Backpacker Magazine: St. Louis: Backpacking and Camping Trips, Hikes, Adventures, Topo Maps, Aerial Photos.

St. Louis: Grant's Trail

Submitted by: Backpacker Magazine
Introduce the kids to mass transit, then hike to President Grant's Farm (zebras, horses) on this gentle 6.4-miler.

St. Louis: Fern Hollow Goat Cliff Loop

Submitted by: Backpacker Magazine
On this 6.8-mile loop, you'll find reclaimed prairies, sacred Indian grounds, and scenic overlooks of the lakes and rivers surrounding St. Louis.

St. Louis, MO: Bell Smith Springs Loop

Submitted by: Backpacker Magazine
Whet your feet--and your appetite for nature--on this moderate 3.6-mile loop in Illinois' Shawnee National Forest with two creek fords, year-round wildflowers and soaring fern-covered cliffs.

St. Louis: Millstream Gardens Conservation Area

BACKPACKER Review
This 6-mile out-and-back offers commanding views from bluffs overlooking the St. Francis River and passes remnants of an old mining operation.

St. Louis, MO: Walkers Island

BACKPACKER Review
Birders take note: The shallow depths of Horseshoe Lake and the grain-rich fields of Walkers Island attract an unusually wide range of feathered fliers to this 3.8-mile loop just outside St. Louis.

St. Louis, MO: Emmenegger Nature Park

BACKPACKER Review
Escape the hustle of city life on this quiet, 1.4-mile loop in Emmenegger Nature Park that climbs a riverside bluff overlooking the Meramec River.

St. Peters, MO: City Park Bike Paths

This combination on-road and bike path trek takes advantage of almost 8 miles of paved trails that let you wend your way through St. Peters' scenic park system.

St. Louis, MO: Bell Smith Springs Loop

Wet your feet—and your appetite for nature—on this moderate 3.6-mile loop in Illinois' Shawnee National Forest with two creek fords, year-round wildflowers and soaring fern-covered cliffs.

Local Hikes: St. Louis, MO

BACKPACKER Review
The best local hikes near St. Louis.

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Photos + Videos

Packing for a Backcountry Ski Day Kristin Hostetter shows you the essential gear, and how to pack it, for a day of backcountry skiing.	Adjust Your Pack Straps on the Trail Maximize your pack's comfort with a few easy, on-trail strap adjustments.

Life's Short, Hike More!

What makes a backpacker a backpacker? It's not the garage full of gear or piles of guidebooks--it's the experiences, from thru-hiking a long trail to pushing your personal envelope to inspiring a child's love of wilderness. Here we present BACKPACKER's new Life List: 10 experiences to add to your tick-listnow--and the key skills you need to nail them.