Simply Grand: Grand Gulf State Park (guest blog)

In my exploration of Ripley County, Missouri, I began to wonder what lay in her neighbouring counties such as Oregon County.  Today, I decided to venture out and discover.  I drove to Grand Gulf State Park outside of Thayer and was not in the least disappointed.
The small size of this state park makes it easily traversable.  Further boarded stairways with rails make it possible for almost everyone to enjoy the scenic beauty that this fine state park has to offer, and it is very fine indeed.

To the right of the parking and picnic areas is a walkway down to the overlook point of the Grand Gulf Sink — a collapsed cavern that now fills with rainwater to form a small pond of immense blue hues, resembling in some regards Blue Spring near Eminence, Missouri.  However, do not be fooled by the sink’s appearance.  The small pond can reach depths of up to 100 feet with heavy rains and water marks along the cliff walls clearly indicate her awesome potential.

A side trail leads to the Natural Bridge — a part of the cave that did not crumble for some reason and now forms a natural dolomite bridge over the sink hole and Shiloh Creek.  Were it not there, one would see a huge mass of water to his right that would be quite frightening in the wet season.  A 1-mile spur trail off this meanders along Shiloh Creek, offering close portraits of The Narrows, another small hole along the creek bed and the Natural Bridge.  However, it is not yet complete and dead-ends in the woods, forcing one to turn around and follow the same path back.  The path however is gravelled for the most part and marked with blue blazes.

Once back at the parking area, I ventured to the other side where the Grand Gulf Canyon trail leads one down 119 steps to an observation deck at the bottom of the canyon.  In wet months, this would be an awesome sight with the roar of thousands of gallons of water pouring down beside you into an opening that feeds Shiloh Creek below the falls.  However, the weather has been unseasonably dry, so there was not as much as a trickle, save a small spring jutting out from the side of the cliff near the observation deck.

This alone would have provided a nice exploration, but I was not satisfied.  I left the park and drove along Hwy W to my right, where it turns into a gravelled county road.  About ½ mile down, I noticed a dry creek bed and decided to park and explore.  This is where the fun truly began.
Dry paths of rock and gravel do not just appear in nature.  It takes the awesome force of swiftly flowing water to deposit such specimens for miles in such a uniform manner.  Where there is a creek and a canyon, there is a waterfall.  Though there was no water flowing on this day, I decided to follow Shiloh Creek above the falls and see if I could locate the source.  After a short walk of about ¾ miles that took me into thickets around fallen trees and over large dolomite and limestone boulders, I discovered the top of the canyon and the beautifully-carved, white rocks that are hidden beneath a torrent of water during the wet season.  It was truly a sight to behold!

I shall be returning someday to this beautiful state park and natural area for further exploration into the canyon and caverns.  I may even return during the wet season and sit above the waterfalls as the water rushes by and makes pure my soul.  I suggest to anyone within driving distance of Thayer, Missouri, to do the same.  You shall not be disappointed. -Aaron Jackson

To the Bat Cave, Or Not!

Allison of Ozark Highlands of Missouri blogged about the discovery of White Nose Syndrome being found in Missouri.

We're doomed.
White Nose Syndrome, a disease which causes mortality in cave-dwelling bat species has been discovered on a little brown bat in a privately owned cave in Pike County, Missouri. While the primary means of transmission of the disease is from bat-to-bat, live fungal spores have been documented from caving gear and in boot prints, suggesting the probability of humans serving as vectors for the disease, as well. 

