Meramec Greenway - Rock Hollow Trail

Meramec Greenway - Rock Hollow Trail. . , Welcome , Welcome to the Meramec Greenway-Rock Hollow Trail, a partnership between the City of Wildwood, Great Rivers Greenway, Saint Louis County Department of Parks, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The Rock Hollow Trail is a 2.3-mile, multi-use asphalt trail that connects with the Al Foster Memorial Trail. The topography is steep, so be cautious as the trail descends quickly and sharply into the valley. , Rock Hollow is a 252-acre open space park managed and leased by the City of Wildwood from Saint Louis County Department of Parks and Great Rivers Greenway. It adjoins Castlewood State Park and connects to the Al Foster Memorial Trail. The Rock Hollow Trail follows the old Lawler Ford Road route. The origin of the road's name is obscure, but it appears on maps from the mid-1860s when no bridge yet crossed the Meramec River. The road ended at a ford on the river where travelers could cross. In more recent times, trucks hauling sand and gravel mined from the Meramec River Valley used Lawler Ford Road. , Rock Hollow Natural History, Take time to explore the sights and enjoy the distinctive natural communities along the Rock Hollow Trail. Rock Hollow is a small, two-mile long watershed that descends over 300 feet in elevation from the uplands to the Meramec River. The valley's rock formations , stream and tributaries can easily be seen. Here, over eons of time, the wind, elements and small creek carved the steep valley., Rocks last forever, in relation to our human lifespan, but ages of weathering and wearing away of bedrock shaped the hills and valleys of Rock Hollow. The slow, steady process continues to sculpt the landscape we experience today. It's difficult to imagine the spans of time involved. Just think, at one time the ancient Meramec River flowed at the top of the bluffs. Over time, flowing water wore down rock and eroded sand and soil to create the bluffs we see today. The process takes millions and millions of years., Rocks are classified as igneous, metamorphic or sedimentary. All of the rocks of Rock Hollow are sedimentary, which form when minerals and material deposits accumulate. Layers of newer materials deposit over older layers, creating the strata of horizontal beds within the valley walls. Time, pressure, and heat slowly transform the layers of material into solid rock. As you descend the Rock Hollow Trail, you travel back in geologic time., The rocks were deposits in shallow oceans between 300 and 500 million years ago. Crinoids, seashells, coral, and other bedrock fossils all document this watery origin. The large rock outcroppings exposed at Rock Hollow consist of a type of limestone called dolomite. Layers of sandstone can also be found sandwiched between the dolomite layers. The rock shelves and outcroppings create micro-habitats for ferns, mosses, and lichens. , Precipitation is absorbed by the soil and moves downward until it reaches material it can no longer penetrate, like clay or solid bedrock. Reaching the impervious layer, the groundwater moves along the horizontal rock strata creating seeps and springs where once again the water flows on the surface of the ground. There are numerous seeps and seasonal springs along the Rock Hollow Trail and throughout the Park. These unique features add to Rock Hollow's beauty and diversity. , Rock Hollow Plant Environments, Rock Hollow is a richly diverse Park site with several distinct natural communities, each with their own unique flora and fauna. The topographic elevation and slope orientation, availability of moisture, and depth of soil create different growing conditions for plants and other organisms. According to a Missouri Native Plant Society field study, over 319 plant species grow here and over 12 fern and 43 moss species. Take time to enjoy the Rock Hollow Trail and its surroundings. Every season brings a new wave of color and discovery. , The south and west-facing slopes are rocky with little soil and exhibit desert-like conditions during the hot summer months but glade plants thrive and bloom. Dense stands of Eastern Red Cedar cover some of these rocky slopes. Fires kept the Eastern Red (unreadable) from encroaching on these areas in pre-settlement times. But today, evergreens choke the once open, rocky savannas, shading the sun-loving plants. Knarly Chinkapin Oaks somehow manage an existence in this formidable environment of rocks, shallow soils, and competition. , Large dolomite outcroppings can be seen midway down the valley. These rock exposures reveal the land's ruggedness even as it harbors unique plants and organisms. Numerous seeps and springs wet the rock walls and create natural hanging gardens of delicate ferns, rich mosses, scaly lichens, and colorful flowers. , Further down the valley, deeper soil provides more nutrients and regular moisture to plants. The valley's lush growth, cooler temperatures, and rich soil support a host of plants that would not survive on the desert-like south and west slopes. Stretching up from the Meramec River, bottomland woodland grows thick with Kentucky Coffeetree, White Ash, Shellbark Hickory, Bur Oak, and a host of other tree species. Underneath their towering canopy can be found the Ohio Buckeye, Spicebush, Paw Paw and others. This remnant woodland community once dominated the Meramec River Valley. , (aside:) , Meramec Greenway, The Meramec Greenway was established in 1975 with the mandate to plan and coordinate the recovery of 108 miles of the lower Meramec River that had deteriorated from years of abuse and neglect. The Meramec River Recreation Association, made up of governments with jurisdictions on the river and area citizens, was formed to lead the restoration. , Today good water quality has been restored, the natural beauty of the river setting is recovering and over 28,000 acres of public parks and conservation areas are available for your enjoyment. , To learn more about the Meramec Greenway visit the website: www.meramecgreenway.org