Walking/Hiking Trails – Page 4

Petit Jean State Park

Mather Lodge, at Petit Jean State Park in central Arkansas, overlooks the beautiful Cedar Creek Canyon. Eight designated trails, developed by the CCC, wander up and down the hills and through the the valleys of the park.

Cedar Falls Trail

Cedar Falls Trail is listed as strenuous in the trail guide, although it’s only a mile in length. It begins with a two hundred foot descent down stone steps carved out of the side of the mountain.

It levels out at the bottom of the hill though,

and wanders across the bridge and to the right along the creek bed.

It’s dry this year. The stream is low,

and the waterfall a trickle splashing peacefully into a quiet pool.

Seven Hollows Trail

Listed as moderate, Seven Hollows Trail is 4 1/2 miles

of miniature caves,

rock formations,

and towering cliffs.

It climbs up to the ridge for awhile

crosssing in and out of the trees,

before descending back to the valley.

Cedar Creek Trail

From the Pioneer Cabin,

Cedar Creek Trail descends along the CCC stone steps

to slow running streams

of the valley.

across rustic bridges,

under tumbled boulders,

and back up the side of the ridge again.

Rock House Cave

Sunset across the valley

Lake Leatherwood

Just outside the crowded bustle of downtown Eureka Springs, Arkansas, is a quiet haven of moutain stillness. Lake Leatherwood is a municipal park with a large lake, a boathouse, and miles of trails.

Shoreline > Fuller > Beacham

Shoreline trail is marked as difficult. I guess for mountain bikes, it would be.

It’s rocky and criss crossed with protruding roots.

As promised, it skirts the shores of the lake though, with very little change in elevation.

It’s cloudy today,

and the water glows

with the reflection of near-peak fall colors.

A heron skims the surface of the lake at Fuller Point, too quick to photograph and too beautiful to try;

while a lone goose slides in silent loops, ignoring the irritation of my presence.

We catch the end of Beacham trail to circle around to the dam that forms the lake.

A pedestrian bridge, that once created a loop trail, is now gated on both ends now, but a side trail gives a beautiful view of the stone structure and the waterfall formed by the runoff.

Beacham > Overlook

Beacham trail is wide and graveled at its western trailhead. It’s several yards back from the lake, running through a forest of evergreens.

At Overlook, the trail abruptly turns narrow and twisty.

Leaves, golden and orange and brown, both carpet the ground,

and cling to the trees.

The trail grows rough with broken boulders and exposed tree roots, as it switchbacks up the ridge,

to the craggy bluffs high above the dam.

Butterfly Palace

On a drizzly final morning in Branson,

the Butterfly Palace is warm,

and tropical,

bright

with mysterious flowers.

Butterflies

drift and dart

among the plants and across the paths

settling fearlessly,

on tiny hand held nectar tubes.

Tiny blue birds

hover in the trees,

Sometimes singing,

sometimes eating,

and always wishing we’d all just go away.

Branson Rambling

Branson, Missouri is theme parks and music and lights and food. Lots and lots of weird, sticky, fun, seasonal food. We certainly enjoyed all that, but also struck out on various nearby trails for beautiful Ozark Mountain views and glowing fall colors.

Table Rock Lakeshore Trail

The Lakeshore Trail is wide and paved, making it an easy route for families with strollers and toddlers, as well as numerous couples out with their dogs.

The leaves are still bright and thick on most of the trees,

even as they slowly begin to tatter,

and tumble to blanket the trail.

Sunset drops suddenly behind the hills, glowing across the water.

Lakeside Forest Wilderness Area

The wilderness area has several trails, detailed on maps throughout the grounds, and well marked with numbered posts and arrows.

We took the ridge trail down, exploring caves,

and beautiful bluffs,

and river views,

before climbing back up the steps.

338 steps;

laid by hand between 1937 and 1938 by homestead owner Dr. Lyle Owen and 6 of his brothers and friends.

The house is gone now, but a few out buildings still stand, as well as the sturdy stone wall at the edge of the property.

The Owen trail along the top of the ridge, leads back through the woods to the trailhead.

Talking Rocks Cavern

Talking Rocks Cavern, of course, offers cave tours, but is now far more than that. There is mini golf and a children’s play area in front, and a pretty network of short trails behind the gift shop.

Pancake rocks,

an old stone spring house,

and even a Bigfoot statue,

add to the fun to the pretty tree-lined loop.

A sturdy wooden tower at the far end, is a quick climb to a gorgeous overview of the rolling Ozark hills.

Shaw Nature Reserve

Fall Hiking Club Route 9

It’s the final route of the Fall Hiking Club. The leaves have turned, the temperature has dropped, and the park is slowly drifting toward winter.

After a quick trip along the edge of the Bascom House wildflower garden, the route crosses the bridge at Pinetum Lake,

then wanders a long section of the Trail House Loop.

The little Wood Duck side trail isn’t on the route today, but too pretty to pass up. The pond is still and thickly coated with fallen leaves,

while others cling stubbornly to their branches.

