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Fall is the most popular season among Americans and for good reason: the cooler temperatures, fun activities and the changing colors of leaves. The beautiful fall foliage can turn an already gorgeous landscape into a breathtaking, rich sensory experience. Saint Louis is lucky to have quite a lot of beautiful parks and outdoor spaces within the city limits. There’s even more reason to visit as those spaces transform with the season. I lived in the Saint Louis region for 20 years and within the city limits for 8; here is my guide to exploring Saint Louis in search of fall foliage. I once dreaded fall as it meant the incoming cold, but after having kids and slowing down enough to enjoy all the beautiful details of the nature around us, fall has quickly become my favorite season.

Autumn Colors from Art Hill in Forest Park, Saint Louis (3rd week of October)

When to see autumn Colors in Saint Louis?

Typically, peak fall colors for Saint Louis occur between mid-October and early November. You usually start to see the beginnings of leaves changing the first week of October, even though temperatures are often still quite high. Roughly after the first week of November, most of the leaves have fallen and it is past-peak. In drought conditions, fall colors usually aren’t quite as vibrant as they are in other years, but you can still see some gorgeous fall colors at these spots. Some other factors that can affect timing and intensity include daytime and nighttime temperatures. You are looking for warm, sunny days followed by crisp nights to produce the most vivid colors. Leaf changes typically occur earlier outside of the city. Also, not all trees change at the same time; you will likely be fall colors throughout the city for 6-8 weeks. If you want real time data, look to the Missouri Fall Color reports from Missouri’s Department of Conservation.

The most common types of trees in the city that produce the brilliant colors are maples, oaks, hickories, sweet gum and ginkgos. Even beyond the trees, prairie areas are worth checking out as autumn wildflowers, shrubs and grasses change colors as the weather gets cooler. If you are wondering what type of tree you are looking at, we love this guide from the Missouri Botanical Garden showing popular trees you can find in the area and what color they turn in the fall.

Weather is unpredictable in the fall in St. Louis, so check the weather forecast before you come. Temperatures can range from highs in the 90s to lows in the 30s some days. While quite rare in recent years, it has been known to snow in early November. Layers, especially if you are planning to be out in the evening, are necessary.

If I were to pick one week to visit, it would be the 4th week of October, that is when I typically find that Forest Park and most city neighborhoods are at their most colorful. If you’re visiting for photos, the soft morning and golden-hour light can bring out the warmest hues in the trees. All of the photos in this article include the date taken so you can get a rough idea of when those colors appear, however it does change year to year.

Map of spots & Where to stay

While the focus of the article is the city, there are a few spots that are worth the short drive away from the city. You can easily just stick to the city of Saint Louis and experience a wide variety of trees and vantage points. If you are visiting Saint Louis, I would recommend staying either in one of the hotels within walking distance of the Gateway Arch or near Forest Park. Alternatively, if you want to get a VRBO or Airbnb, I would recommend staying in a house in the area around Tower Grove Park. The Tower Grove neighborhoods are very walkable, with coffee shops, restaurants, and easy access to the park.

However, you will likely need a car when visiting St. Louis. While it is possible to get around with public transit, travel times will be long, and several locations require significant walking in addition to limited bus and MetroLink stops. If you’re staying downtown, ride shares are easy to find, but parking in all of these spots is plentiful and often free.

Forest Park

No trip to Saint Louis is complete without visiting Forest Park at least once. Forest Park is home to several great free museums: Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis Art Museum, and the Saint Louis Science Center. All are worth visiting if the weather turns for the worst or before or after checking out the fall foliage in the area. Check out the article below on other free activities in St. Louis that are great with little kids or the whole family.

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Oct 9, 2025

9 Free Indoor Toddler Activities in St. Louis, Missouri

Oct 9, 2025

For everyone visiting St. Louis on a rainy or cold day or locals in need of fun activities when your kid’s energy levels remain high even as the weather changes; here is a list of 10 free indoor activities for families with young kids. St. Louis has so many amazing free activities and museums that are family friendly.

Art Hill

Most famously known for its sledding in the winter, Art Hill is a destination within Forest Park all year round. There are concerts, movies, theatre performances and festivals held on the hill during the summer. In the fall, you’ll find gorgeous red maples lining the top of the hill. Walk around the Emerson Grand Basin at the bottom of the hill to see the fountains, watch the birds and find more autumn colors. The surrounding fields in the area are also quite popular with couple and family photographers. There is free parking in the lot at the top of the hill or you can park along the street at the basin on Lagoon Drive. You can use the restrooms or eat at the café inside the Saint Louis Art Museum, which is completely free to visit.

