Journies Outside

Category: Ha Ha Tonka State Park

  • Ha Ha Tonka State Park

    March 29, 2024

    Camdenton MO

    Originally I went here to hike the Turkey Pen Hollow Trail but it was closed due to a controlled burn. So I took in some of the other trails and still managed to get in about 6 miles. When coming into the park at the main entrance there is a bathroom at the visitor’s center.

    On the Dell Rim Trail you can climb the stairs and see the water tower structure which is the only thing still standing after it was burned. I followed the yellow trail (Colosseum Trail) around and saw the natural bridge and then moved over to the Carriage house and Castle ruins. Then I followed the Quarry trail around until I came to the red trail and followed it back up to the parking area.

    Then I drove over and parked by the Post Office. (There is a outhouse style bathroom here). In the shelter there are game boards burned into the table tops.

    I followed the Springs trail around and then down to the water and passed the Island Trail. This trail appeared to climb straight up and there were several people on it at this time so I just followed the blue then white trail back up to the parking lot.

    Overall it turned out to be a very nice hike/day. There were a few wild flowers but still very few leaves and not much color. The trails varied from easy to moderately hard. There were a few steep spots and stairs but overall a very nice day.

    You can also see additional photos on my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571357578836

  • Acorn – Devil’s Kitchen – Turkey Penn Hollow

    Acorn – Devil’s Kitchen – Turkey Penn Hollow

    November 22, 2024

    The plan for today was to hike the Turkey Pen Trail, but when I arrived I discovered that there was a little nature trail at the parking lot and the Acorn Trail and the Devin’s Kitchen Trail all were within the circle of the Turkey Pen Hollow Trail so I decided to hike them all. In total that put me at about 10 miles for the day.

    It was a beautiful day. The temperature was 30 – 40 while I was out. There was a little breeze once in awhile that was cool but overall, very pleasant temperatures for hiking.

    I saw two people at about the 3.5 mile marker and then at about the 6 miles marker I came across a single person on the Turkey Pen Hollow Trail. Other than these encounters, I had the trails to myself. At times you will be far enough away that you won’t hear any traffic. Because of the time of year, I heard very few birds. I did come across a deer on the Acorn Trail and a doe and fawn on the Devin’s Kitchen Trail. A few squirrels were here and there on the trails.

    The Turkey Pen Hollow Trail does have controlled burning at times so this was my second time to try and hike it. If it is closed, the parking lot will be marked off so parking is not allowed. If this parking lot is full, there is another parking lot to the right and one to the left that you may be able to use.

    There is a visitor’s center at the entrance of the park that has a bathroom. Or at the end of the Devin’s Kitchen Trail there is a primitive bathroom and picnic shelters.

    This park is very popular so planning ahead for crowds is advised.

    I have a few more photos from today on my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571357578836