10 under-the-radar parks and trails

Note: These 10 excellent trails are not necessarily listed in order of preference.

1. Lewis and Clark Trail, Weldon Spring Conservation Area: The Lewis and Clark Trail is an 8-mile hike with a 5-mile short option, with panoramic views of the Missouri River from towering limestone bluffs. After hiking, you can sip wine from one of the many wineries scattered along MO 94.
2. Whispering Pines Trail, Hawn State Park:  The Whispering Pines Trail, one of Missouri’s most beautiful hikes, offers scenic vistas, waterfalls and cascades on Pickle Creek, and peaceful sighing of the wind through its namesake pine groves.
3. Trail Through Time, Pickle Springs Natural Area:  With overlooks, a natural arch, springs, and other-worldly rock formations, the Trail Through Time offers more smiles per mile than any other Missouri hike.
4. Silver Mines-Millstream Gardens Trail: Settle into Silver Mines Campground, then hike along the St. Francis River as it storms through rapids in Millstream Gardens Conservation Area, site of the Missouri Whitewater Championships.
5. Courtois Section of the Ozark Trail, Huzzah Conservation Area:  From Mile 5 to Mile 8.5, this stretch of the Ozark Trail crosses Courtois Creek, passes Bat Cave, meanders along the ridge between Huzzah and Courtois creeks, and leads to an overlook above the Huzzah.
6. Meramec State Park: The Wilderness Trail’s beautiful and remote 10 miles wander past springs, bluffs, caves, and rock outcroppings in Meramec’s backcountry, and the park’s 5 short trails showcase still more natural wonders.
7. Hughes Mountain Natural Area: The Devil’s Honeycomb Trail explores a 150-acre dome-like outcropping of pre-Cambrian rock on the Peak of Hughes Mountain, with eerie rock formations and sweeping views in all directions.
8. Washington State Park: The 1,000 Steps Trail climbs stone staircases to the 1930s-era overlooks built by the CCC, and on the 7-mile Rockywood Trail skirts the haunting remains of the abandoned CCC camp.  
9. McCully Heritage Project: An interesting mix of history and nature, the McCully Heritage Project’s trails take hikers past a historic log cabin, through marshes on boardwalks, and to breezy hilltops overlooking the Illinois River valley.
10. Hickory Canyons Natural Area: Hickory Canyon’s trails follow ridge spines, skirt tall bluffs, explore deep hollows, and poke into a box canyon guarding spectacular ice formations during the winter months.

A Few Hiking Tips From Steve Henry

“You can find the same usual tips at the beginning of my or any of the area hiking guides, so I’ll only add several ideas that are kind of unusual and unique, and not often considered by hikers. They all pertain to hiking at times when most people don’t consider going out on the trail.”

“First, get out on the trails in winter! Insects and ticks are gone, Missouri’s disgusting high humidity is non-existent, and best of all, the leaves are off the trees and shrubs, letting hikers see the countryside around them. Quite often a stretch of trail that’s only a leafy tunnel in the warm months turns out to have spectacular views of the surrounding landscape, and it’s much easier to spot birds and other wildlife when the greenery is gone.”

“Second, don’t limit winter hiking only to warmer days. If it’s been super-cold for a week or more, hikers will find impressive ice formations along the trails. A normally-bare cliff that has only a minor trickle pouring off it in warmer times might have a huge icefall decorating it, rock layers will sport curtains of icicles, and icebound streambeds often look like flowing stone, sometimes with plants visible beneath the ice. Hickory Canyons is a great place to see these sights.”

“Third, get out on the trail during or after rainstorms. Normally dry streams come to life, waterfalls and cascades are everywhere, and the woods resound with the pleasant sounds of rushing water.” 

“Best of all, since most people wouldn’t think of hitting the trail under these conditions, foul-weather hikers will likely have the woods to themselves.”