At Hickory Canyons Natural Area, a 0.25-mile trail leads from the parking lot to a steep-walled box canyon. A more challenging, one-mile route winds through the sandstone forest and crosses a scenic stream at several points. This gives you two distinctly different trails to choose from: a short walk to a specific destination and a longer route with stream crossings.
Sandstone Landscapes and Trails
Hickory Canyons Natural Area covers 1,094 acres in Ste. Genevieve County. It is owned by the L-A-D Foundation and managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Box canyons and sandstone cliffs shape the area, which is also home to unique plant communities. The trails pass through this sandstone forest, making different facets of the landscape the focus of a visit.
Hawn State Park also features a variety of sandstone formations. It covers 4,956 acres in western Ste. Genevieve County. Rounded sandstone knobs, canyon-rimmed valleys, and vertical cliffs above clear, sandy-bottomed streams characterize its landscape. The park has basic campsites, electric campsites, and backpacking campsites. Since campground availability can change, check reservation details before your trip.
At Pickle Springs Natural Area, you’ll find a double arch, slot-like canyons, hoodoos, a spring emerging from sandstone, and sandstone talus slopes. Along with its geology, the area has a remarkable range of plant life: it is home to more than 250 vascular plant species, including glacial relict species. The two-mile Trail Through Time passes geological formations carved into the sandstone. Pickle Springs is a natural area without visitor services, so plan accordingly.
Mississippi Views and Nature
The 1,740-acre Magnolia Hollow Conservation Area sits above the Mississippi River and offers panoramic views of the river bottomlands. The area features wooded hiking trails as well as accessible viewpoints. Check their accessibility before your trip. In winter, bald eagles fly past the limestone cliffs, though sightings aren’t guaranteed. Taking the season into account when planning helps you distinguish between the landscape experience and the possibility of wildlife viewing.
French Heritage and Living History
Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park and its partners preserve the largest surviving collection of French vertical-log houses in the United States. Visitor sites include the Bauvais-Amoureux House, also known as the Jean Baptiste Ste. Gemme Bauvais House or Amoureux House, built in 1792; the 1794 Jean Baptiste Vallé House and its gardens; and the 1790 Green Tree Tavern. Access depends on park programs and current conditions.
Ranger-led programs inside historic homes depend on staffing, weather, and schedules. Before planning a visit, check whether a suitable program is taking place. The Sainte Genevieve Museum Learning Center is Missouri’s official dinosaur destination. The Beauvais-Linden Living History House presents costumed demonstrations of daily life in earlier times on Saturdays from late March through early November. Program dates and operating hours may change; check the details before making plans.
The Centre for French Colonial Life offers tickets for guided tours of the Bolduc and LeMeilleur Houses. Schedules and reservations may change. If you plan to take a tour, check the latest information about dates and tickets.
Wine Country and Ferry Crossing
Charleville Vineyard, Winery & Microbrewery sits high above the Saline Creek Valley in western Ste. Genevieve County. It offers handcrafted wines and beers, along with a self-serve wall with 24 taps. Product offerings and facilities may change. The Route du Vin Wine Trail links vineyards and wineries, inviting visitors to travel from one to the next.
The Ste. Genevieve–Modoc Ferry connects Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, with Modoc, Illinois. It is the official crossing for cyclists on the Great River Road or Mississippi River Bicycle Trail. If you plan to take the ferry, check the schedule in advance.
Discover more destinations: Ste. Genevieve, St Mary, Bloomsdale, Daviess, St Louis, Randolph, Stone, Atchison.
For the overall travel guide: Missouri.
