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Emmenegger Nature Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 456 Google reviews · Running trail in St. Louis, Missouri · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Paved
- Loop distance
- 2 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Emmenegger Nature Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
A river meanders through woodlands on this placid, 93-acre retreat featuring hiking & picnicking.
What runners say about Emmenegger Nature Park
“But if you feel confident on a steep, unpaved path, there are beautiful, scenic views from the trails on the western edge of the park, from the bluffs above the Meramec River.”
It's a 2 mile loop on the outer wooded trail and a half mile loop on the hardball interior road. The outer loop isn't on the map. It's pretty neat though. It has some good little climbs with some nice spots for pictures and some cool little bridge crossings. It's well kept too.
Very nice and a good pace for old fat people, like me. But you're going to have to leave the nice paved path as soon as you see a natural looking trail otherwise it'll be a boring day for you. There are bathrooms with flushable toilets as well
Great park for walking or hiking right next to the Meramac River and 44. Plenty of trails, some paved and unpaved. When doing the bluff trail start counterclockwise to save the best views for closer to the end.
Nice wooded area with a shorter paved trail and a longer approx 2 mile earthen trail through the woods. Some nice views of the Meramac River from the bluffs. A decent climb to get up to the bluffs. Eventually, the trail dead ends into a large field.
Trail conditions & character
“But if you feel confident on a steep, unpaved path, there are beautiful, scenic views from the trails on the western edge of the park, from the bluffs above the Meramec River.”
“But you're going to have to leave the nice paved path as soon as you see a natural looking trail otherwise it'll be a boring day for you.”
“On a 68 degree Saturday morning in October there were several families with dogs and/or young kids on the trail, yet it never felt crowded.”
“Nice wooded area with a shorter paved trail and a longer approx 2 mile earthen trail through the woods.”
“But if you feel confident on a steep, unpaved path, there are beautiful, scenic views from the trails on the western edge of the park, from the bluffs above the Meramec River.”
“There are enough paved trails to make it interesting for people looking for level paths.”
“There's a nice big field at the entrance for gatherings, bathrooms, and a good view of the Meramec river.”
“It's a 2 mile loop on the outer wooded trail and a half mile loop on the hardball interior road.”
“A decent amount of parking spaces and some riverside views in the rest of the park.”
Plan your run at Emmenegger Nature Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
- Loop distance2 mi back to where you parked
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitekirkwoodparksandrec.org
- Phone(314) 822-5855
Hours
| Monday | 7 AM–8:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 7 AM–8:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 7 AM–8:30 PM |
| Thursday | 7 AM–8:30 PM |
| Friday | 7 AM–8:30 PM |
| Saturday | 7 AM–8:30 PM |
| Sunday | 7 AM–8:30 PM |
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