Every time I go back to visit Missouri, I like to look for a section of the Ozark Trail that I haven’t explored yet. My last visit to this beautiful state was no exception.
The trail is over 430 miles long with divided sections. Most of the sections are linked, though some are not. The trail traverses over a diverse landscape of forests, mountains, valleys, rivers, underground springs and waterfalls. Some parts of the trail are called the Highlands.
People say the name came from the landscape’s highland region, the Ozark Highlands, known for plateaus, rolling hills and karst formations.
The area was first called the Highlands back in 1819 when early Scottish settlers lived in the area. It is said the area reminded them of the Scottish Highlands. So the name stuck.
With 14 sections of the trail, one could be hard pressed to decide on which one to hike. Much of the Ozark Trail is in the Mark Twain National Forest, which officially opened in the 1930s. It consists of 1.5 million acres in 29 counties in Missouri.
Eight sections of the trail are a continuous hike, and there are plans to join the other sections in the future.
I hiked my first section last year. Since then, I have explored four different sections of the trail. I have plans to hike the whole trail.
This year I chose to explore the Taum Sauk Section of the trail.
The trail traverses the landscape in the Taum Sauk Mountains and in Taum Sauk Mountain State Park. The mountains are a part of the larger St. Francois mountain range.
This section is a 35-mile stretch and is considered one of the best trails in Missouri, taking hikers over ancient mountains, with grand vistas, through glades, past the state’s highest waterfall and highest point, and into scenic shut-ins.
There are four trail heads from which to start. I started with the trailhead at the Taum Sauk Mountain State Park.
I had driven to this state park in search of the highest point in Missouri and, of course, to find the trailhead for the Ozark Trail.
Lucky for me it wasn’t far from the area where I would be able to connect to the Ozark Trail.
It was a gorgeous, fall day in Missouri when I hiked this trail. A bit of autumn chill in the air made for perfect hiking weather.
If you have never been in the Ozark Highlands, you’re missing out. It’s hard to describe the landscape I saw from the top of that mountain as I was looking to see where the trail was down through the valley below — an amazing view.
I took off down the trail, just to hike a small section. I came to an open place where I could see the whole valley.
I stood on the mountain top, looking down at the view in front of me. This was an ancient mountain. Full of mystery and memories.
Memories of the people who lived here thousands of years ago and of all those who came after. There was a common thread connecting them all and that was their love for these Highlands.
I closed my eyes for a moment. I felt a sense of kinship to these mountains.
The 12 miles between here and the Johnson Shut-ins State Park had me intrigued. This particular section was supposed to be the most scenic, and in autumn the Highlands were alive with color.
I felt a familiarity in the forest that reminded me of home. Of course, there were differences. For one thing, the elevation changes. And the Ozark forest tends to be more dense.
But every time I put my foot down on the dirt path in front of me, it felt like home. Perhaps it was my Scottish roots. Or perhaps it’s just because I love to hike; I felt welcome in this place.
The afternoon had turned into evening and I knew it was time to leave.
When the sun sets in the Highlands, the sky turns orange. Not the color orange that we associate with, but a new color of orange that I had never been seen before. As the darkness begins to descend on these wild mountains, the color stretches across the horizon, giving an eerie glow to the side of the mountain.
Thoughts escaped me as I watched as the lingering light slowly disappeared behind the backdrop of the mountain. My heart was full.
I have grown to love these Ozark Highlands, and the people who live here. The land still has a wild feel about it and it’s truly beautiful.
Some of this beauty can only be seen from the trail while hiking in the back country of the Ozark.
If you ever get a chance to visit, I encourage you to go.
To get to this section: There are four different trailheads where you can start: At Highway A, Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park, Taum Sauk Mountain State Park, and Highway 21.
For more information on the Ozark Trail, including detailed maps and information on each section, visit ozarktrail.com.
A quote for your week:”Time is fluid, like the wide sky that fades into bright orange in a sunset in the Ozark. Every moment is meant to be sipped and savored like a slow Mimosa.” Jared Kintz, author
Until the next trail, Susan.
This article originally appeared on Evening World: Missouri’s Highlands trails, considered state’s best, have highest point, waterfalls
Reporting by Susan Anderson, A Hiker’s Path / Evening World
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
