Just a short drive from St Louis you can find a wonderful state park where there are hiking trails, equestrian trails, ball fields and campgrounds. Babler State Park was started in 1934 when Jacob and Henry Babler donated land for the park in memory of their brother, prominent St Louis physician and surgeon, Dr Edmund A Babler. We enjoyed spending a warm, fall morning here with our grandson. This park can get crowded in the summer and is a popular camping spot.
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| Dr Edmund Babler statue |
The park now covers more than 888 acres and contains 22 CCC structures that are on the National Register of Historic Places.
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| Great hiking trails |
We stopped at the River Hills Visitor Center where there is a relief map of the park. The employees are very helpful to explain the different trails and terrain, plus you can spend some time exploring the dioramas of the flora and fauna of the area. Other exhibits were aquariums and reptiles to view, hands on coloring and crafts for the kids, microscopes to explore natural items 'up close', a bird viewing area with binoculars to use and a small gift shop.
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| One of the aquariums in the visitor center |
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| Gabe enjoys the fountain at the visitor center |
There are many areas for picnics and playgrounds. A couple of geocaches are available - but cell phone coverage is spotty at best, so download the coordinates before you get there!
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| Playground fun |
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| Site of a geocache |
Remember - Missouri State Parks are FREE to visit!
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