Meramec State Park

The 9 mile loop at the Wilderness Trail at Meramec State Park was completely bi-polar today.  I arrived at the trailhead around 10:00 to find no other cars there at all, totally shocking for April 15th at this popular park.  Of course it was 35 degrees with a gusty wind, and it had rained each of the past few days driving some of the campers away I’m sure.  As soon as I parked I could see many of the Virginia Bluebells blooming along the creek, and I was thrilled to finally begin a spring-like hike.  The excitement was short lived, because even 100 yards in the bluebells were absent and, even though there was an increase in the variety and quantity of wildflowers, most of the woods were pretty brown and had the feel of winter.

I continued following the trail clockwise as it chased and crossed the creek numerous times.  I was wishing that I brought trekking poles as the creek was high and I almost went swimming a time or two.  Bird song was nearly completely absent for the first half of the trail, with only a single Northern Waterthrush observed along the creek and only one singing Yellow-throated Warbler heard. I found myself longing for the return of more greenery and some warm weather.

As planned, I stopped for a snack break about 2.5 miles in where the trail passes along side a large grove of Short-leaf Pines.  The wind rustling through the pines, and an active foraging flock of kinglets, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Northern Parula, and Yellow-throated Warblers kept me company.  The chill that comes with resting too long brought me to my feet and back on the long loop towards Copper Hollow Spring.

Almost as soon as I started walking again the sky started dropping little noisy pellets of ice and few snow flurries all around. The trail flattened out on the top of a dry ridge and the woods were barren.  I again felt like I was on one of the many winter hikes taken in recent months, and the feeling stung a bit as I couldn’t be more ready to turn the page on the seasons.  I pressed on, moving at a rapid clip, more intent on getting through the hike than enjoying it.

Then it happened, seemingly just as quickly as winter had raised its fist, spring was suddenly back in full force.  The trail drops off the ridge and enters into the Meramec Upland Forest Natural Area.  Out of nowhere birds were singing and foraging right along side the trail.  Yellow-throated Warblers, Black and White Warblers, Kinglets, Louisiana Waterthrush, and Yellow-rumpled Warblers were all around.  Wildflowers seemed to be everywhere, including Bellwort, Spring Beauty, Rue Anemone, and Dutchman’s Breeches growing along side the creek.  The wind stopped and again the world slowed down.  The main attraction is the large beds of Virginia Bluebells that surround both sides of the trail in many spots.  The tall green foliage would have been enough to boost my spirits, but the pink and blue blooms are beautiful in their simplicity and the highlight of the hike.

I took my time here, eating lunch at the base of the cliff and cave that gives birth to the Copper Hollow Spring, a beautiful cold water spring that forms the small creek. This is a peaceful place, and an ample reward for the hike to get here and back.  I had to push myself to move on, knowing that the next 2 miles held some spectacular scenery all its own.  As you climb out of the valley, you catch a glimpse of the Meramec River through the trees.  The trail winds around a rocky cliff face and dry glade, where I was gifted with some early blooming Indian Paintbrush, Hoary Puccoon, and few others I do not know.  It is on the stretch that the Wilderness trail earns its name.

The final 1.5 miles to the trailhead was mostly uneventful, and I focused on increasing my pace as I continue to train for the rim to rim.  It also gave me a chance to reflect on the strange hike, with the bouts of sleet and gusty winds spaced between periods of calm and clear skies.  Area managers had recently completed a controlled burn over a rather large section of the park, so some portions of the trail were blackened by fire, others still buried in the brown blanket of leaves, and still others covered in beautiful wildflowers.  Most areas of the hike had almost no birds, while some seemed to have birds in every tree.  Many times I felt like spring had arrived while many others I felt like I was on just another winter hike.

The beauty of it is that, either way, I was winning.  The trail is beautiful, and just long enough that you have to work to earn it but not so long that it is out of reach for most.  I completed it in 3 hours, 45 minutes, including time for food and sightseeing.  It is a hike for all seasons, it just so happened that I was given two for one today.  And perhaps the biggest surprise is that I didn’t see another soul on the trail today, even though is a very busy park and most April weekends it is a full place.  Get out an give the Wilderness Trail a try, and maybe make time for an overnight camp out as there are many nice backpacking campsites located along the trail.   Thanks for reading!

https://mostateparks.com/park/meramec-state-park