Plan a trip and see it for yourself!

Great Rivers Greenway and our partners at Louis County Parks gathered with area residents, contractors and local officials on Friday, May 4, to celebrate the opening of the 2-mile Mississippi Greenway expansion in Cliff Cave County Park. The expanded greenway makes it possible for people of all ages and abilities to explore and enjoy the upper and lower sections of the park and provides two new connections for area residents to access this amenity.

The $4.3 million project extends the existing 5-mile paved greenway that runs along the Mississippi River two miles up the bluff to a new scenic overlook, while also providing a direct path for residents to walk or bike to Cliff Cave County Park from Telegraph Rd. A new parking lot north of the existing entrance on Cliff Cave Road provides additional parking and restrooms for visitors, and a paved connection links the new parking lot to the scenic overlook. A 210-foot pedestrian bridge was also installed over Cliff Cave Road to connect residents to the other side of the park and scenic overlook. A separate 70-foot bridge was placed to allow residents to cross over the creek that flows from the mouth of Cliff Cave on the new greenway linking the upper and lower sections of the park. In addition to the paved greenway and bridges, the expansion features seating for people to stop and rest, and more than a thousand new native trees, shrubs, sedges and flowers to restore and boost the native ecology of the greenway.

The new greenway was officially opened with a ceremonial ribbon cutting at the new overlook at Cliff Cave Park. Area residents then had the chance to explore the new greenway and see the improvements and added amenities.

On Sunday, May 6, several hundred people came out to see the new greenway and explore the park. People of all ages participated in a host of free activities such as Yoga on the Mississippi River, a hiking class and nature walk. The first 250 lucky park visitors enjoyed their choice of a free snow cone from Kona Ice or a Belgium Waffle from Walk Away Waffles. Bikes and helmets were be available to rent by the hour from City Cycling Tours of St. Louis so people could ride bikes on the seven miles of paved trails in the park. Others opted to explore the expanded greenway on foot.

For people want a choice of paved and unpaved trails, the park’s existing Spring Valley and River Bluff trails remain unchanged and offer a total of 5.2 miles for hiking and mountain biking. Come out and see this new park for yourself! More details here.