Get Me to Some Water, Stat
June 20, 2014 10:32 AM Subscribe
Dearest Mefites with Missouri Knowledge: it is so hot, and I want to go swimming so badly! And I mean real swimming -- none of this water park or public pool business. Please tell me of the best waterholes near St. Louis, MO.
Preferably within an hour's drive from the city. Doesn't have to be 100% sanitary (but please don't suggest the Mississippi), nor does it have to be 100% legal (although if it is not, any tips on avoiding the Man would be appreciated). I am primarily interested in weekend during-the-day swimming, but would love to hear your stealth night swimming ideas, too. Bonus points for cliff jumping and deep water. No chlorinated suggestions please. Thank you!
Preferably within an hour's drive from the city. Doesn't have to be 100% sanitary (but please don't suggest the Mississippi), nor does it have to be 100% legal (although if it is not, any tips on avoiding the Man would be appreciated). I am primarily interested in weekend during-the-day swimming, but would love to hear your stealth night swimming ideas, too. Bonus points for cliff jumping and deep water. No chlorinated suggestions please. Thank you!
Best answer: We used to go to Johnson's Shut-ins State Park, which does have a place you can cliff jump into the water- about 30 feet if my memory serves. It's a little farther than an hour, but not terrible. There is also Meramec State Park, which I don't 100% remember accurately, but I think has some small cliffs you can jump off of as well. I went float tripping there, not swimming. And it's closer.
posted by thewumpusisdead at 11:10 AM on June 20, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by thewumpusisdead at 11:10 AM on June 20, 2014 [3 favorites]
Ooh, we went to Johnson's Shut-ins a couple of times when I was a kid, and it was awesome. You should totally go. It's worth the drive. I was just thinking I should google it (to make sure I remembered the name) and then thewumpusisdead beat me to it.
posted by leahwrenn at 11:20 AM on June 20, 2014
posted by leahwrenn at 11:20 AM on June 20, 2014
Response by poster: Thanks everyone, and please keep em coming if you have more ideas!
posted by likeatoaster at 12:08 PM on June 20, 2014
posted by likeatoaster at 12:08 PM on June 20, 2014
Best answer: Carlyle Lake is exactly one hour's drive due east of St. Louis (forty-five minutes if Dad had had a bad week). Biggest lake entirely in Illinois, with several beaches and a state park with waterfront access for camping and swimming.
Also there are lots of places to go floating and canoeing on the Meramec River. And Johnson's Shut-ins is awesome. (So is Elephant Rocks State Park, but that's for a non-swimming day.)
posted by Liesl at 12:33 PM on June 20, 2014 [1 favorite]
Also there are lots of places to go floating and canoeing on the Meramec River. And Johnson's Shut-ins is awesome. (So is Elephant Rocks State Park, but that's for a non-swimming day.)
posted by Liesl at 12:33 PM on June 20, 2014 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Coming back to my own question to mention, for posterity and in case anyone has the same question in the future, that I have found a new best swimming hole less than 1 hour from St Louis: its at St. Francois park. It is free, and deep, and surrounded by trees; you can bring whatever you want (beer, a picnic, a canoe); its both beachy and has a jumping rock;
and it is way lovelier than the Meramac.
posted by likeatoaster at 1:42 PM on June 7, 2015
and it is way lovelier than the Meramac.
posted by likeatoaster at 1:42 PM on June 7, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by lharmon at 10:39 AM on June 20, 2014 [1 favorite]