Chubb Trail

Entrance to Chubb Trail

This past weekend, I went to the Chubb Trail with my son, Kit, and my father. Instead of biking the trail, we hiked it. I can't wait to go cycling on the trail. Chubb Trail looks to be more challenging than Castlewood; the first part of the trail appeared to have some technical areas that would be more difficult on the bike. Once past the beginning part the trail seems straightforward. The trail is described here:

"The Chubb is the most challenging trail in the St. Louis area. It is a seven-mile dirt and gravel trail between West Tyson County Park and Lone Elk Park (14 miles round-trip). It has very challenging hills and some very fast stretches. Terrain is rocky and usually slippery. There are some truly nasty drop-offs. After those tough climbs you are often rewarded with great views."

Kit sitting on a rock

Map of Chubb Trail (from GORC)

Interesting tree on trail

Example of the Trail

Powder Valley Winter Lunch Walk

Nestled between I-44 and I-270 is Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, a 155 acre park on the border of Kirkwood and Sunset Hills, MO. . Fortunately for me, Powder Valley is about a 7 minute drive from where I work, allowing me to go walking there during my lunch break. The park has four short trails, each of which can be walked in 30 minutes or less. The longest trail is about 1.1 miles. Powder Valley even has a blog site describing current conditions, featured animals, and upcoming events. The park provides a little respite from the city and a break from the office. One of my goals this year is to visit as many of the 50 plus conservation areas in the greater Saint Louis, MO area. After I visit the site, I will post something on the blog with a few photos and my hike from SportyPal. I do not know many metropolitan areas that have such a rich park system as Saint Louis.

Today, the trails at Powder Valley were open but snow covered. I wore the wrong shoes, as my dress boots do not really have the necessary traction for slippery conditions. The trails are paved with asphalt, making it a relatively easy walk (except in icy conditions). A variety of wildlife can be seen in the part ranging from frogs, to birds, to deer. The park also has a very nice nature center that features a number of exhibits including a Missouri River exhibit of live fish. A visit to Powder Valley is worth your time.

Two of the Eight Deer I Saw

Creek in Powder Valley

SportyPal/Google Earth View of Powder Valley (click for larger image)

Map of Powder Valley (click for larger image)