St. Louis, MO: Cliff Cave Spring Valley Trail
Loop around sinkholes on this easy, 2.6-mile lollipop loop that skirts a historic cave and a frog-filled pond in St. Louis' Cliff Cave Park.
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The Spring Valley Trail is the shortest of the three trail options in this heavily wooded 222-acre park on St. Louis’ south side. From the main parking area, the trail parallels the road and dips west into a wooded ravine. After 500 feet, turn left for a quick visit to Cliff Cave’s main entrance.
Just past the spur to the cave, the trail turns sharply uphill for 0.25 mile to a T-junction where the 1.9-mile loop begins. Tackle the route’s most challenging section to the top of the karst plateau, then hike across rolling, oak- and hickory-shaded singletrack. You’ll wind around sinkholes and over small hills to a small pond at mile 1 before turning south and touching the edge of a development at mile 1.7. A sharp left turn marks the loop’s easternmost point, just before the trail hugs the edge of the cliff above the cave entrance and backtracks downhill to the parking area.
-Mapped by Bill Yearout
Trail Facts
- Distance: 4.2
Waypoints
CSV001
Location: 38.459123, -90.290847
The trail begins on the west side of this restroom-equipped parking area. You’ll parallel the road for the first few hundred feet.
CSV002
Location: 38.4590665, -90.2927417
A left-hand spur trail leads 100 yards toward Cliff Cave’s namesake feature. Turn left to take the 5-minute detour to the cave entrance.
CSV003
Location: 38.4589825, -90.2927953
Cross the small, natural spring at the base of the ravine.
CSV004
Location: 38.4585625, -90.2937824
Cliff Cave has over 4,000 feet of mapped passageways but its entrance–which has served as a saloon, cow-thief hideout, and storage facility for Anheuser-Busch–is fenced. The St. Louis County Parks and Recreation Department allows access to the cave’s passageways to groups with advanced reservations. Look for hibernating bats before backtracking to the Spring Valley Trail. Next, return to Waypoint 2 and turn left.
CSV005
Location: 38.4590875, -90.294469
The 100-foot climb to this T-junction is the most difficult section of trail; exposed rocks and roots are a good excuse to take it slow to this point. Turn right to continue uphill a few more feet.
CSV006
Location: 38.4592009, -90.299871
This small trailside pond is home to frogs and other wildlife, including mosquitoes. Arm yourself with bug spray for this hike, especially during peak mosquito seasons.
CSV007
Location: 38.4556471, -90.2971566
Though the oak and hickory forest hides most of the city views on this loop, the southern edge of the loop runs right up against a subdivision. Continue winding east and away from the houses.
CSV008
Location: 38.4580332, -90.2927256
The rolling trail levels off as it takes a hard left and follows the edge of the cliff above the cave entrance. Return to Waypoint 5 and turn right. Retrace your steps to the trailhead.
Cave Entrance
Location: 38.4586045, -90.2936107
Cliff Cave is long–over 4,000 feet of it is mapped–but its mouth is fenced and it is only accessible with a permit through the St. Louis County Parks Department.
Cave Walls
Location: 38.4585877, -90.2936214
The walls flanking the cave entrance were built in the 1800s, and Cliff Cave has a long history of commercial use, even as a beer storage facility.
Trail
Location: 38.4596546, -90.2945065
Oak and Hickory shade most of this trail.
Pond
Location: 38.4592093, -90.2997637
Home to frogs and other wildlife, this pond is a fun place to spend a few minutes exploring.
