St. Louis Canyon is a favorite amongst park visitors.  It has the only waterfall in the park that is spring fed, thus ensuring a longer lasting waterfall, and was the site of a spectacular canyon wall collapse in 2004.  The pile of sand and boulders on the eastern wall of the canyon near the waterfall is evidence of nature in action. Kids love to play on this natural sand pile!  St. Louis canyon is a must see!

Distance from the Visitors Center: 1.5 Miles

Distance from the St. Louis Canyon Parking Area: .6 Miles

Difficulty: Dirt and stone surfaces. Major staircases must be climbed if accessing the bluff trail from either the Visitor Center up to the lodge, or accessing via the Aurora Canyon trail.  Minor staircase along bluff trail just west of the Aurora Canyon trail junction, There is a major staircase  just before the canyon entrance. If accessing from the St. Louis Canyon parking area, first portion is paved, and there are no major staircases.  This is the easiest way to access the canyon.  Be advised that if you move your vehicle here on a busy day, you may not be able to re-enter the main parking area of the park.

Parking: Visitor’s Center, Lodge, Overflow, St. Louis Canyon Parking Area off of Rt. 178

Waterfall: Yes.  Spring fed, but still requires rainfall.

Top View: No

Interior Canyon View: Yes

Flora and Fauna: Wild turkeys, turkey vultures, sharp shinned and coopers hawks, fox, chipmunks, gray squirrel, as well as species of woodpeckers, warblers, sparrows, and more dwell in and around St. Louis Canyon.  Green and chorus frogs can be heard in spring from the canyon pool of water at the bottom of the falls leading into the creek.  Coral root orchids, white snakeroot, columbine, bloodroot, bellwort, and jewelweed are scattered along the sandstone soil of the oak hickory forest leading into the canyon.