Explorations of a whole bunch of parks found on the Ozark Plateau.
Since relocating from the Eastern Shore of Maryland to Missouri in March, I’ve explored a bunch of parks in the Ozarks. However, I am super behind in writing due to having to document a five-week long road trip around Spain and then being delayed for other reasons, like moving. So, I am sticking a bunch of the parks I have visited together in this post.
The first park is Hawn State Park, a place I’ve hiked a couple of times. Even though it is the closest park to me, the trails are on the long side, so I often go someone else. My first visit to Hawn was because I was camping there while I was looking for an apartment nearby. A lot cheaper than a hotel for sure.
Jana Irving March views on the Whispering Pines Trail.
Jana Irving A few rapids can be found on Pickle Creek.
Jana Irving Not a bad view.
Jana Irving Now some May views on the White Oaks Trail. It was a wet spring.
Jana Irving A Chipping Sparrow enjoying its lunch.
Next to Hawn State Park, is Pickle Springs Natural Area, my favorite park in the area. There are a bunch of little waterfalls in the spring and early summer. Most are rain fed. So, if it hasn’t rained good in a while there won’t be much. I’ve been to Pickle Springs quite a few times. Spring is the best time to go.
Jana Irving This ravine is a muddy mess in the Spring.
Jana Irving Some sort of violet.
Jana Irving Double arch.
Jana Irving A lot of interesting rock formations in this park.
Jana Irving A very little waterfall on Pickle Creek.
Jana Irving A weeping rock.
Jana Irving I really should not have climbed on a bunch of wet rocks to get this photo. Totally fell on the way back.
Jana Irving Rock formations and a view.
Jana Irving Another little waterfall.
On my way back home from Ozark National Scenic Riverways, I stopped by Hughes Mountain Natural Area. The short trail leads to the top for some great views.
Jana Irving An easy but interesting trail.
Jana Irving The trail is an out and back and covers some exposed areas of the top of the mountain.
Jana Irving Views from a mountain top meadow.
Jana Irving At the very top of the mountain, the rocks get a bit more interesting.
Jana Irving I’m not sure what is going on here, but it sure looks cool.
Jana Irving I was very glad I stopped.
I went to Onondaga Cave State Park on very hot mid-June day. I had planned to camp overnight but it was just way too hot. So, I just did a short walk on the Blue Heron Trail and then did a couple of cave tours.
Jana Irving It didn’t take long for me to see a Blue Heron on the Blue Heron Trail. The name fits.
Jana Irving A gorgeous spring.
Jana Irving Turtle!
Jana Irving Close up on a dragonfly. There were also a ton of butterflies along the trail, too. But they were jerks and wouldn’t stay still long enough for me to get a decent picture.
Jana Irving Now for Onondaga Cave. This is some sort of cave frog. I didn’t catch the name because there were a lot of loud children on the tour. This is one of the few photos that turned out decent from my regular camera. I totally forgot it sucks in caves.
Jana Irving At least I took some photos of this cave with my iPhone. A river flows through the cave.
Jana Irving I think these are called the Twins. I’m surprised I heard anything over the kids. This cave is gigantic. The caverns are super open in much of the area shown.
Jana Irving Flowstone totally looks like melted ice cream.
Jana Irving This room is awesome.
Jana Irving More melted ice cream.
Jana Irving This massive feature didn’t really turn out on either of my cameras. It’s at least a couple of stories tall.
Jana Irving Those stairs lead up to the lagoon. I went back again to this cave since it was so cool.
And finishing up with St. Francois State Park. I only hike one trail, Mooner’s Hollow Trail. It really was a nice visit.
Jana Irving The horribly named Coonville Creek. So bad.
Jana Irving A little waterfall up ahead.
Jana Irving Finally got a butterfly to cooperate. I think this one is a Giant Swallowtail. Hard to tell at this angle.
Jana Irving You actually have to walk across the creek right here, but it’s super shallow.
Jana Irving A very orange butterfly, a Great Spangled Fritillary. That is a ridiculous name.
Jana Irving Another butterfly, a Pipevine Swallowtail. Who names these things?
The Ozarks are full of great little parks. I have so many more parks to explore, so you will probably get another one of these miscellaneous Ozark posts.
Check out my next update where I follow a bit of the Oregon Trail!
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Check out all these other posts on the Ozarks!
