There is no shortage of things to do outside in St. Louis. We have a world class zoo, one of the largest parks in the country, and Six Flags (in season). This list includes more traditional outdoorsy activities that people in other parts of the country couldn’t do without traveling and much planning. Here in St. Louis you can do some of these activities right in your own backyard.
There are many places to hunt around St. Louis depending on the seasons. Licenses are given for deer, duck, turkey, and many more. While you normally would have to go outside the cities to hunt deer, some communities have been allowing bow hunting to help reduce the ever growing neighborhood deer populations.
Being bordered by two of the greatest rivers in the nation means plenty of places to fish. But we can fish from many of our local lakes and creeks too. Fishing is both a popular pastime and a sport here. St. Louis has many clubs dedicated to the sport of fishing, some that hold annual competitions each month.
Camping is a super popular way to spend time outside here in St. Louis. We have campsites along our rivers, in our parks, and many private camp sites. Camping options range from a tent in the deep woods, to cabins with both running water and electric.
Hiking is a little relaxation, with a lot of exercise. St. Louis has every type of trail for all levels. And most parks offer an easy trail and a moderate to advanced trail for hiking.
Bird watching in St. Louis brings new flocks each season. We have many birds that spend the winter months here too, meaning there is always something to see. The Missouri Department of Conservation keeps an up-to-date list of the best places to bird watch in our state parks.
Swimming is a popular activity everywhere in the country, but here in St. Louis our options for a dip seem limitless. No matter where you live in St. Louis you are near a river, lake, or swimming pool.
While most people leave the city to take a trip down a river, floating on our nearby rivers is still popular. People use rafts, tubes, and small non-motorized boat craft for navigating the rivers here.
Boats are also a popular and easy outside activity, to do right where you live in St. Louis. Of course there is boating on the Meramec and Mississippi, but we also have some amazing lakes and smaller rivers to boat on.
St. Louis is a special place because, unlike other big cities, we still have so much green space – including large parks for hiking, hunting, and camping, all without leaving the city.
Do you do any of these activities? Have a favorite spot to go to? Share with us in the comments below or on Facebook.
Looking for more thing to do outside? Check out these five hikes in Missouri.
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