Hiking in Babler State Park in Wildwood, Missouri
One thing I love about state parks in Missouri is that they are FREE to visit. This opens up so many opportunities to enjoying and learning about nature all over the state. We recently spent a few weeks in Missouri and got to go hiking at Babler State Park with the kids in the St. Louis area.
Let’s Jet, Kids! uses affiliate links. As an Amazon (and other networks) Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. It is no extra cost to you.
Babler State Park is filled with trails for hiking, biking, and cool camping spots. Here is your guide to Babler State Park with kids in Missouri to help you plan your day of hiking and fun at this beautiful park.
Table of Contents
Where is Babler State Park?
Not far from St. Louis, Babler State Park is located in Wildwood, Missouri. This suburban town is your typical town filled with restaurants, shops, and residential neighborhoods.
So it’s pretty awesome that in the middle of a metro area you would find a beautiful state park, protected from construction for locals and visitors to enjoy.
The exact address for Bable State Park is 800 Guy Park Dr, Wildwood MO.
About Babler State Park
The full, official name for the park is Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park. It first began in 1934 when Jacob and Henry Babler decided to donate 88 acres of land to the state of Missouri. That quickly grew to 888 acres, then 2,400 acres to what is now Babler State Park.
The brothers donated the land as a memorial to their brother, Edmund, who was a renowned surgeon in St. Louis. You can see his statue, created by a New York sculptor, as you drive thorough the park. Edmund was known not only as a great surgeon, but a man known for his service to the less fortunate.
Visiting Babler State Park with Kids
Babler is very family friendly. Here are a few great things to do, as well as some of the best hiking trails at Babler State Park.
Visit the Visitor Center
The River Hills Visitor Center is a great place to purchase last minute essentials like sunscreen and bug spray or to chat with staff about the area.
You’ll also find an exhibit hall with plenty of displays showing the parks plant and animal life.
We use to skip Visitor Centers, thinking we just wanted to get to the trails. But we learned both at Rocky Mountain National Park and later in Washington national parks that visitor centers are actually fun, filled with exhibits, and a wealth of knowledge on the area from those who work and volunteer here!
Go Hiking
The best thing to do at Babler State Park in Missouri is to take a scenic hike. The park, made of just under 900 acres, is filled with trails. The great thing about these trails is that they are covered in tall, various trees. This makes for great shade while hiking, even in the summer sun.
We visited Babler during the cicada year (ugh!). We were prepared to be constantly attacked as we were elsewhere on our trip. Luckily, the cicadas must not like the tree variety offered at this park because we didn’t come across any while on the trails. While we could hear them in the distance, they weren’t among the trails.
The Trails
The easiest trail to try out with kids at Babler State Park is the Dogwood Trail. This easy, kid-friendly loop trail measure in at around 2 miles.
Dogwood trail is at the same trailhead as the Woodbine Trail. Dogwood will head to the north while Woodbine heads south. You’ll run into the paved bicycle path at one point, but overall the trail is a natural surface. The Woodbine Trail is 1.8 miles.
Another great trail, recommended to our group by the visitor center staff, was the Hawthorn Trail. You can park at the Alta Shelter parking lot and then walk across the road to the trailhead. The Hawthorn Trail is a loop that’s rated moderate, but it’s still kid-friendly and only just over 1 mile long.
Right outside the visitor center is the Virginia Day Memorial Trail. This nature trail is great for spotting birds and blooms. Various signs will inform you of what kinds of flora you are seeing. This trail is another great one for kids and only around 1.5 miles.
Springs at Babler State Park
While there are 5 springs throughout the park, 2 of them can be accessed via trails.
Babler Spring can be reached off the Dogwood Trail near the Walnut Grove Shelter. This spring runs best in the late spring where sometimes it can flow at over 200 gallons per minute!
Crystal Spring is the second accessible spring. It’s smaller and with a lower flow, so it can’t always be seen very well. You can find Crystal Spring off the paved bicycle trail near Guy Park Dr.
Camping at Babler State Park
Can you camp at Babler State Park?
Yes!
There is a designated campground at Babler that offers basic and electric campsites. Bathrooms and showers are available April through October, and potable water is available year round.
Over 70 campsites are available for reservation, though walk-ins are welcome based on availability.
The campground offers a playground, dump station, and amphitheater. There is also a paved trail near the campground that you can walk or bike on to take you into the heart of the state park, giving you access to hiking trails.
Getting Around the Park
Babler has great, paved roads that will take you all around the park. Check out the map (get one at the visitor center) and drive to the nearest area with your trailhead of choice.
There are picnic and parking areas around the park. There are also shelters that have a decent amount of parking.
The roads are two-way and make a loop around the park. It’s fairly easy to navigate your way around the park.
FAQ about Babler State Park hiking trails
Is Babler State Park Family Friendly?
Babler State Park is great for families. There are great, easy trails to enjoy that aren’t too long, making it great for all ages to enjoy.
Is There a Pool at Babler State Park?
Once upon a time there was a pool at Babler, but it closed down years ago and has not reopened. So, no, there is no pool at Babler State Park.
How Big is Babler State Park?
Babler State Park in Wildwood, MO is 2,441 acres. You’ll find 4 main trails plus an equestrian trail, a paved surface for bikes, a paved road to get around, and a campground.
Hiking in Babler State Park with Kids
Babler State Park is a beautiful area to explore, learn about the area, hike, or camp. We absolutely loved how scenic and out-in-the-woods it felt, even though it was right in a suburban area of St. Louis.
I highly recommend taking the kids hiking at Babler State Park and trying out some of the easy, family-friendly trails. None are too long or difficult, and it’s a great way to spend the day together!
Don’t Miss
Best Things to do in Branson, MO with kids
Everything you need to know about Dogwood Canyon Nature Park
