Winter time can leave you in a bit of a funk, no matter where you live. But fortunately for St. Louisans, there are a multitude of spectacular attractions nearby that can help you defeat the winter blues for good. No place is as magical as this breathtaking nature area, which you simply have to experience in person to believe:
Welcome to Pickle Springs Nature Area!
mk_mcdowell/TripAdvisor
This breathtaking park is a little over an hour south of St. Louis…
Recman/TripAdvisor
…but it is well worth the trip.
dorsalmo/TripAdvisor
This 180-acre park is petite, but its campus is covered in stunning formations.
Show Me Missouri/Facebook
Its humbling sandstone formations were formed by an ancient ocean that once covered the area.
Show Me Missouri/Facebook
And its most stunning features can be experienced via its main trail, which is a roughly 2-mile loop.
Show Me Missouri/Facebook
This park is stunning all year long…
Red-Camper29/TripAdvisor
…but you really should plan a visit circa early spring, when everything is coming back to life.
Jenny Addison/Flickr
You see, the unique geology of this site makes it a great place to experience unique plant life.
Show Me Missouri/Facebook
The moist rocks provide the perfect environment for plants like mosses, lichens, and liverworts. Many species at this park are considered glacial relics.
Show Me Missouri/Facebook
And the park itself is hailed as a National Natural Landmark, and it’s plain to see why.
Show Me Missouri/Facebook
The beauty of this park is absolutely surreal, and you won’t believe it’s so close to home.
Show Me Missouri/Facebook
So what are you waiting for?
Show Me Missouri/Facebook
Adventure awaits!
Show Me Missouri/Facebook
This spectacular park is one of the region’s most beautiful, and it is no secret why. You’ll adore a visit in any season, and there are enough stops along the way to make a visit into an all-out day trip. Have you ever visited this enchanting park?
mk_mcdowell/TripAdvisor
Recman/TripAdvisor
dorsalmo/TripAdvisor
Show Me Missouri/Facebook
Red-Camper29/TripAdvisor
Jenny Addison/Flickr
Still craving adventure? You’ll adore these hidden parks in STL.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
