Reboot your New Year’s resolution
with a spring hike
April 10, 2024
Adriana Keeton, [email protected]
Shown above are just a few examples of flora at Roaring River State Park.
If you’re like me, at the beginning of this year, you probably made a resolution to focus more on your physical and/or mental health.
According to author Dr. Graham A Colditz, who is affiliated with Harvard University, as well as Siteman Cancer Center and Washington University School of Medicine, both in St. Louis, Missouri has the nation’s 12th highest death rate due to cancer, and the 11th highest due to heart disease, and around 23% of U.S. adults have some level of poor mental health. Physical activity can improve mental health symptoms, such as stress, depression, and anxiety.
Me being in my mid-40’s I take those statistics to heart. Spring is about the time most fall off the resolution bandwagon and revert back to old ways. If this sounds like you, and you would like a change of scenery to get you back in the groove, I have the perfect getaway in southwest Missouri to get you back on track and your heart pumping again.
Roaring River State Park boasts seven hiking trails and is nestled in a deep, narrow valley with rugged landscape, located seven miles south of Cassville, on Hwy. 112. Trails range from 1/4 mile to 4.5 miles, and can take anywhere from 20 minutes to four hours to complete.
I’m only going to focus on one of those trails, which is the most scenic, as it ascends to one of the highest points in the state park.
Eagle’s Nest Trail is a rugged 2.7 mile loop trail with a 465 foot elevation gain. It is a definite lung and thigh burner. You will need to bring plenty of water. I recommend hiking boots and you may want your hiking sticks.
The trail head to Eagle’s Nest is located at the east end of campground two and parking is available at the trailhead. The estimated hiking time is just over 2 1/2 hours. It took me a bit longer with several water and photography breaks, but more advanced hikers have completed the hike in less than 2 hours.
The beginning of the hike follows Roaring River for some distance, where you can enjoy watching fly fisherman and view the areas flora and fauna before it turns into a service road, which can be a bit unsteady and is the majority of the trail’s elevation gain. The river portion is a beautiful short hike and I recommend you turn around at the end of this portion if you are not up to hiking the rugged terrain.
The service road leads to an old homestead, where lilac bushes and yucca plants are still growing along the ridge. You can go either clockwise or counterclockwise at the loop marker, which is visible from the service road. If you decide to go counterclockwise, this portion of the trail is mostly under the tree canopy, unlike the remaining service road portion. If you are into bird watching and nature photography, this is a good time to enjoy the several birds that call Roaring River home, including the Pileated Woodpecker and wood Warblers, like the Northern Parula and Black and White Warbler (Belted Kingfishers and Louisiana Waterthrush can be seen along the river). Roaring River State Park interpreters have stated hikers have also seen Midland Water Snakes on the trail. This is a natural trail so you will experience occasional small water streams, downed trees and huge rock formations along the way. Near the end of this portion there is a set of thigh killer switchbacks that get you back to the service road portion which is all downhill from this point, so make sure to watch your step and be extra cautious if there has been recent rain.
After your hike, there are several activities you may want to enjoy while at the state park. The nature center, which is located near campground three, does host nature programs that may be of interest. You can also travel up to the mouth of Roaring River and visit the trout hatchery and the Roaring River Cave Spring, which is currently one of the deepest cave springs in the nation at 472 feet. With a Missouri Fishing License and the daily required trout tag, which can be purchased at the Roaring River Park Store, you can enjoy an afternoon of trout fishing or a picnic in the day use areas.
For more information on activities and amenities at Roaring River State Park, visit their website at https://mostateparks.com/park/roaring-river-state-park.
According to author Dr. Graham A Colditz, who is affiliated with Harvard University, as well as Siteman Cancer Center and Washington University School of Medicine, both in St. Louis, Missouri has the nation’s 12th highest death rate due to cancer, and the 11th highest due to heart disease, and around 23% of U.S. adults have some level of poor mental health. Physical activity can improve mental health symptoms, such as stress, depression, and anxiety.
Me being in my mid-40’s I take those statistics to heart. Spring is about the time most fall off the resolution bandwagon and revert back to old ways. If this sounds like you, and you would like a change of scenery to get you back in the groove, I have the perfect getaway in southwest Missouri to get you back on track and your heart pumping again.
Roaring River State Park boasts seven hiking trails and is nestled in a deep, narrow valley with rugged landscape, located seven miles south of Cassville, on Hwy. 112. Trails range from 1/4 mile to 4.5 miles, and can take anywhere from 20 minutes to four hours to complete.
I’m only going to focus on one of those trails, which is the most scenic, as it ascends to one of the highest points in the state park.
Eagle’s Nest Trail is a rugged 2.7 mile loop trail with a 465 foot elevation gain. It is a definite lung and thigh burner. You will need to bring plenty of water. I recommend hiking boots and you may want your hiking sticks.
The trail head to Eagle’s Nest is located at the east end of campground two and parking is available at the trailhead. The estimated hiking time is just over 2 1/2 hours. It took me a bit longer with several water and photography breaks, but more advanced hikers have completed the hike in less than 2 hours.
The beginning of the hike follows Roaring River for some distance, where you can enjoy watching fly fisherman and view the areas flora and fauna before it turns into a service road, which can be a bit unsteady and is the majority of the trail’s elevation gain. The river portion is a beautiful short hike and I recommend you turn around at the end of this portion if you are not up to hiking the rugged terrain.
The service road leads to an old homestead, where lilac bushes and yucca plants are still growing along the ridge. You can go either clockwise or counterclockwise at the loop marker, which is visible from the service road. If you decide to go counterclockwise, this portion of the trail is mostly under the tree canopy, unlike the remaining service road portion. If you are into bird watching and nature photography, this is a good time to enjoy the several birds that call Roaring River home, including the Pileated Woodpecker and wood Warblers, like the Northern Parula and Black and White Warbler (Belted Kingfishers and Louisiana Waterthrush can be seen along the river). Roaring River State Park interpreters have stated hikers have also seen Midland Water Snakes on the trail. This is a natural trail so you will experience occasional small water streams, downed trees and huge rock formations along the way. Near the end of this portion there is a set of thigh killer switchbacks that get you back to the service road portion which is all downhill from this point, so make sure to watch your step and be extra cautious if there has been recent rain.
After your hike, there are several activities you may want to enjoy while at the state park. The nature center, which is located near campground three, does host nature programs that may be of interest. You can also travel up to the mouth of Roaring River and visit the trout hatchery and the Roaring River Cave Spring, which is currently one of the deepest cave springs in the nation at 472 feet. With a Missouri Fishing License and the daily required trout tag, which can be purchased at the Roaring River Park Store, you can enjoy an afternoon of trout fishing or a picnic in the day use areas.
For more information on activities and amenities at Roaring River State Park, visit their website at https://mostateparks.com/park/roaring-river-state-park.
