Creve Coeur Lake Park: A Little Bit of Everything in St. Louis County

Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park enjoys a colorful history. That history goes back to its origins as part of the Missouri River thousands of years ago, and continues into the last two centuries where it became a resort area and, during Prohibition, a hive of gangsters. Since then, the lake and surrounding area have been altered, most notably after St. Louis County purchased it in 1969.

Today everything about the park is big. At over 2,100 acres, it’s the largest park run by St. Louis County. The lake it encompasses is one of the largest natural lakes in Missouri. It has the largest variety of things to do of any county park. And it’s also one of the busiest county parks, with over 1 million visitors each year.

Getting There

Creve Coeur Lake Park (Google Maps link) is located between 270 and the Maryland Heights Expressway (MO-141) in Maryland Heights. There are multiple ways to the park, depending on where you’re coming from and where you want to park.

Most people coming in are liable to park in or around Marine Avenue, which runs through the heart of the park. In that case, you can, for instance, take I-70 to the Maryland Heights Expressway southbound, then turn left at Marine Avenue. Or you could take the Page Extension (MO-364) to the Maryland Heights Expressway northbound, then turn right at Marine Avenue. If you’re from certain parts of St. Louis County, you might instead opt to get off 270 at Dorsett and head west until you reach the park.

Some people might prefer to park off of Creve Coeur Mill Road, which borders the park on the west side and is accessible from Maryland Heights Expressway. This is a good spot if you want to walk the loop away from some of the other parking lots or go to the soccer fields or the bar and grill.

There is also a specific section of the park on the east side — known as Upper Creve Coeur (Google Maps link)– that is accessed using Streetcar Drive off of Dorsett. More on this in a second.

There are multiple parking areas throughout the park, including along Marine Avenue, along Creve Coeur Mill Road, and — for those needing access to the eastern side of the park — Streetcar Drive. The park can get quite busy, especially on weekends, but you can usually find a place to park as long as you aren’t too picky.

A good place to start is the parking lot next to the boat ramp (Google Maps link), which is large, easy to navigate, and usually has some open spots even during most busy times. People looking to rent bikes or watercraft may want to try the east side of the park, but parking is more at a premium there. If you’re aiming for quiet, we like the parking along Creve Coeur Mill Road.

All parking here is free.

Costs and Considerations

There is no cost to visit the park. There are paid vendors that operate along the lake, most notably canoes, kayaks, and pedaled vehicle rentals, so keep that in mind.

Only non-gasoline watercraft are allowed on the lake: canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, and such. In addition, swimming is not allowed on the lake.

Motorized vehicles are not allowed on any of the trails or walking paths.

There are restrooms throughout the park, especially on the northern and eastern sides of the lake. We’ve also been known to spot a portable restroom here and there along the paved trails. The Tremayne Shelter restrooms on the north side of the park and Go Ape restrooms in Upper Creve Coeur are open year-round.

I’ve already noted that this park can get quite busy on weekends and holidays. I’ve been there on peak days and you’ll see crowds of walkers, runners, bikers, and even surreys making their way along the two-lane paved loop around the lake. Be aware of who is around you, and be willing to move out of the way for faster traffic. We’ve found that most people are considerate.

Much of the area around the lake itself is in open sun, with more trees as you progress south. The area around Streetcar Drive, on the other hand, is mostly wooded and shaded.

Things to Do

Activities at Creve Coeur Lake Park include, but are not limited to:

• Walking, Biking, and Hiking. The park offers miles of trails, both paved and unpaved, for foot and pedal traffic. The 3.8 mile Lakeview Loop, which — as the name suggests — loops the lake, is one of the most popular options, and is sometimes used for 5K runs and other organized events. You can find the other trails listed on the map below.

• Dripping Springs. Located along the path on the east side of the lower park, you can stop by and check out an outcropping complete with some trickling water.

• Watercraft. As I mentioned, you can take non-gasoline watercraft onto the 320-acre lake, including canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddle boards. You can bring your own if you want.

• Bike and Watercraft Rentals. Creve Coeur Lake Rentals (Google Maps link) operates 7 days a week along along the eastern side of the lake. Hours vary by season and the vendor may be closed on some holidays and event days. Creve Coeur Lake Rentals options include bikes, surreys, canoes, kayaks (single and tandem), and stand-up paddle boards. You can find prices here.

• Fishing. Fishing is allowed on the lake, subject to regulations by the Missouri Department of Conservation.
• Beach Areas. While swimming is not allowed, there are places to sit or walk along the beach.

• Playgrounds. There are four of them scattered throughout the park, primarily in Upper Creve Coeur
• Spray Fountain Play Area. A splash pad-style area can be found in Upper Creve Coeur. As you would expect, the water flows during the summer months.
• Golf. The Quarry at Crystal Springs (Google Maps link) is an 18-hole public golf course accessible from the north side of the park. You can learn more here.
• Disc Golf. Disc golf is located in Upper Creve Coeur.
• Baseball Fields. The fields are located in Upper Creve Coeur.
• Soccer Fields. There are two soccer complexes located on the west side of the park along Creve Coeur Mill Road.

• Tennis Courts. The courts are located in Upper Creve Coeur.
• Zipline and Ropes Course. Located in Upper Creve Coeur, Go Ape! Zipline and Adventure Park (Google Maps link) offers various recreational activities for a price. You can find out more here.
• Food and Drink. Located on the west side of the park near the soccer fields, Creve Coeur Lakehouse Bar and Grill (Google Maps link) serves up Americana food and drinks. You can find out more here.

• Shelters. There are four shelters in the park: the Greensfelder Shelter, the Tremayne Shelter, the Heldman Shelter, and the Taco Bell Shelter. (Yes, you heard that right, and no, it doesn’t sell chalupas or anything else.) Greensfelder deserves special note, as it is in Upper Creve Coeur and looks out over the lake. The shelters are all reservable.

Our Thoughts

Creve Coeur Lake Park is one of the most full-featured county parks we’ve ever visited. With its combination of public amenities and private vendors, there’s no shortage of things to do. We like it primarily for the walking and hiking paths, but it’s also a place where you can play one of several sports, take a kayak on the water, or even eat lunch.

If you live in the St. Louis area, this is definitely a place to visit, with the caveat that, again, it can get busy on weekends. Still, it’s a hub for a reason. Definitely a gem among parks in the STL area.