Holding out Hope for the Hollow

There is a natural area in Carter County, Missouri that haunts my dreams and taunts me in my waking hour.   Cowards Hollow Natural Area in Mark Twain National Forest, near Van Buren has been calling out my name for several months.  I have studied road maps, looked at topographical maps, and asked locals for information.  All have been futile.   I made a second attempt to find this mysterious place with a friend who knows the area and has been to Coward's Hollow a few times, but it was a long time ago and he went with his father.

We followed directions and walked down a a nearly impassable log road under a power line and found what looked like a trail.  Unfortunately, this trail ceased and we decided to follow a creek bed.  Surely, we thought, it would lead us to the natural area and waterfall.  We walked through the forest listening for sounds of cascading water and looking for rock formations that are indicative to the Hollow.  Winchester, my friend, thought it would be found across the creek and over a steep ridge.  So we delicately walked across large creek rocks sticking over the waterline and trekked up and over the huge ridge.  Nothing!  We had been hiking for 2-3 miles through dense forest, water, and ridge.  Reluctantly, we decided to cease our search and head for other sights.