August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area

The Lewis Trail (~8 miles) and the Clark Trail (~5 miles) overlap for much of their length in this park, and offer the best intermediate-​level hiking in the area.
There are some hills that may require a rest (with some strategically-​located benches at the summits), but the trails should be accessible to any moderately fit individual, just at different paces. The trail is not, however, paved, and is not accessible to mobility-​limited individuals.
There are several lovely bluff overlooks of the Missouri River, but for me, the real draw is walking through the forest. You can almost forget there’s a major highway closeby.
One word of caution, the trail is entirely packed dirt, and can get VERY muddy after heavy rain or snowmelt. I foolishly went once after a snowmelt and was walking through ankle deep mud on most of the trail. At a moderate fitness level, the Clark Trail normally takes me 2 hours, but through the mud, it took 5! So, be forewarned. :)

I have been running the Lewis/​Clark trails for years. As a former resident of the area for 14 years, I always loved being able to run or hike and mix in access to the KATY. If you do the 5.3 Lewis trail you will have 3 signifcant hills and a few stunning viewpoints on the bluffs of the Missouri. The best direction is to go CCW. If you do the 8.2 mile Clark trail you will double your hill thrills, add some additional views, and pass by an old cemetary.
There are also fishing ponds, a shooting range, and other diversions in the Conservation Area or nearby.

I love this area. it’s always really pretty. unless you’re going to a lake or where the boat rental is, some lots just pop up, and spots aren’t defined, and it’s gravel (lake parking is gravel too).

If you enjoy fishing and are looking for a relaxing place to fish, this is your place.
I have been coming to Busch Wildlife for a long time and it holds a special place in my heart. You can rent a boat and pick a lake and let your fishing take its course.
If you’ve never been, check it out — you won’t be disappointed!

I forgot to mention something wonderful we discovered on our adventure– Francis Howell Cemetery, which is in the conservation area. It is one of those lovely, forgotten, old family cemeteries with leaning and broken headstones, sprawling vines, big shade trees. It’s situated next to a prairie, which casts an ethereal golden hue over the horizon. I imagine the wild flowers are beautiful in the spring.

My school comes here every year for an annual fishin’ trip. We bring poles and bait and set the kids out around the lake fishing. It is a good time! The lake we fish on is really big but small enough that we can see all the kids around it and feel secure. They catch A LOT of fish, which is nice and exciting for them. We also see turtles and water snakes every time we are there. There is a nice area for us to sit and eat lunches on, including picnic benches and a long dock. There are bathrooms, which are only a step up from port-​o-​potties. I wish they had a bit nicer of a facility for restrooms. Also more parking. But it’s a great spot and serves our purposes very well each year!

Lots of trails, trees, lakes. It seems like everything has been preserved pretty well in it’s natural state. Some of the trails will take you by old WWII era military weapons storage bunkers that have essentially been untouched since being decommissioned.
Why it gets a 3:
— take lots of bug repellent. i’m sure there are millions of ticks here. after walking through some brush, you will have lots of chiggars or whatever they are called on your ankles.
— maps/​signage leave something to be desired. there are lot of lakes/​trails that look alike and i can see how people could get disoriented on a hike.
— probably better not to go alone. some areas are very secluded and are eerie even with 2 people.

This is a HUGE conservation area located well off the beaten path in St. Charles County. I am not a hunter, I am not a shooter, and I remember horrible stories about abducted girls being found in this place as a child… but aside from those horrible things, this place has a lot to offer.
I used to go fishing here ALL the time. There are a ton of lakes and they are all very well stocked with some of Missouri’s finest fish. I have always been the catch and release type, so this is the perfect place for me to go. You can take out a canoe, paddle to the middle of the lake, and sit for hours. Make sure you have a fishing license though, they do check on these things and I did get busted once when I didn’t have it on me. Luckily they can look this up. You can get them in the reserve or you can even get your fishing license at Wal-​Mart for the season believe it or not if you are really interested.
There is also a shooting range here which I have heard is top of the line and very safe. Now, I’m not a shooter, so this is all from word of mouth, but being related to some gun lovers, I would assume this information is all on the up and up.
Otherwise, this is a beautiful place, it is huge, and you can really see nature untouched very close to the city. Totally worth the drive and completely beautiful.

So it’s not really a business. It’s the fine folks at the Missouri Department of Conservation. My brother likes guns, and invited us to go shooting at the outdoor range at Busch. I’ve never shot a gun in my life, but I was gun-​curious. And I was pleasantly surprised, and actually had fun. (And yeah, I actually hit the targets. Good on me!)
I didn’t expect a Wild West shootout, but I didn’t expect the absolute professionalism that goes into running this place. Safety is their number ONE concern, with bullets flying everywhere and all. Directions are posted clearly, measures are followed to the letter, and there’s no monkey business. And it’s very family-​friendly. We shot nine millimeters and .45s next to a Navy dad and family with a plethora of firepower of their own.
Am I going to join the NRA now? Not on your life, but I have immense respect for the folks at Busch Wildlife and the folks who shoot responsibly.