we were walking until we saw the clue. It was our children's (ages four, six and seven) first three-mile trail! The wonderful overlooks, going from land to steps to under the tracks, made the ever-changing landscape so interesting and exciting that they did not realize how far they walked. We LOVED it!
	May 2007	There are two perspectives of the Meramec River Valley, one from river level and one from the bluffs above. Hawks often soar above the bluffs. There are some interesting ruins, including three concrete stairways climbing up the bluff.
	May 2007	Watch out for bikes. The views above the Meramec river are amazing. It's cool to watch the trains passing below. We hiked the trail twice looking for the clue but never found it. The trail is poorly marked and splits in places so it's possible that we just missed it while taking a side trail. A nice workout, but disappointing to see the Trail of the Month marker at the trailhead but no clue along the way...maybe the bikers ran over it.
	May 2007	It's an amazing trail with spectacular views from 250 feet above the Meramec. Some areas are narrow but it's worthwhile. It is a little difficult though because it tends to fork and it’s easy to get lost but either trail brings you back to civilization. I would do it again.
	May 2007	We started at 10:15, and I noticed the trees were tall in this area. The clovers were large. We also saw ants building an anthill. There was a lot of moss growing on rocks. We also spotted a cardinal and numerous butterflies. When we made it to high ground, the wind speed picked up and was staggering. However, even though the wind was strong, we still witnessed the astounding view of the Meramec River below. This trail was a fascinating natural experience.
	May 2007	This trail was our first that we hiked and it was beautiful. The first quarter mile was mostly uphill and a little steep. After the first quarter mile, the trail was very enjoyable and full of fantastic overlooks. There is also a number of benches along the way if you need a rest or quiet place to enjoy the view. This was a wonderful experience.
	May 2007	We enjoyed the view from the bluffs and saw the state bluebird and several lizards along the trail. We used Cutter mosquito spray and it worked very well. We counted the steps as we came down the wooden stairs -- there are 205 according to our count.
	May 2007	There is beautiful scenery. It is a good hike that gives a great workout. It can be muddy, depending on the weather. The stairs are a great addition to the hike. I would recommend this hike to anyone and everyone.
	May 2007	The trail is not clearly marked toward its end and I wound up on the road in order to return to the start point. Beautiful views of the river and valley from the bluffs.
	May 2007	Started this hike at 10:15 a.m. and finished at 12:06 p.m. - two hours and 20 minutes. Very windy day. The view was fantastic, difficult terrain at points, but worth the climb. Would have liked better markers. The red squares were confusing at times but we managed not to get lost. Have been on this trail several times, but never with my grandson Zachary. He pointed out many things that we have missed before. Ticks are a problem but we sprayed really good and wore long pants. We still got some ticks and some chiggers but the view from the top is great.
	May 2007	This trail demonstrates the great need for trail-based recreational opportunities near large urban areas by the sheer quantity and diversity of trail users.
	May 2007	I took my son and his best friend. It was a wonderful day to go for a hike. We enjoyed looking at all the activity on the river as well as the three-four trains that went by while we were there. It was nice to have benches along the way to stop and look at things. The boys had fun looking for the clue for their passports. It was easy to find and they enjoyed using the map of the park to find the answer. Can't wait for the next trail.
	May 2007	There are splendid views from the top of the bluffs, but the trail needs to be better marked.
	May 2007	This trail is a bit challenging for the first quarter mile, but it provides a good work out! There are some very scenic views of the Meramec River along the way. Over all, I would recommend this trail to other hikers.
	May 2007	It had a bench that you could sit down and rest or just enjoy watching the river.
	May 2007	Many opportunities to view the river. Several spots to stop along the way and enjoy the scene. Dog friendly. Many people had their dogs with them. MAKE SURE YOU USE PROTECTION FOR MOSQUITOES. They were the worst I've ever seen. Loved being able to get right down to the train and river.
	May 2007	Be ready to dodge bikes and be awed by the view. Well worth the climb to the top.
	May 2007	There are beautiful views of the Meramec River and countryside from the bluffs along this trail and a new wooden staircase leading to the river bottom portion of the trail that parallels an old concrete staircase from years past. Be prepared for lots of mosquitoes along the lower part of the trail.
	May 2007	I took my four kids on this trail. They range from nine months to 12 years. This was a bit challenging at times but was fun in the end. A large portion of the trail is hiking up a hill with opportunities to overlook the Meramec River. The view was great. My kids saw mayapple with its fruit, horsemint, sassafras and other plants. My oldest son and daughter each found a snail and my youngest daughter gently touched its shell. We saw the Union Pacific train speed past as we descended stairs. Down at river level we enjoyed seeing the river up close. I spotted a snapping turtle in the water. After awhile my four-year-old warmed up to the idea and began spotting holes in trees and flowering plants. We saw rabbits on the trail and swallows flying past. Afterward, my kids played on the playground for five minutes. I will suggest to be sure to have insect spray. We used bug wipes and did not get a single mosquito bite though we saw many flying around. It was a great hike!