by Matt Kastner 
With their waterways spanning across most of the United States, the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers are the two largest rivers in the country. While they are no longer the transportation corridors they once were, there is no doubt that their commercial importance helped make St. Louis what it is. Unfortunately, most St. Louisians take these waterways for granted. But if you would like to see their place of joining up close and personal, you can do so at Edward “Ted” and Pat Jones Confluence Point State Park.
Privately owned until recently, before this park opened you could only see this amazing spot from a boat in the middle of the rivers. Now, the State of Missouri owns the site on the northern confluence point so you can see the swift and muddy waters of the Missouri and the relatively clear and calm Mississippi smash into each other up close and personal. It really is an amazing site and certainly makes you realize just how different these great rivers are.
Access to this area is on the Missouri side of the Alton Bridge (another great view) about 20 minutes north of Downtown St. Louis. Its a great afternoon trip if the weather is nice. It’s pretty clean and well-kept so you don’t have to be as adventurous as Lewis & Clark to pay a trip to the site. Just make sure to check the flood stage of the rivers as the area is prone to flooding. For more info check out the park website. For a better look at the confluence, check out the picture gallery below.
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