Bri Nitsberg | Managing Photo Editor

As first-year college students who are more of the outdoorsy type, this semester, we traded our lovely blue Subarus for laminated metro cards and TripShot shuttle routes. Not only have we lost the freedom to impulsively migrate to the nearest Trader Joe’s, but we’ve also lost the ability to hop in a car and drive to nearby hikes and outdoor spots. 

To those of you who share our car-less woes and miss the untouched paradise of your favorite hiking trail, let us share with you some nearby locations to quench your thirst for the outdoors. And to those who have a car but aren’t aware of adventure spots in St. Louis, allow us to introduce to you the great Missouri outdoors.

Forest Park 

Forest Park might be the most obvious choice for outdoor exploration. The park is just steps from Brookings Hall and is already a go-to spot for many students on campus. However, many students aren’t aware of all the amenities that Forest Park has to offer. Over one-and-a-half times bigger than Central Park in New York, Forest Park offers a dedicated six-mile walking path; a zoo; athletic facilities for golf, tennis, handball, and racquetball; and plenty of open spaces for picnicking and bird watching. In the winter, there’s also ice skating at the Steinberg rink and sledding on Art Hill. 

Missouri Botanical Garden

Next up on our list is the Missouri Botanical Garden. Although there is a small entrance fee, the magical space holds more than 6.6 million specimens, making it the second-largest Botanical Garden in the continental U.S. In addition to its expansive grounds, the Botanical Garden offers a variety of classes ranging from printmaking and watercolor workshops to yoga and well-being classes. In the winter, visit the Botanical Garden to experience Garden Glow, a yearly event that transforms the space into an enchanted wonderland with 11 different exhibits featuring over two million lights. 

Castlewood State Park

Located 20 minutes outside of St. Louis, Castlewood State Park offers eight different trails for hiking, biking, and horse-riding — all ranging from two to five miles. Our personal favorite, the river scene trail, leads hikers up many (many) stairs, depositing them at the highest elevation of the route. The view of the forest and river is almost as breathtaking as the strenuous climb. Hikers can catch their breath and continue admiring the view on the meandering (and less difficult) descent.

Lone Elk Park 

If you’re wanting to go animal-watching, look no further than Lone Elk Park, located 25 minutes southwest of WashU. The park features 546 acres of open land, three structured hiking trails, terrain for mountain-biking, and opportunities to observe wildlife. Lone Elk Park is home to hundreds of wild animals, ranging from bison to wild turkeys to elk and deer.

Elephant Rocks

The terrain of Elephant Rocks is unlike any other on this list. Huge, flat rocks span the horizon, and boulders emerge from the trees, giving the park its name. With shorter trails, this outdoor spot is ideal for the picnicking, wandering types. If you’re looking to start a bouldering journey, Elephant Rocks is the only Missouri state park where you are allowed to boulder without a permit. Climb away!

Bri Nitsberg | Managing Photo Editor

Outing Club

If you’re looking for ways to get outdoors through WashU, consider joining an outdoors-focused club on campus, like Outing Club! Not only does Outing Club organize hikes locally, they also provide opportunities to travel outside of St. Louis, with longer camping and backpacking trips over weekends and breaks. Recently, outing club leaders led trips to Meramec Caverns, the Garden of the Gods, Little Grand Canyon, and Kinkaid Lake. All costs for these trips are covered, and they are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

Ski Club

If you’re a winter-sports lover, check out the ski club for discounted tickets, transportation, and shared-lodging opportunities. 

Burning Kumquat

Calling all green thumbs! The Burning Kumquat helps students who are looking for ways to get outdoors while staying on campus through a student-run gardening program. Located right on the South 40, the Burning Kumquat gives students opportunities to plant and harvest a variety of vegetables throughout the year.