Make this your Summer of Local Outdoor Adventure!
By JD Tanner & Emily Ressler
Missouri and Illinois are full of outdoor adventures just waiting to happen, and we are going to provide you with a series of some of our favorite places to visit and things to do. We’re not going to mess around either, so let’s start things off with a classic. The Whispering Pines Trail in Hawn State Park is a must do for your Summer of Outdoor Adventure.
The hike: You have three hiking options here. The 6-mile North Loop (well marked with red arrows) begins at the trailhead. The 4-mile South Loop (actually totals about 6 miles after hiking the connector trail that gets you there and back) is marked with blue arrows and requires a connecting trail that you come across after a short hike on the North Loop. The third option is a 10-mile North to South Loop combination.
All three of the trails offer hikes along bluffs, strolls through beautiful pine forests, and amazing views of the Ozarks. The North Loop hikes along Pickle Creek for a few miles, which offers plenty of places to take a break and cool off. The South Loop parallels the River Aux Vases for a short distance and offers the same as Pickle Creek. Both trails are well signed and maintained. There are a few rocky sections of trail and a few areas where the trail can be steep, but nothing too dangerous or physically demanding.
Hawn State Park does offer camping ($13 basic & $21 electric during the on-season), showers, restrooms, drinking water, and picnic areas.
Tips: 1) Most people average about 2 miles per hour on trail. Doing the math, figure about 3 to 4 hours for either loop and 7 to 8 hours for the 10-mile loop. 2) Always hike with the 10 essentials; map, compass, sunglasses/sunscreen, extra food and water, extra clothes, headlamp/flashlight, first aid kit, fire starter, matches, and knife. 3) An ideal amount of water for these hikes is NO LESS than 2 liters per person. 4) As is always the case in Missouri, be aware of poisonous snakes, mosquitoes, ticks, and poison ivy.
Getting there: from Cape Girardeau, take I-55 north to exit 150. Turn left onto MO-32 towards Farmington. After about 12 miles, turn left again onto MO-144 (you will see a sign for Hawn State Park). Drive about 3 miles until you reach the end of MO-144 and turn left onto Park Drive. Follow Park Drive into the park, past the park office (on your right), and down a semi-steep hill. Reach a Y in the road and stay right towards the signed hiking trailheads. Whispering Pines Trail parking is on the right.
Missouri and Illinois are full of outdoor adventures just waiting to happen, and we are going to provide you with a series of some of our favorite places to visit and things to do. We’re not going to mess around either, so let’s start things off with a classic. The Whispering Pines Trail in Hawn State Park is a must do for your Summer of Outdoor Adventure.
The hike: You have three hiking options here. The 6-mile North Loop (well marked with red arrows) begins at the trailhead. The 4-mile South Loop (actually totals about 6 miles after hiking the connector trail that gets you there and back) is marked with blue arrows and requires a connecting trail that you come across after a short hike on the North Loop. The third option is a 10-mile North to South Loop combination.
All three of the trails offer hikes along bluffs, strolls through beautiful pine forests, and amazing views of the Ozarks. The North Loop hikes along Pickle Creek for a few miles, which offers plenty of places to take a break and cool off. The South Loop parallels the River Aux Vases for a short distance and offers the same as Pickle Creek. Both trails are well signed and maintained. There are a few rocky sections of trail and a few areas where the trail can be steep, but nothing too dangerous or physically demanding.
Tips: 1) Most people average about 2 miles per hour on trail. Doing the math, figure about 3 to 4 hours for either loop and 7 to 8 hours for the 10-mile loop. 2) Always hike with the 10 essentials; map, compass, sunglasses/sunscreen, extra food and water, extra clothes, headlamp/flashlight, first aid kit, fire starter, matches, and knife. 3) An ideal amount of water for these hikes is NO LESS than 2 liters per person. 4) As is always the case in Missouri, be aware of poisonous snakes, mosquitoes, ticks, and poison ivy.
Getting there: from Cape Girardeau, take I-55 north to exit 150. Turn left onto MO-32 towards Farmington. After about 12 miles, turn left again onto MO-144 (you will see a sign for Hawn State Park). Drive about 3 miles until you reach the end of MO-144 and turn left onto Park Drive. Follow Park Drive into the park, past the park office (on your right), and down a semi-steep hill. Reach a Y in the road and stay right towards the signed hiking trailheads. Whispering Pines Trail parking is on the right.
Posted by The Local Management at 5/13/2010 4:47 PM 
Categories: Things to Do, Recreation, Outdoors, Camping, Hiking
Tags: Free Local Woods Trails Things To Do Outdoors camping Family Hiking
Categories: Things to Do, Recreation, Outdoors, Camping, Hiking
Tags: Free Local Woods Trails Things To Do Outdoors camping Family Hiking
Great job! I've enjoyed some great hiking with my sons, Chris and Ben. One of our favorite places, most especially because of the very unique rock formations that can be found there, is Panthers Den in Southern Illinois. I look forward to your future blogs. Well done and very interesting!
Reply to this