1 / 70

Matt's Place @ Meramec n Labarque

100%

· Eureka, Missouri

5 acres

1 site

1 RV/Tent

Located at the confluence of the Meramec River and Labarque Creek, my place (Matt's Place) is a ridge above a bottomland bowl of sorts. The ridge is an ancient road bed recorded on an old map as the "kings highway" under Spanish rule. Flakes of flint hint to the first people to walk this ridge perhaps 10,000 years ago. The old iron truss bridge here is likely built in 1910 and it has a survey marker from 1932. The overlook at the confluence is a magical vortex of energy. A few chairs are waiting there for folks to ponder what that means. Bald eagles nest upstream and their daily commute can be seen from here as they fly down toward the Mississippi in the morning, and in the evening, back upstream to their nest about a mile and a half further, at a bend in the river up high in a grove of sycamore trees. Great blue herons, kingfishers, hawks, vultures, beaver, turtles, fish, and deer are frequently seen from this vista. The bottomland is also special. It's darker down there under so many tall silver maples. And in summer, bring bug spray. The creek has a nice little swimming hole, and a beach that is sometimes sand, sometimes, gravel, and sometimes a mix of both with some silt or even mud after a storm. It's peaceful down there to explore in the creek, wade while looking outward to an opening into the Meramec River. It's also fun to stand just at the mouth of the creek in the Meramec River. It's an awesome view upstream or downstream of tree lined banks, rock bluffs, and every now and then, passing boats, canoes, paddle boards, or kayaks. The old iron truss bridge hovers above the meeting of two waters. The water is cool and clean. Some fifty species of fish have been recorded in this creek, the most in all of Jefferson County and St Louis County. The bottomland has two levels, the lower bottoms down by the creek and the upper bottoms about a hundred feet from the creek. The upper bottoms has a clearing like a meadow with mowed grass, picnic table, electric extension cord and fan (plugged in up at the house). My favorite things to do here include gazing up at a cottonwood tree that must be sixty feet tall. It's leaves in a breeze are like a thousand hands waving hello. The bottomland meadow offers just enough sky to see bats dance in the dusk air between the trees, then fireflies as it gets darker yet. Up top is where I live. I can shuttle gear with my pick up to the bottomland meadow or close to the creek. If a visitor forgets some camping gear, I'm sure to have an extra to lend. What attracted me to this place is the sense of a vortex of energy that is always at a meeting of waters such as the Meramec River and Labarque Creek. We hope you like this place like we do. Learn more about this land: Just five miles off HWY 44 and HWY 109, at Eureka, MO, (30 minutes west of downtown St Louis, 18 minutes from Six Flags) this place sits on a ridge with great views above the Meramec River. A century-old iron trapezoidal truss bridge is abandoned and is a beautiful feature aging in place above the confluence of Labarque Creek. The bottomland meadow and sand and gravel beach with swimming holes, fishing, canoeing, or kayaking is just a short walk (300 feet or so) or drive if conditions are not muddy (4wd suggested). We have a half-mile loop trail around the small property and just across the road is the Young Conservation Area and down the road 2 miles is Glassberg Conservation Area. This is a great base camp or picnic stop for a group floating downstream from Pacific Palisades Meramec River Access Ramp. Most people take out a mile and a half downstream at Allenton River Access Ramp (near Six Flags). We also have bunnies, chickens, honey bees, and blackberries. Thousands of acres of adjacent parks, plus river access ramps for boats a few miles upstream or downstream. We can shuttle your kayaks or even lend you one of ours by request as an extra. You can camp up top on the ridge or driveway (close to bathroom or shower in the house) or you can camp down by the creek or bottomland meadow. The creek/swimming hole is about 500 feet walk from the driveway up top. I can shuttle your gear (coolers, tent, chairs) down there in my 4wd pickup truck upon request. One may hear the local road traffic from two-lane HWY FF which is just a few hundred feet from the campsite. It's not so bad. Hipcampers report they can tune it out and late at night it gets very quiet. We've seen bald eagles, osprey, beavers, otters, hawks, great blue herons, bats (at dusk), and lots of other wildlife. At night, you may hear frogs, owls and maybe even coyotes safely from far off on the other side of the river. We hope this place feels like your far away place, nearby. In case of bad weather, too hot, too cold, too many mosquitos, or upon request, you can find refuge up in the clubhouse, close but separate from my house. It's a small concrete block building with a single bed, two picture windows looking down on the river, chairs, space heater, air conditioner, fridge, microwave, butane stove, and toaster oven. If the place is still not for you, you can cancel with full refund even after you've arrived. No worries.

