West Tyson County Park: Chubb Trail

Thursday, June 23rd, 2011 (between 6 and 7 miles)

This time I brought a camera to the Chubb Trail on a 75 degree, breezy day. It's rare to be hiking in St. Louis in June and not really even break a sweat--or to not feel like you're being pressed to death with brick-like humidity. It was so comfortable that when my mother called me on my cell phone, I sat at a picnic table at the edge of the field and had a conversation.

The breeze blew the bugs away and created soothing sounds throughout the hike.



Just Hiking Ratings:
Number of people: Surprisingly, on a summer Thursday with amazing weather, I saw only eight people. Three trail runners (one was maybe 9 years old) a couple on a romantic stroll, two bikers, and a lone hiker with a walking stick. Everyone was friendly.

Difficulty: This is not a difficult trail in terms of hills (there are maybe two) but the first three miles are rocky.

Surrounding Area: You can hike this trail to Castlewood Park. The Route 66 Park is also nearby--as is Lone Elk Park and Bird Sanctuary.

The Drive: This trail is only a twenty or thirty minute drive down Highway 44 from St. Louis. Take the Lewis Road exit.

Other points of Interest: The cool thing about this trail is how the terrain changes. You find yourself walking through the woods, then along the river, then in a field/prairie. You also cross railroad tracks and sometimes hear the whistle of a train through the trees while you are hiking. The tree roots and porous rocks remind me of Maurice Sendak's long ago illustrated version of Willhelm Grimm's Dear Mili, about a little girl who is sent to the forest to escape war.

NOTE: During the first mile, you will encounter a switchback (there is a sign on the tree). Do NOT go straight--go right, down hill, and take the switchback.