I like the trails along the Taum Sauk mountain area; and east of Johnson shutins (that’s my avatar). There are nice backpacking trails near Rock Falls (good swimming hole by Emminence). St. Francois State park has some backpacking trails and a nice freshwater spring to camp by. However, that one has a noisy road a little too close imho. I’ve also backpacked along the Current river but I can’t remember what section--- that was somewhere south of Salem.

And if you like to bike ride, St. Louis has excellent bike trails. I love biking over the Mississippi River on the dedicated foot/bike/route66 bridge and down to the st. louis arch. Is there any biking bridge more beautiful? I still have yet to do the 200 mile Katy trail.

-Barry