meramec state park

Really nice State Park, some sections even overlook the river. Areas to play, to picnic under the sky or in a shelter equipped with fireplace. Nice outdoor destination spot for a wedding, family get together, or just hanging out with a friend or your kids.

Very nice state park especially given there isn't a charge to enter. The park was large with numerous hiking trails. The float down the Meramec River is a must. We saw lots of turtles and even an eagle.

Great underground experience. It's amazing to see formations that are millions of years old. Make sure you bring a jacket. It's around 60 degrees and damp.

I've been camping here before and enjoyed the campsite. Access to the Meramec River is easy in several spots throughout the park. My kids and I decided to hike the trails this time. Found there's a trail for everyone from beginners to experience hiker. Today we hiked the bluff view trail along the river, spectacular views all along the trail. The path was clear of debris and markers along the trial helps keep you on path.There's also a playground for the kiddos and daytime area where families could stop and have a picnic.I know there's two caves in the park but couldn't explore bc I have a son who's scared of them, maybe next time. Definitely going back to hike more here even if it's a 46 mile drive from home.

With 4 grandkids who loved the cave, the store in the cave and the stores fudge! Only our 12 yr old grandson was brave enough to do the Caveman Zip Line and he loved it also with 4 different zip lines on one ticket we thought it was a good deal.

There are several canoe and raft rental vendors, but we used the state park concession company. They provided the life jackets, the raft/canoe, and the trip to the launch ramp. I recommend tie downs or bungee cords for all your supplies. Since this was our first time, we didn't know that the canoe seats are VERY uncomfortable. However, sitting on your life vest raises your center of gravity, so that is a bad idea. Lots of more experienced cankers too folding lounge chairs to sit in. They fit over the built in "seats"! You should also take food and drinks in a cooler. The trip only took us about 2 hours, but we didn't know beforehand that we had until 7 pm to return the canoe. Call for reservations...

Our tour guide Adam was awesome!!! We were there for the 9:30 cave tour and it was just us and one other family. It was like we had out own personal tour guide. We were able to stop and ask questions and learned a lot. Very glad we picked this cave over the highly commercialize Meramec Caverns cave tour, not only because of the price ($33 vs $60 for a family of 4) but because of the NATURAL beauty found within the cave itself.

This place is beautiful!! It is $5 admission which goes to the upkeep and the hatchery. The spring is amazing and there are many areas with fish that kids can feed for 25 cents. Lots of picnic areas and even camping. The trout fishing is very good. You can fish close to the park or wander down the wider parts of the river. It is great for families, and for kids fishing. There are a lot of trails and a great place to just visit. We liked it so much we went on Friday and then back on Sunday before we left town. Its very peacful.

Great attraction for the family. Very pretty to photograph. If you like to camp, there is a camping site that looks very clean and appealing. Plan to visit the shops after the tour. There is a homemade fudge shop and the fudge is great! Also, you can pan for semi-precious stones at the mine shop. A very enjoyable time for all ages.

I regretted not being equipped to camp at the State Park when I visited the caverns. I thought the wooded areas were very pretty, and the river is both beautiful and exciting. The scenery is unlike anything else in the country. There is a motel on site that is privately owned, were you might stay if you don't wish to camp. The staff is nice and the place looks very well equipped and functional.

If you find yourself in or near Sullivan , Missouri in the beautiful Missouri Ozark Mountains a day hiking Meramec State Park is time well spent. The trails are rated from easy to moderate in difficulty and moderate means some uphill climbs on shifting gravel. Plenty of great views of the Meramec River. Ample opportunity to see wildlife: deer, geese, ducks, turkey and vaious amphibians. The park contains a nice visitor's center with maps of the trails and, though I didn't visit it, a lodge where you can get a meal. There is also an 8.5 mile backpacking loop where to cam primitive camp overnight. A short worthwhile drive from St. Louis. Only negatives is the trash some people seem content with leaving behind. Not the park's fault. If you see a can or candy wrapper put it in your pack and take it out.

Had a wonderful day hike above the river on the blue blazed trail. Afterwards, we stopped by the park store and dining hall, bought a few items and got to talking to the staff. One lady lived about a mile from us in St. Louis several years ago. Small world. That said, we talked about the campgrounds and cabins on site. They showed us a few select spots and spoke to us about Fischers Cave. We decided we would have to return soon with our sons and stay in the campgrounds (or maybe get our city kids a cabin while we rough it in a tent - we still enjoy tent camping) and take on some more trails.

Day trip with the family. Pretty drive in the fall. Enjoyed time with the family, not exactly my favorite day trip, I could see campers enjoying a weekend there to use the river, but as ours was a day trip we just toured the cave. I t brings geology to life for anyone interested and gives you a sense of scale about how the long the earth has been around with all the stalagmites and stalactites. I sum it up as a one time family excursion, "Meramec? Ho, we've been there" Be warned some may consider $20 a person a bit pricey.

We visited Meramec State Park in mid- to late-October 2013. The fall colors were gorgeous! We started out in the morning on the Natural Wonders Trail. No one was on the trail with us. We saw a deer on the trail and also squirrels and chipmunks. We also hiked the Bluff View Trail and Deer Hollow Trail. Again we spotted a deer on the Bluff View Trail. None in Deer Hollow, ironically. The trails are well-marked and pretty easy hiking.

CampgroundWe camped in two of their primitive areas on a Friday night, getting there around 7:00 pm after work. Like many state parks in the area, we were required to either buy or bring in our own wood (due to some infestation of a wood beetle). This was slightly an annoyance, because of all the deadfall I saw on the way to the campground. We were visited by two park rangers just before bedding down, and that gave me some sense of comfort. The following morning I found the restroom - basically a hollow pedestal / toilet above a hole in the ground. This is expected at a campground; however if you go, take a gas mask & DON'T LIGHT A MATCH. Other than that, the stay at the campground was great.Float tripThe float trip was great - slow moving river, many amber beverages, and the water wasn't too cold. The only gripe is the bus ride up-river (or rather, what came before it). We were told after some time of waiting that she was stalling because "The guys taking the boats down have to take them off the racks once they get there." I would have much rather waited in the parking lot at the boat launch, than sat in a bus - three to a seat, in the heat, listening to bad jokes, and waiting for her to organize everyone to find a seat.