Hiking enthusiasts and nature lovers are in for a treat when staying at one of the reasonable Meramec State Park hotels, as there are various trails to explore the scenery. Most are rated moderate or rugged in terms of difficulty.
To get a marvelous view of the Meramec River, especially from the edge of two bluffs, take the Bluff View Trail, which will take you right to the river bank.
The trail passes through an area in the park where deer are frequently spotted. Mature woodland surrounds the entire trail and one can see an abundance of dogwood trees in full bloom.
This option will take you through lush wildflowers in season, and is also a historic route on which hikers can see the remnants of an erstwhile blast furnace. There are many interpretive stations on this route.
Thanks to various recreational points of interests, Meramec State Park makes for an ideal place to head for a short family vacation. Visitors can make the most of their getaway by opting for one of the many Meramec State Park cabins, located inside the grounds, for their stay. But whether you stay inside the park or right nearby, there is plenty to see and do.
The park's natural wonder called Fisher Cave is a big draw. On a tour, you can see calcite deposits and passages with well preserved prehistoric claw marks, among other spectacular aspects, like natural 30ft. columns.
The Civilian Conservation Corps left behind a gorgeous legacy in the park in the form of now-historic buildings, such as the rustic style observation tower and lookout house, the gable-roofed pump house and the shelter house, all of which are a joy to explore.
The Maramac Spring is the ideal place to engage in some fishing with your little ones in tow, as you go angling panfish, catfish, or smallmouth bass.
