Laumeier Sculpture Park Trail Head
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Laumeier Sculpture Park offers a unique blend of contemporary outdoor art and natural trails, making it a free, accessible, and dog-friendly destination for families. Its core value lies in combining educational art viewing with opportunities for outdoor activity and fresh air, suitable for a few hours' visit rather than an all-day excursion.
Key Highlights
- ✓Features spectacular, educational, and 'huge' outdoor sculptures (Review 1, 4).
- ✓Provides a variety of trails, including extensive paved walking paths and short hiking trails through the woods (Review 2, 4).
- ✓Park is designed for accessibility with 'easy to navigate paths' and 'braille on each descriptor' (Review 2).
- ✓Offers plenty of natural shade along paths and in sitting areas, making it comfortable for outdoor activity (Review 2).
- ✓It is a free outdoor gallery, providing excellent value for families (Review 3).
- ✓The park is dog-friendly, allowing 'fur babies' to join the family outing (Review 3, 4).
Standout Features
- ⭐Free entry to an extensive outdoor art gallery (Review 3).
- ⭐Diverse trail options: paved paths for easy strolling and woodland trails for light hiking (Review 2, 4).
- ⭐Accessibility features including easy paths and braille descriptions for sculptures (Review 2).
- ⭐Abundant natural shade for comfort during walks (Review 2).
- ⭐Pet-friendly environment, welcoming dogs on trails (Review 3, 4).
- ⭐Plentiful and easy parking (Review 2).
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Plan for a 2-3 hour visit, as it's not an all-day park, perfect for getting fresh air and stretching legs (Review 2).
- →Bring your dogs; it's a great spot for an outing with the 'fur babies' (Review 4).
- →While generally accessible, be aware that paved paths have 'rough spots' and 'steep spots' that might require assistance if using a wheelchair or scooter (Review 5).
- →Take time to examine the 'spectacular and educational' art, which includes 'HUGE sculptures' (Review 1, 4).
Things to Consider
- ⚠The paved walkway has 'a little rough in spots' and 'a few steep spots' which can be challenging for mobility devices like kneel scooters (Review 5).
- ⚠It is described as 'not somewhere to spend all day,' suggesting a shorter visit is ideal (Review 2).
Price & Value
This is a 'free outdoor gallery' (Review 3), offering exceptional value by providing art, nature, and accessibility without an admission cost.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •High accessibility with 'easy to navigate paths' and 'braille on each descriptor' for sculptures (Review 2).
- •Features paved walkways throughout the park (Review 2, 5).
- •Some paved areas are described as 'a little rough in spots' and include 'a few steep spots' that can be challenging for kneel scooters or similar mobility aids (Review 5).
🚗Parking Info
- •Parking is 'plentiful' and easy to find (Review 2).
👥Crowd Levels
- •Not explicitly mentioned as crowded, but the existence of 'many paths' suggests space for dispersal (Review 2).
🛡️Safety Features
- •Not mentioned in reviews.
⏰When to Avoid
- • If you require perfectly smooth, flat paved surfaces for mobility devices, as there are 'rough spots' and 'steep spots' on the walkways (Review 5).
- • If you are looking for an entire day's worth of activities and entertainment, as it's not an all-day destination (Review 2).
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
Walking Tour: Trees and the Sculptural Landscape
$5Duration: 1.5 hours
Spend the morning surrounded by the Park’s beautiful fall foliage for an autumn hike! Learn about several types of tree species that shade Laumeier’s beautiful trails with local arborist, Michael Garrett. Discuss popular tree identification methods, such as examining bark and leaves, along with others in the Park. (Level 2 hike)
Includes:
- •guided hike
- •tree identification methods
Night Out: Mud + Merlot: Halloween in the Studio!
$58Duration: 3 hours
Get into the spooky spirit with an evening of clay, creativity, and a little mischief in the studio! Learn how to design ghost-shaped dishes, spider sculptures, pumpkin candle holders, or any other delightfully eerie design your imagination conjures up. We’ll guide you through the basics of handbuilding so you can bring your creepy (or cute!) creation to life. Pick up your finished piece the following week.
Includes:
- •clay handbuilding workshop
- •light snacks
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Walking Tour: Trees and the Sculptural Landscape
Saturday, October 18
$5
Spend the morning surrounded by the Park’s beautiful fall foliage for an autumn hike! Learn about several types of tree species that shade Laumeier’s beautiful trails with local arborist, Michael Garrett. Discuss popular tree identification methods, such as examining bark and leaves, along with others in the Park. (11 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.)