Activities

Boating

Fishing

Hiking

Paddling

Natural features

Beach

Forest

River, stream, or creek

Swimming hole

Available sites

Filter by

Loading sites...

Location

Eureka, Missouri, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking

Hosted by Matthew D.Joined in July 2021

Response rate: 100%

100%

36 ratings · 33 reviews

Alleta F.recommends

May 29, 2023

River Ridge, Bridge, and Creek

This site was absolutely amazing! Shaded, well kept, and beautiful. You can camp right on the creek, which is sandy and shallow, so perfect for the kids. It was also a great put in/pull out for Meramec floats, we were glad we brought the kayaks. The only con is how close it is to the hwy, so it was a little loud. Our amazing host more than made up for it. Thank you, Matt, for a great weekend! We will be back!

La Donna T.recommends

May 24, 2023

River Ridge, Bridge, and Creek

Just what I wanted!

Matt’s place was just what I was looking for! I wanted a peaceful place to camp a couple nights when I was in the St Louis area. There was some road noise but nothing bad. I could still hear the birds when I was sitting in my chair looking over the creek. He was very helpful with explaining the sites when I got there and helping pick the one that would best suit what I wanted. I would definitely stay there again if I’m in the area.

Bridgett T.recommends

May 21, 2023

River Ridge, Bridge, and Creek

Matt was able to extend my stay so that I didn't have to find a different hipcamp site. I thought I would be ok with just staying the 2 days but this was the perfect spot and i didn't want to leave.

Bridgett T.recommends

May 21, 2023

Labarque Creek Bottomland Meadow

Matt was a fantastic host. He has a beautiful piece of property that I had all to myself. He was very accommodating and knowledgeable about things to see in the city. This was a wonderful spot for fishing and camping. Can't wait to stay again and float down the river. My pup enjoyed the stay as well. He had the whole property to run free and explore. I highly recommend staying at Matt's.

Erick A.recommends

April 19, 2023

River Ridge, Bridge, and Creek

Beautiful and private setting. Friendly and most helpful host who goes the extra mile to make his guests comfortable. Highly recommend and will surely be back for another extended visit.

Jack W.recommends

April 8, 2023

River Ridge, Bridge, and Creek

Matthew’s campgrounds

Nice ridge above the water, great views, clean, very peaceful and easygoing. Dog friendly. 10 out of 10 would recommend. We’ll be back this summer Matt, thanks again!!

Alexis S.recommends

April 3, 2023

River Ridge, Bridge, and Creek

Had such a great stay here. Matt, the host, is very friendly, accomodating, and interesting and we enjoyed getting to know him! The site is lovely with lots of amenities and a great view, and is close to tons of hiking. Traffic noise at night might disturb light sleepers, so bring ear plugs. Overall, had a wonderful time at this site 😊

Charles H.recommends

February 20, 2023

River Ridge, Bridge, and Creek

Matt is an excellent host! The place is fantastic!

Bryan A.recommends

October 9, 2022

River Ridge, Bridge, and Creek

Gretchen place

Matthew communicates extremely well with his visitors, and truly cares about your comfort here. Highly recommended.

Pierre D.recommends

August 12, 2022

River Ridge, Bridge, and Creek

We loved our night near the old bridge ! The view on Meramec river was amazing and the old bridge gaves a particular atmosphere we liked a lot. The campground itself was really nice : tables, chairs (and even a rocking chair at our spot !), fire pit, little solar powered lanterns, ... Everything was prepared for us to have a pleasant stay ! Matthew has been a wonderful host, very generous and caring. We had a really good time talking with him in the morning after enjoying the breakfast he offered us (we recommand if you want start the day with a great meal!). Thanks Matthew !

