Discover Bridgeton: Parks, Trails, History

Bridgeton brings together a range of recreational options: expansive parkland, trails with specified lengths, an aquatic park and a historic building. The selection ranges from nature and exercise to swimming and local history.

Parks and trails on different scales

Bridgeton’s park system includes ten park locations spanning more than 256 acres in total. They offer opportunities for picnics, sports, swimming and walks on trails. This range provides an overview of the town’s recreational offerings; individual sites can also be distinguished by their specific features. Riverwoods Park & Trail is a 136-acre park. It is bounded by the Earth City levee to the east, the Missouri River to the west, Interstate 70 to the south and St. Charles Rock Road to the north. These four boundaries provide clear reference points for locating the area on a map and planning your trip around it.

Compare a multi-use trail and a natural area

The Riverwoods Trail is 3.15 miles long and designed as an out-and-back route for cyclists, hikers and roller skaters. Visitors must turn back at permanently closed points, so factor these turnaround points into your plans. Along the river, the trail runs through a well-shaded, relatively undisturbed wetland forest with abundant wildlife. The same route thus combines multi-use access with a section explicitly characterized by its natural setting.

Another combination of area and trail can be found at Hickory Woods Natural Area next to Gentry Park: the natural area covers 10.5 acres and includes a 1-mile hiking trail. The two routes can be distinguished by their stated lengths and uses: a shorter hiking trail on one hand, and a 3.15-mile multi-use trail with an out-and-back route on the other. If you choose a destination based on a specific route, these are two distinct points of reference, without needing to estimate a walking time.

Swimming and sports planning

Bridgeton Crossing Family Aquatic Park offers a 25-yard competition pool with six lanes and two one-meter diving boards. It also has a 21-foot body slide and a 2.5-story serpentine waterslide. This specifies both the pool size and several features of the slides. When planning your trip, you can distinguish this specific aquatic facility from the broader swimming options in the park system.

Tee times are required at Berry Hill Golf Course. Residents and non-residents can book them up to ten days in advance. Check the policy before planning your round.

Historic context and additional points of reference

The Payne-Gentry House is a one-story Victorian cottage built in 1870 as a summer home. Its construction date, building type and original purpose give the site a historic significance distinct from Bridgeton’s current recreational and trail offerings. If you would like to include architectural history in your choice of destinations, alongside nature and sports, this specific building complements Bridgeton’s other highlights.

Another local landmark is a 37-acre park at Fee Fee Road and Ann Mar Drive in Bridgeton. The street names provide an additional map reference to help you find your way.

Discover more destinations: Green Park, Sunset Hills, Kirkwood, Edmundson, Earth City, Wildwood, Eureka, Kinloch.

For the broader travel overview: St Louis.