Pagoda Lake

Also known as the area in front of the Muny, this picturesque spot features a white marble bandstand in the middle of the lake and is surrounded by red maples. The architecture of The Muny’s entrance, paired with the bandstand and natural beauty is truly unmatched. Explore further around the area to the Pagoda circle to the east of the lake and Moore Meadows to the west.

The bandstand, finished in 1925, replaced an earlier wooden bandstand that had burned down. It is only accessible by boat, so you can get pictures of it unobscured by other people. It is one of Forest Park’s most photographed landmarks. The areas around here are, once again, very popular with family photographers.

Anne O'C. Albrecht Nature Playscape

One of my favorite spots in Forest Park any time of year. It opened just a few years ago and has quickly become a highlight of the park, especially for families with young kids. Even without kids, don’t hesitate to walk through this spectacularly landscaped part of the park. The path is pathed or on a boardwalk and are all ADA accessible.

Do not ignore the prairie area of the park as there are often still late flowering shrubs and native grasses glowing gold and rust. The water features are turned off at the beginning of October, but you can still walk through the dry creek bed.

World’s Fair PAVILION

Just a short walk from the Nature Playscape. You can easily park right in between them and visit both in the same visit. The World’s Fair Pavilion sits atop Government Hill and gives you a beautiful panoramic view of the park and surrounding area. If you can time your visit right, sunsets here are spectacular. Note that it is a popular wedding venue and if you are visiting weekend evenings, it might be closed for a private event. You can walk down the hill and around it to enjoy more of the trees surrounding it.

Saint Louis Zoo

The Saint Louis Zoo is great for visiting with the animals, but it is also worth walking around for the beautiful scenery. Especially around the Historic Hill area, River’s Edge and Lakeside Crossing.

During the fall months, the Zoo is also decorated either for Zootoberfest in early October or Boo at the Zoo in late October. An added bonus as you can enjoy local beers, music and themed treats while surrounded by fall color. After those events are over, you will likely start to see Wild Lights decorations (their Christmas light event) being set up through November.

You can also head over highway 64/40 to turtle park to explore the huge turtle sculptures under the trees.

Lafayette Square Park

A hidden gem. This city park is not nearly as busy as I feel like it deserves – but that’s all the better for us. Established in 1851, Lafayette Park is the oldest park in St. Louis. The park is surrounded by gorgeous colorful homes, and features a beautiful pond in the middle with well-kept landscaping, a historic bridge, a playground, statues, some ruins and cannons. Our favorite part of the park is easily the resident swans in the grotto. It doesn’t take very long to walk around the entire park with the trail that loops around the park only being a mile long. There are several side paths off the main trail that are definitely worth exploring. There is plenty of street parking on every side of this square park.

The mature trees around the perimeter of the park create some of the most picture perfect fall scenes. Lafayette Park is another popular spot for photographers and you will likely catch several taking photos of families. You can extend your walk to the neighboring streets to see the French-style mansions in their autumn glory. Our favorite ice cream spot in the city, Clementine’s Creamery, is also within walking distance. If you’re visiting with kids, the playground was recently renovated in the last couple years and is one of our favorites.

CityGarden Sculpture Park

To enjoy all of the fall foliage downtown, I would recommend parking near the Citygarden Sculpture Park, exploring it first before continuing your walk to Kiener Plaza Park and finally ending at the Gateway Arch. Alternatively, if you are staying near the Arch, visit that first and walk to the Citygarden before turning around.

Citygarden features an incredible range of sculptures – from awe-inspiring to whimsical. There are dozens surrounded by trees, open lawns and flower beds. New sculptures are occasionally added, so if you haven’t visited recently, it is worth returning. On the outer sidewalks of the park, there are beautiful yellow trees. You can even get a picture with the Arch and old courthouse in the background.

The park is very well maintained and there is typically a security guard monitoring the park as well. While some visitors may feel hesitant about being downtown, I’ve always felt safe here even when I’ve been solo with two toddlers.

Fall colors peak slightly earlier here than Forest Park – usually mid to late October.

