Just keep PADDLING

Blueway offers new opportunities for water sports in Missouri.

By Jaden Harper

A NEW OPTION for paddling has recently opened in St. Charles County with the completion of Phase 1 of Dardenne Prairie Blueway at the end of May 2022. The first-of-its-kind water trail in Missouri is beginner-friendly and perfect for kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding and rafting. The first phase begins at 370 Lakeside Park in St. Peters and ends at Riverside Landing in St. Charles—a 3.5-mile trip. This is just the beginning of a proposed 19-mile route, which would stretch all the way to O’Fallon Sports Park.

370 Lakeside Park, the largest recreational park in St. Peters, encompasses 500 acres and is the perfect spot to park your kayak, stretch your legs or have a scenic lunch. The park offers catch-and-release fishing, boating, RV and tent camping, a spray ground, a dog park and many more amenities. Paddle boats, canoes and bikes are also available to rent.

The brand-new Riverside Landing Park is over seven acres and offers campsites for RVs of all sizes, tents, boat and kayak ramps and plenty of parking. The park also has a children’s playground and an iPaddlePort station, which allows visitors to rent a single or tandem kayak. It’s $20 for a single and $30 for a tandem and reservations can be made online. However, be sure to book early. Rentals go fast and sometimes sell out.

Phase II of the blueway extends from 370 Lakeside Park to Wolff Park in St. Peters and opened Nov. 2022. Phase III will continue on to Jack Gettemeyer Park and Phase IV will reach O’Fallon Sports Park. Finally, Phase V will end the blueway at Bluebird Meadows Park in St. Charles county.

These scenic parks offer a unique and diverse array of activities that cater to people of all ages. These features combined with the new aquatic opportunities of the blueway will provide residents of St. Charles county and surrounding areas with access to one of the most distinct and varied outdoor recreational areas in the state.