See Beautiful Fall Foliage on a Self-Guided Hiking Tour Adventure in Pulaski County!
We are coming into the fall season and we couldn't be more excited at Fort Wood Hotels! The Ozarks is an incredible place to be for gorgeous fall weather and fall foliage. Whether you are local here in Fort Leonard Wood or looking for a fun fall road trip, hiking is one of the best ways to capture our beautiful area this fall. Read on to get a full guide for walking and hiking tours in Pulaski County courtesy of Pulaski County Missouri USA!
Hartford Road 1.15 miles northeast of Road Ranger, Highway 28
Hartford Road, a 3.39-mile-long loop drops into a Big Piney river valley. After only a mile you will be rewarded with dramatic river bluffs. In an especially picturesque scene, the road squeezes between the Big Piney river and the former Possum Lodge resort before climbing back to Highway 28 positioned on the ridge above.
Camp/Crown Roads - 4.92 miles northeast of Road Ranger, Highway 28
Camp Road and Crown Road partner to lazily loop (5.81 miles) around the former Gasconade Hills Conservation Area. The structures and foundations that perch over the Gasconade River at the beginning of Camp Road are remnants of Brown’s Camp. At 3.05 miles turn right onto Crown Road to return to Highway 28.
Pro Tip: Continue North on Highway 28 into Dixon for fuel, food & beverage, antiquing, and restrooms before backtracking to Cardinal Road.
Cardinal/Creek/Cave Roads - 7.62 miles northeast of Road Ranger, Highway 28
Cardinal, Creek, and Cave roads combine to lead you 3.65 miles to Riddle Bridge Access. At the intersection of Cardinal Road and Cemetery Lane you will find a photogenic country cemetery and church.
Approximately 1.58 miles turn left onto Creek Road. Creek Road parallels, and crosses, Jones Creek before becoming Cave Road which bends to cross the Gasconade River at Riddle Bridge Access. The current bridge, constructed circa 1987, replaced the former 70+ year old structure that was featured on a 1975 Brewer & Shipley album cover. Yellow Bluff, directly across the Gasconade River from the public access is a popular photography scene. Leaving Riddle Bridge Access turn right onto Holtsman Road which becomes Y Highway.
Riverside/Redding Roads - 6.38 miles north of Lexington Road, Highway 17
Riverside and Redding roads are a dynamic duo combining for 6.3 miles to connect Highway 17 with T Highway. Just over a mile into the trip you will see the Gasconade River on your left. At 2.04 miles is Schlicht Springs Access. This area is named for early mill operator and resort owner John Schlicht.
At 2.27 miles turn left to stay on Riverside road. At 4.82 miles turn right onto Redding road. At 5.10 miles you will see Bethlehem Baptist Church and Cemetery on your right. The rocked structure beckons photographers. This area was once called Flea Hollow, so named because the former church, which sat across the dirt road, was built up a bit on posts. Whether or not the design was intentional, this allowed nearby farmers’ livestock to congregate in the shade under the church. This led to hours-long bouts of itching and scratching for the parishioners during, and after, Sunday services. The cemetery tucked into the hillside below is the final resting place of Aunt Tenn, an inmate of the Pulaski County Poor Farm. Tenn’s final wish was to be buried here instead of at the cemetery across from the Poor Farm. At T Highway head north to Swedeborg.
Pro Tip: Plan on photographing Swedeborg School and abandoned buildings along the railroad tracks at Swedeborg. The community, first named Wood End, was later colonized by Swedish immigrants. Nearby Swede Cemetery, listed in a Swedish touring guide of America, has many interesting tombstones to photograph.
Rawlins Road - 1.74 miles north of Redding Road, Highway T
Rawlins road joins Swedeborg to Richland on what was most likely the “old” road before the development of Highway 133. The road crosses Snake Creek at 2.47 miles. At the intersection of Highway 133 turn left for a short distance.
Waynesville Walking Trail: Waynesville Park to Laughlin Park. One-mile paved trail winding along the Roubidoux Stream. Trail goes through the area where the Kickapoo Trace Muzzleloaders and Indians camp during many festivals. Leads to the Roubidoux Spring, home of the underwater cave. Easy walking trail, picnic tables, rest rooms, handicap accessible fishing
Waynesville Walking Tour: Brochure-guided tour of key historic points of interest in downtown Waynesville. Brochure is available at the Pulaski County Visitors Center and in the Digital Downloads section of PulaskiCountyUSA.com. Easy walking, mostly concrete, handicapped accessible in most areas.
St. Robert Walking Trail: Concrete walking trail along Historic Route 66 in St. Robert. Easy trail, foot and bike traffic only. Dixon City Park: Walking trail, playground and picnic tables. Off Hwy 133 in Dixon. Foot traffic only. Easy trail. Crocker Park: Swimming pool, fishing pond, gazebo. Half mile lighted trail winding around the pond. Hwy 17 north, park is on left side. Foot traffic only, Easy walking trail.
Shady Dell Park: Swimming pool, picnic tables, and playground. Shaded walking trail. I-44 West exit 150 on to Hwy 7 to Richland. Park will be on left as you enter city limits. Easy walking trail.
Pulaski County Missouri USA - Visitors Recourse
If you're planning a trip to the Fort Leonard Wood Area, head over to Pulaski County Missouri USA! They have incredible resources for fun things to do in our area as well as many other self-guided tours available. If you're looking for a fun fall getaway, check out their website and learn about the many activities available in our area!
Book Your Stay With Us at Fort Wood Hotels!
Whether you have some extra vacation days from having to cancel your spring/summer vacation or you're looking for a weekend getaway this fall, we would love to have you in Fort Leonard Wood! Book your stay with us at Fort Wood Hotels - we have five top-notch hotels located in Fort Leonard Wood! Be sure to follow us on Facebook and look for our deal of the day specials for discounted lodging when you book direct!
Staying for a day...a week...or a month? We've got you covered!
Comments
Post a Comment