Just like this is the last week of summer, this will be my last posts about the Roaring River State Park trip. The park is located in the Mark Twain National Forest and Southwest Ozark hills region of Missouri.
We took two hikes while we were there and I thought I’d share a few photos of the area.
The first trail was a short one just .4 miles with the trail start in the parking lot of the lodge.
The Springhouse Trail:
Sounds easy enough. It’s pretty much all uphill though.
Definitely, highlighted my out of shape form. Good thing I had pretty flowers to distract me! You can see my bird photos from this trail in this post. (Don’t worry my husband would stop every once in a while and wait for me. I always lag behind taking too many photos.)
Pretty views of the forest as well!
I was happy when the trail started to do this as we made our way back to the parking lot starting point.
The Dear Leap Trail:
The next trail took me a bit out of my comfort zone as well. Not sure if I’ve ever mentioned I’m a bit afraid of heights? Still when you want a photo from an overlook…you suck it up…and go on the scary hike!
I wanted a picture from that little wooden overlook up there.
I forgot to take a picture of the trail head sign. The .20 mile trail rates as rugged (um…) with (from the park website):
- Natural surface, dirt, mud, gravel, shifting rocks, slippery surface, etc.
- Rocks, roots and/or downed vegetation on trail
- Wood or stone steps
- Steep grades and inclines more than 10 percent
- Bluffs or drop-offs next to trail
- Bridges and/or structural crossings
Everything someone with a fear of heights wants on a hike! Ha. Those steps sort of in the middle of the picture below start the trail.
Look more steps! Not too bad so far…
Look a cave! Did you know Missouri’s known also known as the cave state because we have lots of them here? This one had a “closed” sign, not that I’m all that into spelunking.
Thankful not to spot any of these creatures during the hike. One scary thing at a time for me!
I think I already shared this view but I love it enough I’m sharing it again.
Just around the corner from it, our destination!
Oh, that’s a little ways down there isn’t it?
And finally, the overview shots I braved the trail to get:
Here’s a better view of where we started:
One last look and photo before we went back down the trail (a surprisingly easy decline! It would be a super easy trail in reverse) and started home:
I can’t wait to go back or until then take a few local hikes.
Do you enjoy hiking on trails?
*Linking this post up to the last 30 Days of Summer Blogging Fun.