A short Prairie Trail section, then onto Bush Creek Trail back to the house completes the loop today. It rained, long and drizzly soft, two days ago. The creek has lifted and freshened a bit, reflecting the bridge beneath its thicket of leaves.

Back in the wildflower garden, birds call, water features splash

and a tiny native bee drifts between the still vibrant asters.

Shaw Nature Reserve

Fall Hiking Club Route 8

It’s sunny and breezy and lightly cool starting out for route 8 today. It’s warming quickly, but stays jacket comfortable the entire trip. About the first third of the route is on the main road. I wasn’t sure how that would go, but there were very few cars really, even though there seemed to be lots of hikers out.

The clinging leaves are increasingly melting into autumn reds and golds,

a glowing accent threaded through the woods.

Wood Duck Pond isn’t even really on the route, just suggested as a bonus stop along the way.

A nearly hidden, leaf covered trail skirts the pond, opposite the wetlands trail.

From the startled reaction from two flocks of ducks I passed, I don’t think it gets much traffic.

Creepy cool cypress knees poke through shallow, murky water layered with golden leaves.

The map leaves the road next, and climbs the prairie trail.

Grasses rustle,

Whispery dry,

Casting seed,

On the warming breeze.

Then the final section winds back through the woods over the Bush Creek Bridge, collecting the tumbling leaves.

Shaw Nature Reserve

Fall Hiking Club Route 6

There’s a storybook walk on Bush Creek Trail today. The sun is sliding out of it’s early morning cloud cover, and buzzy insects are darting in and out of the fields. The funny little grasshoppers, with wings as colorful as a butterfly when they’re in flight, sit calmly when I reach for my camera and only take off when I give up.

The route climbs to the McMillian Overlook, with wide prairie views and hints of color,

Then back through the woods again, where the leaves are browning and tumbling to carpet the ground.

They cover the path, thick and damp and musty, along the River Trail, despite the still lush river bottom growth.

The Bluff Overlook Trail climbs steep and twisty and narrow back out of the valley. A startled cardinal bursts off a branch almost at the top of my head. I’m not sure they’re used to too many visitors here.

Trees at the bluffs are still full and green,

But explode into brilliant color, as the path winds back up the hill to the Trail House.

Shaw Nature Reserve

Fall Hiking Club Route 5

Route 5 begins back on the gravel Quarry road again, with a gentle climb past fields of prairie grasses. I’m supposed to be looking for Purple top grass. Maybe that’s it? There’s a definite purple tinge, but I’m not sure I see the difference between this and the Bluestem grass from the first hike.

A turn onto Freund Ridge Road leads to the Overnight Center with scattered cabins among the trees,

and a beautiful ridgetop overlook.

Fall colors remain a hidden tease thoughout the route,

glowing with promise in the brilliant sun and cool tinged air against a backdrop of still resilient green.

Black walnuts both cling to branches, and tumble with soft thuds to dot the ground as we pass.

Wildflowers still thicken the brush, bright and healthy

and buzzing with insects,

gathering their winter supplies.

Back downhill through the wetlands trail, barely seen turtles slip into bog the minute they know we’ve noticed them.

Shaw Nature Reserve

Fall Hiking Club Route 4

Route 4 was mostly open ended. There was a map, but no particular hints on what to expect or search for. Days into fall, the weather still undetermined on which season it intends to follow, it’s probably too difficult to predict even a week ahead.

The path starts with a climb up the old Quarry Road, now closed to traffic. Clouds are low and thick and the breezes are cool. Golden prairie grasses extend from either side of the gravel road, dotted with trees still thick with green leaves.

Wild sumac hints at the soon coming of the autumn colors,

while hardy asters glow in final homage to the last days of summer.

The trail turns to wander through the Hardwood Forest Restoration Area,

then to the Meramec River overlook. The water seems low. More of the leaves are beginning to turn here, and grasses are sprouting on a long narrow sandbar.

Darker clouds, a few splashes of rain, and distant rumbles that might or might not be thunder, nudge us on our way.

The route loops back along a short section of the River Trail, then down Barn Road, overlooking hills and prairies on it’s way back toward the wetlands trail.

Shaw Nature Reserve

Fall Hiking Club Route 3

Route 3 of the hiking club is primarily on Brush Creek Trail, near Cypress Lake and the Whitmire Wilflower Garden.

It’s summer hot still, and nice to pass into the wooded gravel trail.

Two options, a rustic plank bridge …

…and a fun stepping stone path, lead over a gully that suggests it’s sometimes a creek.

Brown eyed Susans are one of the discovery goals for the day, along with Switch grass, White Oak, and Winged Sumac. I found the White Oak, but I’m not sure about the other two.

Purple Coneflower …

and Wingstem Crownbeard (?) , still thick and bright but showing their age as we begin to wind toward Fall.

Greenway fun… nothing to do with Shaw, but an earlier discovery today. Hidden rock creatures on the St Louis Greenway trails to find and collect. I left this little guy for others to find, hidden at Riverwoods trail.