I've recently posted Fort Bellefontaine County Park and Emmenneger Nature Park as 2 hikes that may better qualify as "best local hikes," but I'm going to go ahead and say that stringing together the nature areas in Forest Park should firmly be among the best hikes in the state. Start out at the Steinberg restoration area behind the rink, head to Deer Lake and then on over to Kennedy Woods and then follow the Trail of Trees back towards Steinberg for a great loop showcasing great manmade beauty and some pretty impressive natural restoration projects.
The only thing that bummed me out was the inscription on the Confederate Soldiers memorial near the Deer Lake area.... the fact that there is such a monument in the park at all makes me a bit uncomfortable, but it is the inscription that is deeply disturbing. I think every Saint Louisan needs to check it out for themselves and reflect a bit. There is a monument of Franz Sigel nearby honoring the contributions of German-Americans to the side of righteousness.... Sigel seems to have had quite the life.... from German 1848 revolutionary leader to Saint Louis public schools director to Civil War General to New York publisher and political appointee: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Sigel
The only thing that bummed me out was the inscription on the Confederate Soldiers memorial near the Deer Lake area.... the fact that there is such a monument in the park at all makes me a bit uncomfortable, but it is the inscription that is deeply disturbing. I think every Saint Louisan needs to check it out for themselves and reflect a bit. There is a monument of Franz Sigel nearby honoring the contributions of German-Americans to the side of righteousness.... Sigel seems to have had quite the life.... from German 1848 revolutionary leader to Saint Louis public schools director to Civil War General to New York publisher and political appointee: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Sigel
