The Gateway Arch Wellness Challenge

At Gateway Arch National Park, the challenge invites you to try physical, mental and learning activities, picking whichever ones suit you. Healthy Parks Healthy People is the office that lists the Gateway Arch version of the challenge.

Self-guided walking is the core activity here. Covering 91 acres in downtown Saint Louis, the park is among a small group of city-based national parks west of the Mississippi, and its grounds form a green oasis in the heart of the city. Over five miles of paved trails accommodate walkers, runners, cyclists and anyone who rolls. You can map your own route with the park trail map, or follow an accessible self-guided walking tour in the National Park Service app. The walking option is listed at 15 to 120 minutes, so you can keep it short or make a longer day of it.

The Gateway Arch anchors the walk. The tallest monument in the nation, the stainless steel Arch was designed by Eero Saarinen and honors Thomas Jefferson's vision and the part Saint Louis played in the nation's westward growth. The entry is on the west side, facing Fourth Street and the Old Courthouse. The legs serve only as exits, so think through your route before you set out. You can also wander the Explorer's Garden, where the paths are paved.

The challenge lists dawn and dusk among its times of day, so early-morning and evening walks are part of the plan. Sunrise photographs of the Arch in the park's gallery show how the grounds look at first light. Kiener Plaza and Citygarden are close by for more walking, and the Old Courthouse makes a good stop before or after the Arch.