Gateway Arch

The grounds of the Gateway Arch were recently renovated a few years ago, and they are now absolutely stunning. It was a massive renovation to the museum and visitor center, which also expanded the surrounding parkland. The Gateway Arch is technically a national park, and regardless of the debate around whether it should be or not, it remains beautifully maintained by the National Park Service. Inside the Arch and the museum are worth visiting, but if you are just after fall foliage, you can spend at least an hour walking through the grounds and down to the riverfront. The Arch grounds connect directly to the Mississippi Riverfront.

You’ll be able to see trees of all different shades walking through the grounds. There are ponds where you can get a beautiful reflection of the arch and the fall trees. The grounds really come alive in autumn.

Missouri Botanical Garden

While the Missouri Botanical Garden is probably best seen in spring and summer, don’t sleep on it in the fall in winter. There are far less crowds and all of the gardeners do an excellent job transitioning the gardens for the fall. You can still see flowers outside through most of the fall. And on cold days, you can be surrounded by warmth and green in the Climatron. This conservatory stays a perfect 80ºF year-round and is filled with tropical plants and a waterfall you can walk underneath. The Missouri Botanical Garden requires paid entry, typically around $16 for adults, with free admission for children. There is plenty of parking available either in their main lot or the overflow lot, both of which are free.

Around the garden, you’ll find nearly every native tree that grows in Missouri. You can see reds like the maples, dogwoods, and black gum. Oranges like the sassafras and bald cypress trees and many types of shrubs. Yellows like hickory trees and other deciduous shrubs.

Our absolute favorite spot to enjoy autumn in the garden is the Japanese Garden. The vibrant Japanese maples and ginkgos often are some of the later trees to change, so you can enjoy the color in this area of the garden through mid to late November. The pond in the middle reflects the warm-toned trees and bridges, with waterfalls, streams, and pathways lined with golden leaves – you truly can’t ask for much more. The Japanese Garden, also called Seiwa-en, is one of the largest Japanese gardens in North America.

If you are visiting earlier in fall, the rest of the garden’s maples, hickories and oaks will be their most vibrant. Our favorite areas to walk around at this time include the English Woodland Garden, Bakewell Ottoman Garden, the home gardening and Missouri natives section, the Central Axis and all the areas around the main entrance.

Tower Grove park

Just right next door to the Missouri Botanical Garden, Tower Grove Park is my favorite park in all of Saint Louis. Both were founded by Henry Shaw, although they are separate. Tower Grove Park is a free public park that was given to the city by Henry Shaw in 1868. Per Shaw’s requests, the park is managed by an independent Board of Commissioners and staff. The park is just under 2 miles in length with miles and miles of winding trails throughout it. On nice days, the park can get quite busy with walkers, bikers, and families.

Our favorite parks of the park, especially in autumn are the ruins near the fountain pond and the neighboring Music stand and Piper Palm House. We also love the fields and pavilions around the east end of the park, including the Nee Lee Nee Playscape along the east stream. This playscape is designed for children but similar to the Nature Playscape in Forest Park, it has been landscaped so beautiful, grown-ups will find plenty of enjoyment in it too.

On the west end of the park, the Tower Grove Farmer’s market circles around the Roman Pavilion on Saturdays till November 8th. The large field to the west of the Roman Pavilion is also beautiful in the fall. While in the area you can say hi to Moonshine, the Clydesdale, in the stable. He is usually outside to the left of the stables if he is not being used in a carriage ride. Unfortunately their pony, Sheffield passed away earlier this year.

Tower Grove Park has over 7,000 trees across hundreds of different species. Along the southeast drive there is a beautiful row of Red Maple trees that turn a crimson color. Whether you are driving through the park or walking, you can find fall colors in any pocket of the park you explore. There is also an abundance of wildlife in the area, if you are into birding, I’d recommend checking out the northwest corner of the park for the Gaddy Wild Bird Garden.

One of my favorite trees in Tower Gove Park are the Ginkgos because of the usual way they lose their leaves. Typically Ginkgo trees drop all of their leaves at once after the first frost. The ground around the tree is covered in a blanket of bright yellow. If you happen to be at the park on the day they lose their leaves you will be in a treat. It typically happens over the course of just one day and if you stand under it, you’ll feel like you are being rained on with leaves.

