Cathedral Gorge State Park

About Cathedral Gorge State Park

Cathedral Gorge is located in a long, narrow valley where erosion has carved a dramatic and unique pattern of soft bentonite clay. Explore the caves and hike through Cathedral Gorge State Park for spectacular views of the gorge and its many caves.

The most common activities in the park are hiking, camping, fishing and hiking, as well as hiking and mountain biking. The Cathedral Gorge Trail, a 1.5 km walk through the gorge, offers magnificent views of the picturesque gorge. Tree - shady campsites with picnic tables and picnic areas are open all year round.

At the entrance to the cathedral canyon, there is a Regional Visitor Center that provides information about the park and its attractions, as well as a map of the canyon. The park's visitor center is located in the parking lot on the east side of Cathedral Falls Road, just off Route 1, about half a mile from the hiking trail.

In hot summers and cold winters, the area is usually dry, but rainfall is variable and there are frequent thunderstorms. Summer temperatures range from 35 degrees at noon to 55 degrees at night, and during the summer months, the region often experiences bee thunderstorms.

The buff - coloured cliffs known as the Panaca Formation are the remains of a seaside resort from the Pliocene era. About half a million years ago, a freshwater lake covered much of the eastern part of Central George State Park, and the area around it was covered with freshwater lakes.

As the climate changed over the centuries, the lake gradually dried up, and sediment and gravel settled on its bed. As mud, clay and slate made their way down and the cracks in the canyon widened, rainwater and melting snow dug gullies into the gutter and erosion began to work through the exposed sediments. The cave on the east side of the gorge is not a real cave, but the walls and the gorge are so thick that the explorers feel like they are in a cave.

Erosion is a continuous process that occurs at a rate of about 1,000 cubic feet per second per year, but some visitors accelerate erosion by driving on the road. Tyre tracks compress the ground and create new water holes; once compacted, the ground cannot recover and the channels are too deep even for the most advanced vehicles, so it is forbidden to drive through the park.

The remains of the Panaca formation are visible in the park, as well as in other parts of Central George State Park, such as the Great Canyon.

In the middle of the valley, clay, sand and gravel mix to form a preferred clay soil, in which small sand dunes provide support. The different soil types in the park allow different plant associations to grow. Badlands with clay and eroded dams do not allow many plants to take root because the clay is constantly eroding.

Only a few species of cacti grow in Cathedral Gorge, where temperatures drop below freezing in winter and can reach over 30 ° C in summer. In problem areas such as roadside sidewalks, bunny bushes grow and campgrounds used by groups are planted with grasses and shrubs that provide shade and protection from the sun.

In summer, rattlesnakes can be found throughout the Great Basin, and small mammals dominate the park. Mammals such as coyotes, bears, wolves, foxes, elks, elks and wolves abound, as do birds and birds of prey.

Birds are common in campsites and bushy areas, and migratory birds are found in the Great Basin and other parts of the park. The park's inhabitants include mountain sheep, coyotes, wolves, foxes, elks and elks.

An updated list of wildlife is available at the Regional Information Center or can be accessed from the National Park Service or the Central George State Park website.

Each campsite has at least two tents, one on the base and one on the base, and tents are served according to the "first come, first served" principle. The fees are per vehicle and are payable at the campsites and will be payable to the campers.

Water, toilets and showers are available at every campsite, as well as at the foot of the campsite and in the parking lot. Accommodation for day and overnight groups is available upon reservation, but not for overnight tents.

Groups in the area are offered various facilities next to the campsite, such as a picnic area, picnic tables and picnic benches. For reservations, please contact the parking office at (888) 562-4357 or the visitor center at the parking lot at 1 - 877-532-3200.

Cathedral Gorge is located on the east side of the Columbia River, north of St. Louis, Missouri. The park is open all year round and is located at an altitude of 4,800 feet, making it the second highest state park in Missouri and the third highest in North America.