It's time to close the caves in Missouri.  I know it will irritate the cavers and explorers, but it is time to take necessary measures.  Caves are more than deep dwellings beneath the ground; they are important ecosystems.  Bats are an important part of the cave world, if not for the science of things, than for being the ambassadors of the cave world.

suggested reading:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_nose_syndrome

The Other Cape Girardeau

I should have been arrested for impersonating a southeast Missourian.  For years, I drove to Cape Girardeau (southeast Missouri culture mecca) for shopping and to eat at a restaurant not found in my home town/county.   I never went to downtown Cape and I actually thought the downtown area was the location of the restaurants, malls, and big box stores.   One day, I got lost and found myself looking at several beautiful murals on the Missouri wall of fame (the Cape Girardeau flood wall).  There was President Truman, George Washington Carver, Walter kronkrite

Guest Blog: Big Springs

Nestled in a hollow in the lower Missouri Ozarks (near the city of Van Buren) is one of the most popular recreational areas in the state and Missouri’s first state park: Big Springs. Big Springs is a favourite retreat for people from near and far.  They come to picnic, to hike and to partake of water sports; yet, mainly they come to stare at one of the largest springs in the world.


Big Spring is a natural spring with freshly-flowing blue water that appears like a blue-green lagoon as it forms a pond at the base of the spring and flows downstream to feed Current River via Sherman’s Creek.  The constant 58-degree temperature and shade from the mammoth chert bluff provide for a scenic and cool picnic area even during the excessively warm months of July through September.  The impressive flow of water through earthen caverns spews with such force that it is estimated that some 286 million gallons of water flow daily.  That is more than triple the amount of any other spring in the state, with the exception of Greer Spring.  It is truly a sight to behold!


However, this cosy state park offers even more than this, as if that were necessary.  There are several cabins offered for a reasonable price, allowing visitors to extend a day-trip into a weekend retreat.  River resorts in the city of Van Buren allow for canoeing, jet-skiing, floating, boating and fishing.  Trails and paved entry roads allow for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking.  Camping is also widely available throughout the region.
On my most recent visit, I introduced two friends to the site, and we decided to hike.  There are several trails including the Big Spring Overlook Trail, Slough Trail, Chubb Hollow Trail and others.   Warning!  The trail leading above the spring to the ridgeline is very difficult for amateur hikers!  I am not certain if it is Big Spring Overlook Trail because neither end of the trail is marked with signage (though one end abuts the 1.2-mile Slough Trail at about one-third of the route along).  This trail rises at least 150 feet above the spring area with very steep points at either end and is well over two miles in length.  However, the entire trail is gravelled for easier walking.


The Slough Trail is a flat, wheelchair-accessible trail with its trailhead near the spring.  Along the path, signs detail the CCC’s efforts to build the state park (with original pictures and quotes).  The path ends at the Peavine Picnic Shelter.  The round-trip is 1.2 miles.  It was along this trail that we spotted two white-tailed does and several squirrels.
During the summer months particularly, one may access a few caverns and receive a guided interpretive tour of the partially-completed railroad tunnel left intact after it was abandoned in the late nineteenth century by a now defunct railroad company.


If one is very adventurous, like me, he or she may scale the rocks above the spring and climb one of two boulders overlooking the spring.  I did this safely inside of 15 minutes.  Once at the top, the view is impressive, though partially obscured by trees.  This point is perhaps 65 feet above the spring.  One must utilize his or her upper body strength and be prepared to plant on unstable earth.  This climb is not recommended for anyone save the fearless.


In short, there is something for everyone at the majestic Big Springs in Ozark National Scenic Riverways.  Whether you fancy a day on the water in Ozark National Scenic Riverways system or a day of hiking over the numerous trails that litter the region or simply a quaint, family picnic, Big Spring State Park is the place for you. 


-Aaron Jackson 

Blue Spring

I remember the first time I saw Blue Spring.  It was a time in my life when I did not enjoy hiking or even being outdoors.  The trail to the spring is an easy and flat one mile trail.  However, I still complained the ENTIRE way to my hiking companion about the humidity, the bugs, the sand, the spider webs, and how I wanted to go home soon.  We got to the area and my irritable disposition gave way to complete awes. The spring was the blueish blue I had ever seen and I could not believe what my eyes had seen!  There is essentially a giant hole in the ground, that is actually a cave shaft,  and one can see all the way to the bottom (except during high rain and snow melt).  There is no slight decline, just straight down with beautiful sights of watercress and moss.

Blue Spring is located 12 miles east of Eminence on HWY 106