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[]
- ^ a b c d e "Cliff Cave Park". St. Louis County Website. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
- ^ "Cliff Cave Park Map". St. Louis County Website. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "CLIFF CAVE PARK - PARK HISTORY". St. Louis County Website. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Cliff Cave Trail Map". St. Louis County Website. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
- Parks in Missouri