Campfire Chat with Kahlil Robert Irving
Thursday, October 23
FREE
Join us for a conversation with Kranzberg Exhibition Series Artist Kahlil Robert Irving and Curator Dana Turkovic for a Q & A style chat about his large-scale ceramic sculpture Monument (from an Act to a Void) in 3/5th form, 2024 on view in Laumeier’s Museum Circle. Stay and enjoy hot cocoa and s’mores around a campfire. No registration needed. (6:30 p.m.)
Art & Nature Days: More Art & Autumn Adventures, Please!
Saturday, October 18
Free
Fall is here and Laumeier’s trees are beginning to change colors! Bond with family and friends while participating in art activities and games before making s’mores around the warm fire. (11 a.m. – 2 p.m.)
Night Out: Mud + Merlot: Halloween in the Studio!
Friday, October 24
$58
Get into the spooky spirit with an evening of clay, creativity, and a little mischief in the studio! Learn how to design ghost-shaped dishes, spider sculptures, pumpkin candle holders, or any other delightfully eerie design your imagination conjures up. Bring your own wine (or other beverage of your choice); light snacks provided. (6:30–9:30 p.m.)
LAUMEIER AFTER DARK
Saturday, November 8
The entire Park is closed to the general public during this event. (4-10 p.m.)
🍎Food Policy
- • Light snacks provided for 'Mud + Merlot' event.
- • Guests can bring their own wine/beverage for 'Mud + Merlot' event.
- • Shelter rentals required for guaranteed covered picnic areas.
- • Uncovered picnic tables are available throughout the park on a first-come, first-served basis.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Do not climb on any artworks, unless otherwise noted on the sculpture’s object label.
- • Report inappropriate interaction with artworks (climbing, graffiti, carving, scratching, destructive activities) to Park Rangers at 314.615.8911.
- • Dogs must be leashed at all times and picked up after by owners in outdoor galleries.
- • Pets are not allowed during some special events (Annual Art Fair, Laumeier After Dark).
- • Service animals may accompany people with disabilities in all public areas at all times.
- • Leave wildlife alone; young animals may appear alone but mothers are often nearby.
- • Snakes, lizards, and most turtles are protected by state law; do not disturb them.
- • Bicycles are permitted on paved pathways; cyclists should exercise extreme caution due to pedestrian use.
- • Art Hike Trail is for pedestrian use only.
- • Commercial photography and videography require advance permission from Laumeier (communications@laumeier.org).
- • Drone usage is prohibited without advance permit approval from Laumeier and St. Louis County Parks Department (communications@laumeier.org).
📅Booking Policy
- • No registration needed for Campfire Chat.
- • Contact administrative office at info@laumeier.org to inquire about shelter rental availability.
- • For large groups taking self-guided tours, review information in advance of visit (no explicit booking requirement, but implied for large groups).
🚗Parking Information
- • Parking lots at Main, Lower, and West Entrances.
- • No designated bus parking, but buses may parallel park along the entrance drive between Lot 1 and 2.
- • Bus drop-off by the Carriage House.
Photos
What People Say
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 3 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Victor Carrillo
3 months agoI lived in Saint Louis for years and never went here. Took a trip to see my daughter and a visit from an old friend and a new hobby to get me there, and it was wonderful. The art is spectacular and educational. Young and old alike will love it. Check it out.
Jessica Rudolph
9 months agoBeautiful park with lots of paved walking trails and art in every direction. I love that they made the park accessible with easy to navigate paths and braille on each descriptor. There were many paths to take and some even went through the woods. There were a few buildings on the property with information or things to do but we didn't explore them during our visit. Overall I'd say this is a nice place to see some art and get outside. We enjoyed strolling the walkways and examining the different sculptures. It's not somewhere to spend all day but definitely a nice place to get some fresh air and stretch your legs. There was plenty of shade along the paths and shady areas to sit or hang out. Parking was plentiful.
Wy Wakefield
a month agoThis free outdoor gallery was a great way to end of last day in St. Louis. Dog friendly!
Elizabeth James
8 months agoWe had such a nice day walking &checking out the HUGE sculptures! They even had short hiking trails through the woods that surround the park. Nice way to spend the day outside with your kids &fur babies!
matt bonnarens
2 weeks agoIt was pretty great the trail was nice. The paved walk way was nice alittle rough in spots. My wife had a hard time with her kneel scooter in a few spots but it wasn't bad for someone not able to walk. There are a few steep spots on the walk way that I had to help her slow down. But all in all it was a great time with her and our kids.