Greenway: Meramec Greenway

Five Great Greenways for Fall Color

Posted on Friday October 4, 2024

Greenways provide a front row seat to fall’s annual show of color. Those that meander through forests, along rivers or bottom lands are typically your best bet—but you can’t go wrong with any greenway this time of year! Take your pick of the following (or plan to visit them all this fall!)

Busch Greenway: Katy Trail to Missouri Research Park to August A. Busch Conservation Area
The prime viewing spot along this greenway is the .75 mile route through the forest bottom between Missouri Research Park and the Katy Trail. For a longer walk or ride, explore the portion of the greenway that meanders through the Weldon Spring Conservation Area.

Meramec Greenway: Glencoe to Sherman Beach Park
The Rock Hollow spur will wow you with a showy display of color as it drops down from Ridge Road to meet the Al Foster Trail. Once you reach the river, you’ll enjoy splashes of sunlight reflecting off the Meramec and colorful leaves along the bluffs along the Al Foster Trail. You might even spot a few Paw Paws along the way!

Mississippi Greenway: Cliff Cave Park
Your first stop should be the overlook atop the 170 foot bluff where you’ll be treated to sweeping views of the Mighty Mississippi River. For an up-close look at leaves in all their fall glory, be sure to explore the paved greenway and natural paths in the upper section of the park.

Centennial Greenway: Forest Park to Washington University to Vernon
Make a day of it on this greenway! Start with shopping and lunch in the Delmar Loop followed by a walk beneath the colorful canopy of trees on the Washington University campus. Top it off with one or more of the attractions in St. Louis’ colorful crown jewel- Forest Park!

Fee Fee Greenway to Centennial Greenway: Katy Trail to Schaefer Park & Spencer Creek Trail via Creve Coeur Park
Bring your bike for an amazing fall ride that will take you all the way from the Maryland Heights Community Center to the St. Charles County Heritage Museum, Schaefer Park (and the St. Peters Rec Plex via Spencer Creek Trail) ! Take a spin around Creve Coeur Lake and enjoy the changing leaves as you traverse two greenways—and two counties—via the Creve Coeur Connector Trail!

Volunteer: Honeysuckle Hack at Unger Park

Saturday, November 23, 2024 • 9:00 am - 11:00 am

Saturday, November 23, 20249:00 am - 11:00 am

Event Details

Unger Park

500 Yarnell Road, Fenton, MO, USA

Learn more about the Meramec Greenway: George Winter Park to Unger Park and Emmenegger Park here.

Volunteers are needed to help Great Rivers Greenway staff and the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Outdoor Leadership Corps remove invasive bush honeysuckle on Saturday, November 23rd from 9AM to 11AM!

Note: This event is limited to ages 13 and older. 

Volunteers will remove invasive bush honeysuckle along the Meramec Greenway in Unger Park, by cutting the plant with handsaws or loppers, and dragging the debris into brush piles.  No experience is necessary for this activity, but it does involve physical labor and walking in the woods over varying terrain. 

No experience necessary; Great Rivers Greenway and Missouri Botanical Garden staff will teach volunteers how to identify, remove, and treat bush honeysuckle. 

What to wear: Please dress for the weather and bundle up. Long sleeve shirts, pants and closed toe shoes are required. Eye protection and gloves will be provided.

What to bring: All tools will be provided, but please feel free to bring your own loppers or hand pruners if you have them. Please bring a water bottle to help us reduce plastic waste. Light snacks and water will be provided.  

Register Now

Unger Park

500 Yarnell Road, Fenton, MO, USA

Additional Notes:

Learn more about the Meramec Greenway: George Winter Park to Unger Park and Emmenegger Park here.

Get Directions on Google Maps

Meramec Greenway walk with Oasis

Tuesday, September 17, 2024 • 9:30 am - 11:00 am

Tuesday, September 17, 20249:30 am - 11:00 am

Event Details

Meramec Greenway In Greentree Park

Greentree Park, Marshall Road, Kirkwood, St. Louis, MO, USA

Walk the Meramec Greenway in Greentree Park. The walk is on a flat paved trail with benches and scenic views of the river, approximately 3.5 miles Register at www.stloasis.org or by calling 314-862-4859 ext 24.

Learn more about the Meramec Greenway: Greentree Park to Arnold’s Grove Park here.

Register Now

Meramec Greenway In Greentree Park

Greentree Park, Marshall Road, Kirkwood, St. Louis, MO, USA Get Directions on Google Maps

Beginner Birdwatching on the Meramec Greenway

Saturday, September 14, 2024 • 8:00 am - 10:30 am

Saturday, September 14, 20248:00 am - 10:30 am

Event Details

Meramec Greenway: Greentree Park

2150 Marshall Road, Kirkwood, MO, USA

Join others who share your interest in nature, birds, and wildlife, and learn the basics of birdwatching. Beginners welcome. Registration is free and required. Register on the St. Louis Audubon Society website.

5 reasons to join us on this birdwalk:

  1. -Hearing bird song can improve feelings of peace and well-being.
  2. -The park and Meramec Greenway are beautiful this time of year with all of the trees coming into bloom!
  3. -Being in nature decreases stress & sharpens concentration.
  4. -You’ll get in a morning walk, on a greenway, in a lovely park.
  5. -You’ll learn interesting facts about birds and how to see them and listen for them.

Learn more about the Meramec Greenway: Greentree Park to Arnold’s Grove Park here.