Gavin S.recommends

August 7, 2022

River Ridge, Bridge, and Creek

Despite heat throughout and rain the night before; our stay was once again very enjoyable. Thanks Matt!

Isadora C.recommends

July 31, 2022

River Ridge, Bridge, and Creek

10/10 A+ and all the gold stars!!

My husband and I love to go camping and when we’re camping our top priority is beautiful views. That being said, THIS IS OUR NEW FAVORITE SPOT! The river sparkled in the sunlight (and at nighttime, in the moonlight) right below our campsite and we were immediately smitten with the view. The old bridge at the edge of the site was very cool and definitely another beautiful view— the trees that grow below it shoot up through the bottom of the bridge and their leafy tops fill the frame of the structure giving it the surreal appearance of a kind of hallway of lush green leaves. The short walk to the river is another beautiful view, the trees tall with green ivy growing on them and the carpet of green below them give it “enchanted forest” vibes, which we really loved. The river itself was fantastic. The surface of the water reflected the blue sky and clouds so clearly that it looked like a river of sky with more sky above it! In the shallows cute little minnows swim about and just past the shallows is where the REALLY BIG fish swim (EXCELLENT for fishing.) For the views this site gets a 10/10 A+ and all the gold stars! Matt was the absolute best host. He was extremely helpful and accommodating. His friendly demeanor and genuine kindness make this place beautiful just as much as the views do! So 10/10 A+ & all the gold stars for Matt too!! Thank you Matt! We cannot wait to book again.

Jessica B.recommends

July 27, 2022

River Ridge, Bridge, and Creek

I loved tent camping on Matthew’s land! He was very knowledgeable on the wildlife in the area and made sure we had everything we needed before we settled in for the night.

Karla P.recommends

June 13, 2022

River Ridge, Bridge, and Creek

Spot on.

We had so much fun and felt it was very private. Matt has everything set up perfectly to accommodate primitive camping. The view is great on the ledge, there is grass, (and lots of mosquitos) very nice picnic tables and even a potty that is private. We will definitely be coming back when the weather cools off. Thanks Matt !! Amy, Karla, Amy

Allie F.recommends

May 15, 2022

River Ridge, Bridge, and Creek

Matt is so generous! Beautiful property

Trent K.recommends

May 2, 2022

River Ridge, Bridge, and Creek

Pick your dates NOW!

What a beautiful slice of camping heaven! I highly recommend this property and you won't find a better host than Matthew. He is so gracious and accommodating, yet respects your privacy. He truly wants you to have a great camping experience which is easy to do on his 5 acres. Beautiful views of the Meramec River from atop of the ridge, and up-close-and-personal proximity to the creek in the lowland. And that old old iron bridge... I probably took 50 pictures of it alone. Me, a buddy, and my dog absolutely loved this campsite. Stop what you're doing, check the availability, pick your dates, AND GO! You won't be sorry!

Josh R.recommends

April 20, 2022

River Ridge, Bridge, and Creek

I really enjoyed the experience that we had staying at Matt's property. He is an awesome host, and the property was spectacular. Staying next to the old bridge was very special. This is close to a road which may be something to consider if you are looking for a more remote location.

Scott D.recommends

March 30, 2022

River Ridge, Bridge, and Creek

Camping with animals

Our camping host Matthew was awesome! He was super friendly and accommodating to anything we could possibly need. His site is great for beginner campers or people who want the true experience of “roughing it”. He was amazing with our dog, which is a big plus for us bc most places would have asked her to leave due to her breed and her fears and anxieties with other dogs. We wished our stay could have been longer, but we have already begun planning our next trip as soon as we can get away again! 5 out of 5 stars! ✨

Alex A.recommends

March 27, 2022

River Ridge, Bridge, and Creek

Great camp experience

We stayed in site one, it was beautiful. Host was friendly, had a great experience. Close to great hiking and town if you need to pick up anything. Swimming/fishing area, lots of trees and great view.

