Hiking at Emmenegger Woods Nature Preserve

Let's get together for a nice spring hike close to town in this shady, bucolic urban park.

We'll set out promptly at 10 am, so allow time to find the park. It would be a good idea to apply mosquito repellent before coming as this is a low-lying area near the Meramec and a creek runs through it. I have been bitten here!

Emmenegger Nature Park contains 93 acres. Originally, the area was part of a large estate owned by members of the Lemp family. This family owned a large St. Louis brewery around the turn of the 20th century.

Over the last 100 years, the area was used as an exotic animal breeding area for the St. Louis Zoo, a riverside resort and a public swimming pool and tennis club.

Russell E. Emmenegger, a prominent real estate developer, purchased the land in the 1970's and donated part of the property to the City of Kirkwood. The property is leased by the Department of Conservation, and is currently operated in partnership between MDC and the City of Kirkwood.