Bella Fontaine Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Bella Fontaine Park is a 305-acre park located in North St.


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Summary

Louis County, Missouri. The park features several hiking trails, a lake, picnic areas, playgrounds, and sports fields. It is a great place for outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, and camping.

One of the main attractions of the park is the historic Bellefontaine Cemetery, which is adjacent to the park. The cemetery is the final resting place for many famous St. Louis residents, including William Clark, Adolphus Busch, and Dred Scott. Visitors can take a guided tour of the cemetery to learn about its history and notable residents.

Another point of interest is the Nature Lodge, which is a great place to learn about the park's wildlife and ecology. The lodge features interactive exhibits and educational programs for visitors of all ages.

Interesting facts about the park include its history as a farming community in the 1800s, and its transformation into a park in the 1940s. The park was designed by the famous landscape architect George Kessler, who also designed many other parks and boulevards in St. Louis.

The best time of year to visit Bella Fontaine Park is in the spring or fall, when the weather is mild and the foliage is at its most colorful. Summer can be hot and humid, but visitors can cool off in the lake or take advantage of the park's many shaded areas.

Overall, Bella Fontaine Park is a beautiful and historic destination that is worth visiting for its natural beauty, recreational opportunities, and cultural attractions.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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