Hickory Canyons Natural Area
Hickory Canyons Natural Area is one of Missouri's hidden treasures, overshadowed by neighboring Hawn State Park and Pickle Springs. Here, the trails wander through deep sandstone box canyons and piney forest. If you visit in the winter and the spectacular cliffs will be covered in frozen waterfalls.
Distance- 1 mile west loop
.5 mile out and back on the east
Scenery- 5 Stars
Difficulty- Moderate
Distance- 1 mile west loop
.5 mile out and back on the east
Scenery- 5 Stars
Difficulty- Moderate
Map courtesy of the MDC
Both trails start from the wide gravel pull off on Sprott Road. The 1 mile loop starts to west of the road and the .25 mile out and back begins on the east side.
Both trails start from the wide gravel pull off on Sprott Road. The 1 mile loop starts to west of the road and the .25 mile out and back begins on the east side.
1 Mile Loop
From the gravel road, the trail descends just into the woods and reaches the loop junction. The trail will be described in a counter-clockwise way, but could be traveled either way.
Soon after the junction, the trail turns down into a small valley and descends through sandstone cliffs and rock layers.
Soon after the junction, the trail turns down into a small valley and descends through sandstone cliffs and rock layers.
A quarter mile after the trailhead, the trail levels out in the creek bottom. After the steep descent, the trail gently climbs up the wide valley with several easy creek crossings.
The trail then climbs out valley and reaches a narrow ridgetop. From here you can see down into one of the most impressive canyons in the area.
The trail then climbs out valley and reaches a narrow ridgetop. From here you can see down into one of the most impressive canyons in the area.
The view from the trail is nice (above pic), but you can scramble down into the bluff area to really explore (below pic).
From this impressive canyon, the trail climbs a set of stairs and then heads back through the woods to return to the TH.
.25 Mile Trail
The trail seems like just a typical forest at first, but then drops into a neat canyon. It goes below a overhang and curves around beneath sandstone cliffs.
A quarter mile after the TH, the trail reaches the head of canyon. Here, a spectacular ice waterfall can form on the 35 foot high cliff or water will quietly drip off the mossy cliffs. Either way, it's a beautiful site.
The official trail ends at the falls, but you can continue to explore the canyon for some more neat overhangs, cliffs and smaller waterfalls.