HomeMissouriSt. Louis › Lower Meramec Park,Trails, & Lake

Lower Meramec Park,Trails, & Lake

4.5 ★★★★★ 120 Google reviews · Running trail in St. Louis, Missouri · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Paved
Distance
1 mi
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Lower Meramec Park,Trails, & Lake'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.

Paved1 miOpen 24hShadedScenicFlat & fastTrailhead parking

Paved trail (about 2 miles each way) for hiking and biking alongside the Meramec River.

What runners say about Lower Meramec Park,Trails, & Lake

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (120 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 6 mentions

“We all feel safe and the place is always clean!”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 3 mentions

“Great for relaxing walk with gorgeous views”

🌳 shaded & cool 5 mentions

“There is a combination of shade and open spaces and the trail is mostly flat.”

This is a great trail! It's a good distance, and it's paved. The only negative things are that it goes right along highway 55 in the beginning, and it can get pretty loud from the semi trucks and general traffic. It's not the shadiest trail, but there are plenty of trees and forestation every few feet.

★★★★☆ — Jamie , Sep 2023

Pretty view of the meramec. There is an asphalt trail and other trails through the trees.

★★★★☆ — Mary , May 2023

Love this trail, it's a great trail just 1.5 miles each way. Not to crazy with hills, full of nature & shade. Returned for the 1st time in over 160 days because of flooding and only the 1st Mile was open but they were working hard at getting it completely open.

★★★★★ — Chris , Aug 2019

My family loves his trail. It's just the right distance for our 4 kids to make the 1 mile point where hey have a view of the river a d then make the 1 mile walk back. Mostly flat and smooth asphalt. Usually some people along the trial, yet still remains private with all the winding trails through the trees.

★★★★★ — Jason , Jun 2018

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 120 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🛣️ Paved surface 12 mentions

“The main trail is paved and takes you along with Meramec River.”

More trails like this →

🏞️ Scenic views 8 mentions

“It's just the right distance for our 4 kids to make the 1 mile point where hey have a view of the river a d then make the 1 mile walk back.”

More trails like this →

🅿️ Trailhead parking 8 mentions

“There are two entry points with parking and you can begin your walk either way.”

More trails like this →

🌳 Shaded / tree cover 5 mentions

“There is a combination of shade and open spaces and the trail is mostly flat.”

More trails like this →

Flat & fast 2 mentions

“There is a combination of shade and open spaces and the trail is mostly flat.”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Lower Meramec Park,Trails, & Lake

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
  • Distance1 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • Websitestlouiscountymo.gov
  • Phone(314) 615-4000

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Lower Meramec Park,Trails, & Lake

4800 Meramec Bottom Rd, St. Louis, MO 63128

Get directions

Running trails near St. Louis

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Lower Meramec Park and Trails

4.3 ★★★★☆ 6 reviews

St. Louis, MO

under a mile away

Meramec Greenway Trailhead: Lower Meramec Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 155 reviews

St. Louis, MO

2 miPavedShadedScenic

Paved, dog-friendly hiking trail with scenic river views and benches.

under a mile away

Meramec Greenway: Krumm Road Trailhead

4.9 ★★★★★ 35 reviews

St. Louis, MO

PavedShaded

Paved pathway for walking and biking, plus an earthen trail through the woods.

under a mile away

Ferd Lang Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 536 reviews

Arnold, MO

PavedDog-friendly

Familiar facility showcasing pavilions and a skate park as well as a playground and a creek.

1.8 miles away

Arnold City Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 1,291 reviews

Arnold, MO

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Lake and riverfront spot for disc golf, picnics and playgrounds.

1.8 miles away

Pomme Creek Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 56 reviews

Arnold, MO

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Park (formerly a golf course) with a dog area, workout machines, trails and sledding area.

2.6 miles away

All running trails in St. Louis, MO →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.