Meramec Highland Quarry Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features River/Creek · Views

Slow down by the bluff because it gets a bit confusing.

To access this trail, there is a small parking lot on your right on Old Big Bend Road. Get your knees ready because you have to park and head immediately down and then back up two hills on a paved path (handicapped parking is available if you drive the hills).

Once you get up to the second parking lot and the actual trailhead, you can stay to the right and take a simple trip to a viewing area that looks over the small valley. The main trail however is to the left of the pathway leading to the viewing area. Essentially, the trail makes its way down to the bluff which is the largest rock at the park, and features a big, triangular flat surface.

From here I would suggest staying more to the right or going to the left around the bluff, but then stay right and look for the trail that starts leading down the hill. Essentially, the trail isn't that difficult and it's not a big enough area to be concerned about getting lost, but you do at least have to keep your head up to see where the trail is at that part.

You can go and run between several large blocks of rock and you can climb on this one tall stack but once you get past that you cross a small creek with a nice view and then start wrapping back up until you get to another creek crossing. Keep following the trail from there, and you'll end up joining up with the portion of the trail you took to get down to the bluff by coming up on its left.