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St. Francois State Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,848 Google reviews · Running trail in Bonne Terre, Missouri · Hours vary
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Not reported
Confirmed from St. Francois State 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.
Spacious natural area with forested hiking & horse trails, river access, campgrounds & picnic sites.
What runners say about St. Francois State Park
“It has a really nice creek with super clean water that's fun to explore.”
“The trail offers stunning natural scenery, including creeks, and features steep, rocky, and muddy inclines.”
This is on my top 5 favorite places. It is one of the most beautiful State Parks in Missouri I have been to. The hike is 2 hours long if you do it all, but you come along so many beautiful spots with the flowers trees and butterflies. You can stop at any spot and just enjoy it all.
Cute, small campground that was very clean. Sites are close to each other- reminded me of a KOA. Most of the sites are pull through which is nice. Pros: activities for kids, nice hikes and well maintained, beautiful area, friendly camp hosts.
Exceptional trail, abundant with wildflowers, ferns, moss, and beauty. The waterfall is absolutely stunning - one for the books. The trail we took (I don't remember the name off hand) was moderate difficulty and highly scenic. Be careful of poison ivy and poison oak, as the trail is plentiful.
Beautiful and plenty to do, There are campsites and day use areas. There is a river where people can swim or fish, I ended up hiking by the river which was therapeutic. Entry is free and in October you can see the fall weather colors. Highly recommended!!
Trail conditions & character
“The trail offers stunning natural scenery, including creeks, and features steep, rocky, and muddy inclines.”
“Now, I'm not saying this is the park's fault, but the bathroom could use cleaning.”
“The trail offers stunning natural scenery, including creeks, and features steep, rocky, and muddy inclines.”
“The trail offers stunning natural scenery, including creeks, and features steep, rocky, and muddy inclines.”
“For a challenging and rewarding hike, consider the Pike Run South Loop trail in St.”
“Not my favorite spot but 41 had a much more level view and was closer to the playground.”
“Had a great view of the star filled sky, and the fireflies lit up the woods.”
Plan your run at St. Francois State Park
The practical stuff
- AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late run
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
- At the trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
- Websitemostateparks.com
- Phone(573) 358-2173
Running trails near Bonne Terre
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
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Pickle Springs Natural Area
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