Register Now

Meramec Greenway: Greentree Park

2150 Marshall Road, Kirkwood, MO, USA Get Directions on Google Maps

Meet Angelica

Posted on Monday July 29, 2024

Angelica Gutierrez is a Great Rivers Greenway Project Manager. Some of her current projects include the Gravois Greenway connection to River des Peres, Centennial Greenway in Olivette and St. Charles MO, and the Deer Creek Greenway in Webster Groves and Maplewood. She also oversees our Betterment Projects-ongoing efforts to improve the user experience across greenways:

“I love that we build places for people to be outside. Not just for now, but for future generations. We all need more time and places to disconnect – to take a break from “screens” and breathe fresh air. I see it with my own two daughters. On a beautiful day, I’ll say – ‘Let’s go to the Meramec Greenway!’ They grumble a little bit- I feel like I have to drag them outside. But as soon as we get to the greenway they are all smiles. We walk, we talk, we ride bikes and sometimes even dance – it makes all of us happier.”

Home Greenway: Tie between the Meramec Greenway and Missouri Greenway: Monarch Chesterfield Levee

Meet Hogan

Posted on Thursday July 25, 2024

Have you ever seen people riding uni-cycles on a greenway? There’s a good chance it’s Hogan H. & his son Corvin:

“I’ve lived in St. Louis for 15 years and been an active distance uni-cyclist for about 10 of those years. Many people have seen my son and I uni-cycling on the greenways. I enjoy the dedicated spaces to ride and be safe. It allows me to explore the city and enjoy an interesting method of traveling. A typical ride for me is 5 – 10 miles out and back. My longest ride to date was the MRT loop in downtown St. Louis. When I finished, my GPS logged just over 26 miles-it was quite an accomplishment for me! I’m currently on a quest to unicycle for 1 hour in all lower 48 US states with my son Corvin. To date, we have uni-cycled in 35 states.”

Home greenways: Deer Creek, Gravois (Grant’s Trail), Meramec: Greentree Park to Arnold’s Grove Park, Mississippi: Riverfront Trail, Missouri: Monarch Chesterfield Levee & River des Peres Greenway

Meet Mona

Posted on Thursday July 25, 2024

Mona Vespa is the President of GO! St. Louis. GO! is a local non-profit organization that encourages individuals and families in the #STL region to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle year round. They accomplish this through community collaborations, school-based programming and the creation of new and fun fitness events:

“Running is my sport, my hobby and my profession! Personally, I can’t imagine a better way to explore your own city than on foot, and the greenways are the perfect way to do that! Every time I run a greenway, I am reminded that our city is incredibly diverse in landscape and character, but is also comprised of neighborhoods and communities who are all working towards a similar goal: to make their part of our city a vibrant and welcoming home. And as a part of my job, what a joy it is to share that with the runners and walkers of our area. I’ve used greenways for several GO! St. Louis race routes, and our Summer Passport program’s entire focus is to introduce more runners to the incredible gem of these paths throughout our city. GO! St. Louis is thankful for GRG’s work and dedication to outdoor recreation in our region!”

Home Greenway: All of them!

Meet Amy

Posted on Thursday July 25, 2024

Amy Marxkors is the co-host of the Charlie Brennan Show on KMOX, an author, a former hockey player and a marathon runner (occasionally ultra-marathoner!) She happily logs thousands of miles running on the greenways:

I love how the greenways connect so many places. My friends and I use them to meet up for runs. We can cross the Missouri River between St. Charles County and St. Louis County just using greenways and the KATY Trail. They are such a great asset for our region. I also appreciate the change of scenery on the greenways—everything from city environments, to the woods to conservation areas. It gives me a nice sense of calm when I am out on a long run.

Home Greenway: Meramec at Rock Hollow; Missouri Greenway: Monarch Chesterfield Levee; Busch Greenway; Centennial Greenway: Heritage to Kay Trail

Meet David

Posted on Thursday July 25, 2024

The Meramec Greenway is the perfect neighbor for an athlete and outdoorsman like David P. Always looking for a new challenge, he took advantage of this nearby greenway connection to create his very own Bike-Paddle-Run Triathlon.

“I decided to put my love of running, paddle sports and biking together for an all-day adventure. I loaded up my inflatable stand up paddleboard on a trailer, hitched it to my bike and rode down to the Meramec Greenway at Greentree Park. I hid my running shoes behind a tree and then rode out to the Al Foster Trail at Grand Avenue (combined on road and greenway route.) I locked up my bike and trailer, pumped up the board, and jumped on the river. I had a great day on the water paddling all the way back to Greentree Park. I left the board on the river bank, grabbed my running shoes, and ran up the hill to my house and car. I backtracked to grab my paddleboard and then my bike and trailer. All together it was a 16 mile bike ride, 9 mile paddle and 1.2mile run. The Meramec is wonderful for a paddle and just as much for a lazy drift with the current.”

Home Greenway: Meramec

Meet Travis

Posted on Thursday July 25, 2024

Travis Newberry is the Senior Planner for one of our partners, the City of Wildwood Department of Planning and Parks. He is also one of our former interns!

“Great partnerships and an enthusiastic and involved community are what it takes to protect and enhance great natural and recreation areas in the St. Louis region. One example is the Meramec Greenway: Glencoe to Sherman Beach Park. It’s a hidden gem worth exploring with so many connections to parks and trails and sweeping views of the Meramec River Valley. I am proud to be part of the City of Wildwood team as we work with many partners like Great Rivers Greenway, Missouri State Parks, Gateway Off-Road Cyclists (GORC), St. Louis County and many others to make this greenway a premier destination for people to get outside and have fun! I have also enjoyed volunteering with the Open Space Council to remove invasive Bush Honeysuckle along this greenway. You can see the result of everyone’s hard work as views of the Meramec River open up again along the Al Foster Trail. I encourage people to come out to Wildwood to see this greenway and others—fall is the perfect time to do it! ”

Home Greenway: The Meramec Greenway: Glencoe to Sherman Beach Park (after work) and Mississippi Greenway: Cliff Cave Park (on the weekends)