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| Ozarks
Hiking at the ROLF |
(click on any picture for a larger
image) |
Our 350 private acres offer many Ozark hiking opportunities and adventures, featuring several glorious native and rare
flora and fauna specimens, including the wake robin, black cohash, and ferns of all
species.
(click on the picture to
the right for a larger image to see the Bald Eagle in the tree as seen
from Inspiration Point)
Take a picnic basket on the 3/4 mile hike to Inspiration Point, where you may relax on a
park bench and enjoy the spectacular view of the North Fork River. The trail is well
marked and at a gentle enough incline for almost anyone to make the trip. |
A great view for a Missouri hiking trip! |
The River of Life Spring |
On your
Ozark nature hike, enjoy
the River of Life Spring as the small babbling brook it makes on its way to the North
Fork River.
While hiking, you're likely to encounter a few of the many species of wildlife that
inhabit or visit the grounds including deer, turkey, bald eagles,
raccoons, and bob cats. As you
explore the woodlands, bluffs, ravines, cave, and riverside you're sure to encounter a few of these
local residents, as well as others. |
| While streamside you
might view a Missouri wild rainbow trout come to the surface to
inhale a floating insect. Depending on the time of day of your Ozark
hiking trip, you could see a great blue heron
flying the river, looking for dinner. Numerous wood ducks and others birds also inhabit
the North Fork River. What a great place to go Missouri hiking. |
Great Blue Heron |
| (click on any picture for a larger
image) |
Ozark Hiking in the Mark Twain National Forest |
With
the Mark Twain National Forest almost surrounding the River of Life, we can offer many
Missouri hiking opportunities within a short drive, while you enjoy the luxury and privacy of one
of our lodges or cabins in the evening. |
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The Mark Twain
National Forest is dominated by a selection of oaks, hickory, and short leaf
pine.
Dogwood, redbud, and wild azaleas give the wilderness a springtime burst of color, while
Fall isn't to be outdone when the oaks, sweet gum, and sugar maple put on a show of
yellows, oranges and reds. Scattered lime-stone glades and other openings provide some
fantastic opportunities to view wildlife. There are also numerous fresh
water springs and "wild" caves dispersed along the river and
its valley. |
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The Mark Twain
National Forest has about 175 species of birds, 50 species of mammals, and 70 species of
amphibians and reptiles. Many of the species can be observed, while enjoying a wilderness
hike on one of the maintained trails of the Devil's Backbone Wilderness area, within the
forest.
Nature hikes along the North Fork can
yield anything from a wild cave to a family of turtles catching some
sun.
Hammond's Mill Camp recreation
area also offers Ozark's hiking, caving, and swimming opportunities, including
a hiking trail to Blue Spring. |
Ball Pond
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Located
within the Mark Twain National Forest, near the North Fork, are two
popular hiking trails. The Devils
Backbone Wilderness offers 13 miles of marked trails featuring awesome panoramic cliff views of the North Fork River. As you hike the
trail, you'll pass Blue Spring, one of the major springs that feeds the North Fork River.
(Click here
for a detailed description and pictures of the Devils Backbone
Wilderness)
The Ridge Runner hiking trail is
22 miles long and extends from Noblett Lake in the north to the North
Fork Recreation Area to the south. Two hiking loops will lead you by
some of Missouri's best Karst
topography. 334 species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds
can be found in the area.
For a great short hike, Ball
Pond Hollow is close by. This is an off-trail trek, but
offers some great sites along the way. For a detailed description and
photographs, click on the link.
Several other local trails are
maintained and close by. The Mark Twain National Forest offers something for everyone.
Be sure and hike
safely! |
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