Creve Coeur Lake

This trail is located within the ‘upper’ section of Creve Coeur Park. The Bootlegger’s Run trail is now more than 5.5 miles in length, with several interesting features including multiple ravine crossings, banked turns, and dips. The trail is similar to those at SIUE, with moderate elevation change, and tight and twisty areas through lots of new growth trees. It can be ridden as fast, or as slow as the rider’s skills allow.

ABOUT THE PARK

Maryland Heights is home to Creve Coeur Park, one of the region’s most popular parks, which is operated by St. Louis County. The park boasts a 320-acre lake as well as the picturesque “Dripping Springs” waterfall. A popular summer resort in the early 1900s, the lake is now known for its paved walking and cycling trail, playground equipment, picnic pavilions, boating opportunities, athletic fields and much, more.

The name of this 320 acre stocked fishing lake, County Park, and city (a suburb of St. Louis) are all named after a French phrase “Creve Coeur,” which roughly translates to “burst heart” or “broken heart.” The name was reportedly adopted for the way that the lake resembles half of a heart. Like all good legends, this one has a back-story to go with it. It is said that a young Native American princess fell in love with a local French fur trader, but that her love was unrequited. Her heart broken, she leapt from the cliffs overlooking the lake and the lake reformed into that of a broken heart. Dripping Springs, the falls that trickle down a ledge in the park resemble small drops, or the tears of the young maiden.