Cliff Cave Park

Cliff Cave Park is a park located in St. Louis County, Missouri. The park is owned and administered by the St. Louis County Department of Parks and Recreation.^[1] The park is located alongside the Mississippi River.^[2]

History[]

The park is named after a cave called "Cliff Cave" (originally called "Indian Cave"). The site was used as a tavern for fur trappers and traders in the 1800s, with the cave itself serving as a beer cellar. In the 1800s, the park was a recreation spot for soldiers stationed at Jefferson Barracks (which is now a museum and park).^[1]

The site was purchased by the county in 1969, using funds from a bond issue. The park opened in 1977. In 1986 the park was declared a "Heritage Park" after a referendum. This limits the amount of development that is allowed on the park site.^[3]

The cave itself was closed to the public in 2009 to preserve both the historical artifacts inside and a population of an endangered species of bat (the Indiana Bat) which lives in the cave.^[1]

Amenities[]

Fishing is possible on the park site as it borders the Mississippi River. The park also contains a shelter on the river that is reservable. The shelter has a restroom.^[1]

Trails[]

The park includes four trails:

• Spring Valley Trail (1.8 miles)
• Mississippi Greenway Trail (7.1 miles)
• Spring Valley Trail Inner Loop (1.2 miles)
• River Bluff Trail (1 mile)^[4]

30-30 Hikes and 10-10 Bikes[]

St. Louis County has designated 30 hiking trails that each take approximately 30 minutes to complete (30-30 hikes). One of these trails is in the park. Similarly, the park also contains one of the county's 10-10 bike trails (10 trails, each 10 miles long).^[1]

References[]