Jonathan R.recommends

March 21, 2022

River Ridge, Bridge, and Creek

Tons of space to roam, perfect host

Exceptional! Matt is a perfect host and made sure the we were well taken care of. I brought 7 kids and they explored the area finding lots of unique places to run around. This is SO much better than a typical camp site with shared areas. This is 5 acres all to yourself!

Bobby T.recommends

March 17, 2022

River Ridge, Bridge, and Creek

Jamaican in the woods

My only complaint is that Matthew owns this property instead of me... Ha! What a great piece of land! Awesome scenery. Matthew is such a nice guy and a very accommodating host. He's incredibly knowledgeable about his property and you can tell he's very proud of it. He walked us around upon arrival and gave us the rundown. And after that, we were on our own to explore! My fiancé and I spent only one night, it was her first time tent camping, (she's from Jamaica!). She loved every minute of it. We camped on the lower portion of the property by the creek. I caught a nice sized bass! She wasn't so lucky this trip tho.. A much nicer experience than a crowded campground. We could hear the cars go by from the road a short distance away but it was still very quaint and relaxing. We will definitely be back!

Gavin S.recommends

March 16, 2022

River Ridge, Bridge, and Creek

Once again perfect.

Dan M.recommends

February 21, 2022

River Ridge, Bridge, and Creek

Matt could not have been more welcoming. His place right where LaBarque creek merges into the Meremec river is really special. The car noise from Hwy FF was not noticeable. Matt provided a nice evening fire and shared his brats and Chill with us. From here we hiked the Glassberg loop and the fabulous trails at Don Rubinson state park. All this only 40 minutes from St Louis. We will definitely return.

Cindy H.recommends

November 1, 2021

River Ridge, Bridge, and Creek

A+Best camp site ever! Best Host!

This seemed to good to be true and only 30 minutes away from St. Louis. Well it was awesome, and it was for real! Matt was such a gracious host and we had all the amenities of home just a short walk from our campsite. We only stayed one night due to rain, and can't wait to go back. So much history that Matt was gracious enough to share and he just loves the land and it shows!

Gavin S.recommends

October 2, 2021

River Ridge, Bridge, and Creek

Came again. Got rained on again. We should really check the weather. Once again Matthew was an excellent host all the way from setting up the day to camp to having useful amenities around our campsite.

Erica B.recommends

September 14, 2021

River Ridge, Bridge, and Creek

Such a great experience!

Such a great time! Matt was a great host. I am so glad we stayed here!

Lawrence F.recommends

September 7, 2021

River Ridge, Bridge, and Creek

A perfect stop on our trip homeward I hope to return to Matt's place again sometime! He was an exceptionally kind and gracious host - putting out a solar light so we could find his driveway entrance in the dark, offering us coffee in the morning, giving us some history of his beautiful property (definitely go for a swim in the river while you're there! slow current, warm water). We stayed around in the morning just to sit and chat with Matt about our respective travels. I'll be back at some point for another swim and some good conversation.

Erica B.recommends

September 6, 2021

River Ridge, Bridge, and Creek

We had an incredible time here. We took our 1 year old boy and celebrated a birthday. The creek was clear water, the perfect temp and the sand was so soft. It was our first time camping with our lo. We will be returning. We brought a tarp so he could crawl around. We went kayaking in the morning. The host was so helpful, friendly, and also respectful. The place is so pretty, lots of shade. You can hear the highway, but it didn’t keep us up at all. Our baby slept 14 hours straight! That was a record. It has nice perks to help camping go easier while still giving you a “roughin it” feel. Bugs weren’t bad either. We wore bug spray but didn’t see many mosquitos.

Gelmano K.recommends

August 27, 2021

River Ridge, Bridge, and Creek

For Route 66 guys who viaited St. louis.. thr place is within 40 min.. great host.. great place by the river.