Explore The Trails at BCA
Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum offers a unique opportunity to explore history, nature, and art through our extensive and thoughtfully designed trail system. New interpretive and universally accessible trails enhance the visitor experience, guiding you through old carriage paths, expansive natural areas, and historically significant landscapes. Whether you're seeking a peaceful stroll, an adventurous hike, or a chance to connect with nature, our trails provide a captivating journey
across our 314 acres.
Lewis and Clark Trail
Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum (BCA) is delighted to announce a new garden space and walking trail dedicated to the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery Expedition (1803-1806). The resting place of William Clark has long been a popular stop for many visitors to the Cemetery. This new garden space features a seating area along the road across from the William Clark family lot. Along the trail, visitors will encounter some of the species that the Lewis and Clark Expedition noted after departing from St. Louis on May 14, 1804. Several interpretive signs in the garden and along the trail highlight information about the expedition. The vegetation within the garden will focus on plants noted within the expedition, particularly woody trees and shrubs, which are notated with unique plant tags and information.
This project has been made possible by generous gifts of expertise and funding from our partner organizations:
Missouri Department of Conservation
The Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation
Missouri Historical Society
Missouri Botanical Garden
Missouri History Museum
The trails of BCA provide cultural and economic benefits by serving as educational and recreational hikes for school groups, community members, and BCA staff to host educational programs. The trails provide programming in Missouri, National and international history, and horticulture and nature education. Additionally, one of the trails will provide an accessible experience.
Public Lot 01, Prospect, & Evergreen
Glen Trails
In addition to our featured trails, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum offers a system of interconnected walking paths that allow for deeper exploration of our natural areas. These include:
Public Lot 01 Trail: Designed to offer an accessible experience, this trail ensures that more visitors can enjoy the beauty and tranquility of our grounds.
Prospect Trail: Meander along this trail to discover unique perspectives and hidden gems within the Cemetery and Arboretum.
The Historic Loop Trail also connects to the Evergreen Meadow trail, leading up through Evergreen Glen. This short loop takes walkers off the road and through BCA’s expanding natural areas, ultimately connecting to the developing Lewis and Clark garden area. This new trail system was installed with fantastic help from our partners at AmeriCorps St. Louis.
During your time on our trails, you will have the opportunity to learn stories about those laid to rest at Bellefontaine and gain more information on trees and plantings that grace our grounds.
Explore Our Trails Digitally
Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum is excited to announce that our Historic Loop Trail has been listed on AllTrails.com. Check it out!
AllTrails.com allows users to post photos of themselves on the trails, rate their favorite trails, and even track personal hiking or walking progress and goals. In addition to our inclusion on AllTrails.com, our trails are also listed on the Hiking Project’s website. See our trails here and record your progress:
We hope you will take a self-guided tour and explore our trails while walking through Missouri’s first Level III Accredited Arboretum! Happy trails to you!
BCA & the Missouri
Birding Trail
As a vital ecological space, Bellefontaine is home to diverse wildlife and a significant bird population, and we are proud to be a designated location along the Missouri Birding Trail. (More on this can be found on our Birds page.)
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