April 5, 2020
Route 66 State Park near Eureka, MO is a quirky recreational area with a storied history. The park is not exceptionally scenic, is a little tricky to access, and occasionally a bit crowded. However it has still earned a spot in my regular outdoor routine. If you are looking for a spot near St. Louis to launch a boat into the Meramec River, enjoy a flat, paved trail for walking or biking, or want a quick history lesson of the area then Route 66 state Park may be for you.
Getting There
One of the first oddities about the park is getting there. The visitor center is separated from the main body of the park by the Meramec River. The old Route 66 bridge that connected the two is nonfunctional, and only the bones of the bridge remain. There is hope that someday the bridge can be repaired to allow for pedestrian access between the two. This does not appear imminent by any stretch of the imagination, however. The visitor center is located at 96 N Outer Rd, Eureka, MO 63025. The old building is full of Route 66 historical paraphernalia and is totally worth a visit if you have never been.
The main body of the park is reached for westbound 44 travelers by going past it, turning around at Highway 109 and taking the first exit once you get back onto Highway 44 Eastbound. Once you finally get there, you will find ample parking in a number of different paved lots.
Hiking Trails
The trail system at Route 66 State Park is also odd. If you look at a trail map (see below for link), then you will see a number of different trails labeled by color. However, in real life the trails are hardly marked or blazed at all and they all seem to run together anyway. Some portions of the trail are just the shoulders of the road that passes in a loop through the park. Others seem more like old roads through and old subdivision, which is probably what they are. Most of the trails are either paved in concrete, old asphalt, or packed gravel. There are some dirt/grassy trails as well if you choose to go off the path a bit.
https://apps5.mo.gov/trails/fullMap.action
You will be sharing the paths with cyclists who enjoy the rare opportunity for a flat ride in west St. Louis County. I like to follow deer trails through the thick cedar and honeysuckle thickets. Just but be sure to wear muddy boots and tick repellent if you follow my lead here.
The outer road also allows access to the Flat Creek Trail section of the Meramec Greenway. This portion leads through Kirchner Park, Lions Park, and Legion Park while providing access to some shopping/dining options in Eureka. This section is popular, but it does pass by a sewage treatment facility that can be undesirable during windy days.
Boat Ramp
Route 66 State Park partners with the Missouri Department of Conservation and provides access to the Meramec River via a concrete boat ramp. There are usually a few trailers in the lot every time you visit as fisherman and boaters take advantage of the free ramp to get out onto the river. Ben and I launched our kayaks last summer from this ramp for our local Meramec River float trip.
Tainted History
Route 66 State Park sits on the site of what was once Times Beach, MO. The town started sometime in the 1920’s along Route 66 primarily as a summer resort location. However, tough economic times and flooding turned the town into a low income residential area of a few thousand people. Sometime in the early 1970’s a contractor was hired to apply motor oil to the roads in order to keep the dust down. However, it was eventually discover that he laced the oil with dioxin in order to illegally dispose of the chemical.
The Environmental Protection Agency discovered this in 1982, the same time that Times Beach was hit with a devastating flood. No one was allowed back after the flood waters receded and the town was declared a Superfund site. Cleanup was completed and the area again declared safe in 1999, at which time it became a state park. For more information, check this out:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/times-beach-missouri
Many of the trees still remain in the same area they were planted in people’s yards years ago. Magnolia trees, large sweetgums, white pines, and Norway spruce tower above the cedars and honeysuckle that have filled in the remaining areas. When I walk through these areas it is easy to imagine where the homes once stood.
Worth a visit
Route 66 State Park is totally worth a visit. Take some time to walk along the river, especially in the winter when you can get a better view. Or maybe take a bike ride, look for some migrating birds, or enjoy a picnic at one of the pavilions or tables set up throughout the park. Either way, keep this unique dot on the map in mind when passing through on Interstate 44.
