St. Louis, MO
Garden of the Gods Observation Trail, Shawnee National Forest
- Getting in
- Roughly a 2h15m drive southeast of St. Louis — the nearest catalog anchor, but it is a day trip, not a city outing. Hours: "Picnic area and Observation Trail hours of operation - 6 a.m. to 10 p.m." and "No overnight parking is allowed in picnic area or Observation Trail parking lots." No entry permit is needed for the adjacent wilderness — "No permit required for entering or camping in Garden of the Gods Wilderness." — but that is an access rule, not a photography rule. Also note: "Disposable food and beverage containers are not permitted on the Observation Trail." (so no champagne bottle on the rocks) and "Caution should be used due to the high cliffs in the area." (all https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/shawnee/recreation/garden-gods-recreation-area)
How private it is
We haven’t rated privacy here yet.
Where to eat, drink and stay nearby
The moment is the fixed point; these are the hours either side of it. Real places in St. Louis, drawn from our destination catalog — not ranked, not sponsored, and not described by anything other than the catalog’s own words.
Dinner after
Pappy's Smokehouse
BBQ · $$
Nationally ranked ribs and brisket -- get there early before they sell out
Sidney Street Cafe
New American · $$$$
James Beard-winning fine dining in Benton Park
Imo's Pizza
Pizza · $
Iconic STL-style thin crust with Provel cheese
A quiet drink
Moonrise Rooftop Bar
rooftop · $$$
Delmar Loop rooftop with a giant moon sculpture and skyline views
The Whiskey Ring
speakeasy · $$$
Hidden speakeasy in Soulard with craft whiskey cocktails
Where to stay
The Last Hotel
boutique-hotel
Converted shoe factory downtown with rooftop pool and bar
Angad Arts Hotel
boutique-hotel
Choose your room by emotion -- unique color-themed hotel in Grand Center
The morning after
The Hill Food Tour
food-tour
Walking tour through STL's legendary Italian neighborhood
Four Seasons St. Louis spa
spa
Top-floor hotel spa + champagne packages + city views
Shows the city and roughly when to keep free. Never the place, and never the word.
Source: www.fs.usda.gov · confirmed 2026-08-06. Places change — check before you build a trip you cannot move.
We can name this spot, but we can’t yet fill the days around it in St. Louis — not enough real places to build the rest of the trip without repeating. Build one somewhere we can, or keep this spot in mind for when we get there.