jsimp3 Loc: Tennessee

Greetings to all,

I have the opportunity to take a group of high school students on a trip to St. Louis this coming week. During our recent visits in St. Louis the ride to the top of the arch has been one of the more memorable experiences for the students. I discovered online that it's closed until late April due work being done on the elevator. I did a search for other locations around St. Louis and discovered Lone Elk Park which has both elk and bison. I was wondering if anyone had visited the park, if so how visible are the animals this time of year?

We will be visiting the zoo, and the botanical gardens, I'm open to any other suggestions for photo ops in and around the St. Louis area.

Thanks

sterrill Loc: missouri

Grants farm might be worth a shot. Try the Missouri dnr website for info on lone elk park.

wapiti Loc: round rock, texas

I know nothing about the park, but the bull elk will have shed their antlers by now.

joanloy Loc: St. Louis, MO

Lone Elk Park is "hit or miss" -- just OK. But, the World Bird Sanctuary is located on Lone Elk Park Grounds. It is really good for photo ops. some birds are tethered and some are in large cages on both sides of a walking path. Also, if anyone is interested in landscape photos, Forest Park is good.

NatureShooter Loc: NW Illinois

The Lone Elk Park is a drive through park, with some rolling hills; if you are lucky, the elk and bison will be visible from the road but can sometimes be further back and not visible or too far for photos. I've always seen elk when I've been there. The park is easily accessible, doesn't take more than an hour or two to roam around. You can also check out Powder Valley, which is not far east of Lone Elk Park just off I-44, nice urban park but not too much wildlife - possibly will see deer. Also there is a nice butterfly house and gardens in Chesterfield (from Lone Elk Park, go a short ways back E to 141 N and take it N up to I-64, then W on I-64 maybe 2-3 miles to Chesterfield Pkwy E/Olive Blvd and go east about a mile to the butterfly park.

mmatus

Yes, I have been to Lone Elk Park. I have seen several Elk but more Bison than Elk.You must stay in your car near the Bison area. It is a beautiful park plenty of birds.i also have gone to the Butterfly House.( over 100 different butterflies.) The Gardens are rated as one of the top ten in the country. The Gardens also host the Chinese Lantern Show.( A must see at Night) We went up in the arch, it is awesome to see. Take a turn of the St. Loss Ball Park. You can have you picture taken with the Arch in the background. Union station is cool, they put some retail shops in the station. There is a a lot to see and do in the St. Louis area.

jayd Loc: Central Florida, East coast

Shaws garden would be good

Boris77

We have just visited Lone Elk on 4/8. There is presently highway construction at the Hwy 44 and Hwy 141 intersection that might make it hard to get to. The viewing of animals is very random, unless you can get a schedule as to when they bait the parking lot to draw the Elk into the open. The Bison are usually visible near the end of the drive thru, but you can not get out of the vehicle for better view.
We city folk enjoy the trees, but I doubt that this will be an exciting tour for the younger crowd.
The Wild Bird Sanctuary is passed on the road in, and provides a view of a number of local species in small enclosures.
Suggestion: Go to the Zoo if you want to see animals, and pay for the dependable Zoo parking lot if the park roads are full of parked vehicles. The zoo itself is free except for certain feature exhibits. Lone Elk is better for a day-in-the-country with a picnic, and minimal expectations of seeing wildlife.
for the St Louis Zoo!

jsimp3 Loc: Tennessee

Big thanks to all... this helps me out. When I googled the park it did appear like a Cades Cove type drive thru which is also hit or miss. We are currently in Chicago due to arrive in St. Louis Wednesday. I appreciate all the responses and the options.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Anheiser-Busch has their flagship brewery in St Lo. Great tour, even for kids. Free beer! (at the end of the tour). No elk or bison but the Clydesdales are beautiful.

ib_joe_59 Loc: St. Louis, Mo

The Elk at Lone Elk Park seem to have an opinion of Photographers