Tower Grove Neighborhood Streets

After visiting the park, walk or drive through the Tower Grove neighborhood streets. The neighborhoods surrounding the park are called Tower Grove North, Tower Grove South, and Tower Grove East reflecting which direction they are relative to the park. Personally, I would recommend driving through either Tower Grove East or South as I find those a bit more picturesque. These old neighborhoods have large mature trees that produces brilliant displays in the fall. These neighborhoods are mostly comprised of hundred year old brick homes.

If you are in the city for Halloween, Tower Grove South is our favorite neighborhood for Trick or Treating. The homes are close together and the beautiful fall foliage just adds to the magic already present on this evening.

Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum

The best spot for fall foliage in north city is the historic Bellefontaine Cemetery. The expansive grounds are covered with gorgeous trees that change into all different fiery shades in autumn. The cemetery and arboretum have 10,000 trees representing 600 species. Unlike other parks, Bellefontaine is open from 8am to 4:30pm with gates closing promptly at 5pm. It is a cemetery, so visitors are expected to behave in a quiet respectful manner.

In the fall, master guides at the cemetery offer fall history tours of the grounds. Reservations are required in advance and you will be expected to walk about 2 miles over the course of the two-hour tour. The tour is free but donations are greatly appreciated. There are also Fall Arboretum trolley tours with a horticulturist for those who have trouble walking or just want the experience of riding on the trolley. These tours are also free with a suggested donation of $5 to cover the trolley expenses, with an additional amounts supporting programs that help with historic preservation. Check out the rest of the events on their website.

If you are interested in checking out any of the famous burial sites throughout the cemetery, the most notable are belonging to William Clark (of Lewis & Clark fame), Adolphus Busch (beer baron), and author William S. Burroughs. There are numerous beautiful mausoleums throughout the cemetery belonging to wealthy families like the Wainwright tomb and the Lemp family. You can visit the front office for pamphlets and maps on some of the highlights throughout the cemetery.

We visited in early October and while some trees were dropping their leaves, I’d recommend visiting later in the month for peak colors.

Now a couple of honorable mentions, shortly outside of the city. There are countless other places in Saint Louis county and beyond with beautiful outdoor spaces and rich fall foliage. Here is just a few of my favorites that might be worth the drive if your trip is primarily in the city.

Creve Coeur Lake

Creve Coeur Lake is typically about 30 minutes drive from the city in Maryland Heights, MO in Saint Louis County. Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park became the first County Park in 1945. If you want to walk, run or bike the entire trail around the lake, it is around 3.8 miles. If you are short on time, park on the east end of the lake. This side of the lake has the Dripping Springs waterfall.

You can also drive to Greensfelder Memorial Shelter for some dense colorful trees, less crowds, and a view over the lake. There is also a nice playground here if you have kids. We often see deer when driving through the road to get to this shelter as well. It is also a great spot for bird watching.

Wildwood, MO

If you are looking for some hiking, there are several great trails to soak in the autumn views in Wildwood and Ballwin, MO. Castlewood State Park has several great trails with views on top of the bluffs overlooking the Meramec River. The most popular being the 3.4 mile Riverscene Trail. The Bluff View Trail also offers views over the valley. If you are visiting with little kids or you do not want to hike as long, you can just go part of the way for both trails, as the views start very early on. The Al Foster trail follows along a converted railroad bed from the original route of the Pacific Railroad. You can walk all of it or just part of it. For all of these trails, be sure to look up current hiking conditions to know how to plan for bugs, mud, or closures.

@a.happy.passport 30 minutes outside of St. Louis, MO - the Wabash, Frisco and Pacific Railway is a fun outing to enjoy the fall foliage. 2025 tickets are currently sold out but you can get walk up tickets on Sunday. Tickets are just $5 a person and free for kids 3 and under who will sit in their parents lap. After, visit Bluff View Park for a gorgeous view of the Meramec River. If you are visiting St. Louis in the new few months or a local, and looking for some free indoor things to do when the weather changes. Check out our blog for 9 free and indoor places to go with young kids in St. Louis, MO. #stlouismo #fall #train #familytravel ♬ we fell in love in october - girl in red

One of the most magical ways to leaf peep is on the Wabash, Frisco, & Pacific Railway. You can ride on these open-air cars from May to October but the most popular time by far is in October when the leaves change. Tickets for the railway are typically released mid-summer and do sell out. The train travels along the river and along with the beautiful fall colors, you can see wildlife while being pulled by a steam engine. The train travels one way and then is manually turned around – while you get off the train car – and then continues back to where you started.