Park Trails

Bridge Trail

This trail is almost entirely in upland deciduous forest with a full canopy of different kinds of oak and hickory trees. The trail overlaps at first with Oak Hickory Trail as they leave the nature center and follow a gentle grade up and along the hillside to the east. At the top of the hill, the junction divides Oak Hickory Trail off to the right. Forest Trail continues upslope and around the ravine. Gradually the trail turns north and follows a gentle slope down to the bottom where it intersects Whistle Trail. At this point, you can turn left and complete the remaining portion of Forest Trail or turn right and continue along Whistle Trail. Much of Forest Trail’s tread is narrow, rocky in some places.

Natural Tunnel Trail

Many different habitats, including bottomland and upland forests, tall bluffs, sunny glades, small and large streams, old farm fields and, of course the Bennett Spring Natural Tunnel await those who make this long rugged hike.

Oak Hickory Trail

This trail is so named because of the predominate deciduous forest type composed primarily of different kinds of oak and hickory trees. The trail overlaps at first with Forest Trail as they leave the nature center and follow a gentle grade up and along the hillside to the east. Much of the tread is narrow, rocky in some places; several areas along the trail are grassy. An amphitheater is located within the loop. This trail is a favorite among school children, families with small children and others who enjoy small, easy walks.

Savanna Ridge Trail

Much of the tread was originally old roads and is a hard-packed gravel and grass surface. Other sections are rocky in some places. The extended trail is narrow and winds through an open woodland formerly known as a savanna. White Connector 1 divides the larger loop in the middle to allow for a shorter two-mile loop. The trail is a combination of roads used by people living in the area from the 1840s to present and became part of a road system that accessed ponds and grazing areas. The area is occasionally burned to enhance the complex of open woodlands. The eastern side of this trail is combined with Natural Tunnel Trail. The trail winds along a ridge overlooking the east side of Spring Hollow.  The open woodlands and glades are glorious with wildflowers during spring and fall. Ticks abound on the trail through the summer months.

Spring Trail

This trail travels generally in a north-south direction on the west side of the spring branch. It is so named because of its proximity to Bennett Spring. The trail goes along the stream branch from the spring to the dam at the hatchery area. Much of the tread is narrow, rocky in some places, and can be muddy and treacherous under wet conditions. Several areas may be flooded during high water.

The stream side trail is likely prehistoric but was used more frequently by people living in the area from the 1840s to present. The Civilian Conservation Corps improved this trail in the late 1930s as part of overall improvements to the park. The hiking trail travels along the base of the hillside where a five-acre natural area resides. Bennett Spring Hanging Fen Natural Area is named for its steep, sloped seepage area, a fen, known for grasses and wildflowers associated with cold water. Views of the spring, fishing activities, wildlife in and along the stream, historic structures and the hatchery are what make this one of the most enjoyable trails in the park.

Whistle Trail

This trail travels in a generally north-south direction on the east side of the spring branch.   The trail is named for the low water bridge that connects the picnic area to the main park. The bridge is named for the large tubes that resemble whistles, through which the stream water flows. The trail runs along the stream branch most of the time, but allows access to some bluff tops as well.

At the south end, the trail overlaps with the Forest Trail. Whistle Trail divides at the south end of the bluffs, with one side of the trail traveling along the top of the bluff and the other along the base and next to the water. After these two trails reconnect at the north, the trail ascends a steep bluff and then gradually descends toward the picnic area to the north of the Whistle Bridge. A short travel through the parking area of the picnic area leads to the continuation of the trail. Traveling north on this section leads through a bottomland area and then hugs the bottom of steep hillsides until connecting at the north with a parking area near the Niangua River. A bridge at the north end allows for an alternative loop to returning on the linear trail.  

This trail can be traversed in either direction; this description follows a south-north route.   Much of the tread is narrow, rocky and can be slippery when wet. The stream-side trail is likely prehistoric but was used more frequently by people living in the area from the 1840s to present. The Civilian Conservation Corps improved this trail in the late 1930s as part of overall improvements to the park.