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Creve Coeur Lake

This trail is located within the ‘upper’ section of Creve Coeur Park and features multiple ravine crossings, banked turns, and dips.

  • No Recent Update
  • Clear ( 68°F )
  • Beginner / Intermediate
  • 5.6 miles
  • Loop
  • St. Louis Area

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.

Directions

Take I-270 to the Dorsett Road exit, and head west on Dorsett Road. Turn Right into the Park on Streetcar Drive, and then continue down the road into the park. Look for a lighted softball field on the right, followed by tennis courts and then a large gravel parking lot – turn right into this lot. Look for an obvious opening in the woods along the tree-line near the back left-side of the tennis courts. Head into the woods and look for the trail on your left. If you get to a large, flat, “T” intersection, you’ve gone about 20 feet too far.

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.

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Latest trail conditions

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16

Apr 2025

From MOMXER on Wednesday:
Creve Coeur Lake - Dirt was good, but at least 8-9 medium to large trees are down across the trail after the March storms. We need a good volunteer day (and some large chain saws) or some help from STL County Parks to restore the trail.

14

Mar 2025

From Steve Wyss on Friday:
Creve Coeur Lake - Bootlegger is firm and fast

07

Mar 2025

From Karen Einig on Friday:
Creve Coeur Lake - Bootlegger's is in great shape. Only a small patch of rutted mud covered w/ leaves -can't remember where tho. Temp was around 50 @ 1-2pm. No freeze thaw.

03

Feb 2025

From Steven Curran on Monday:
Creve Coeur Lake - Soft in spots, one or two muddy spots, but very ridable, just a little slow due to the slightly soft surface.

01

Sep 2024

From Brian Schrumpf on Sunday:
Creve Coeur Lake - Dry -good to go

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