PrideEdition-TakeAHike-2019

Wednesday, June 12, 2019 | B1

Democrat News

2019

Pride edition

take a hike

Wednesday, June 12, 2019 Supplement edition 00 1

B2

TAKE A HIKE

| WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019

DEMOCRAT NEWS

Silver Mines

Recreation Area

VICTORIA KEMPER PHOTOS, DEMOCRAT NEWS

The dam at Silver Mines Recreation Area was constructed across the St. Francis River in 1879.

VICTORIA KEMPER

F

vkemper@democratnewsonline.com

rom hiking and fishing to swimming and boating, Silver Mines Recreation Area is a host to many visitors throughout the year.

The area consists of 75 campsites, a group site, 17 picnic sites and 3 trails. Whether you are looking to get away for a few hours or a few weeks Silver Mines Recreation Area has something to offer.

Forest Service Recreation and Watershed Manager Chris Woods said the area is a local jewel which receives a lot of outof-state visitors.

“The history of Silver Mines is very in-

teresting,” Woods said. “From the beginning days as a small mining town producing silver, to the later days as a source for the critical component of tungsten for the world war.”

Forest Service District Ranger Becky Ewing said the area is named after the abandoned Einstein Mine. She said the Einstein Silver Mining Company began mining in 1877 and mining ceased completely in 1946.

When walking along the Silver Mine Historic Trail, to the west of the St. Francis River hikers will come across what used to Please see SILVER MINES, Page B3

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When water is up high enough to gush over the dam kayakers are sure to find their way out to the waters.

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Before the water reaches the dam it is so smooth that it appears to not be moving at all.

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Silver Mines From B2

be the old mining town. The foundations of buildings can be seen as they are becoming part of their surroundings and an old mine shaft nicknamed “The Air-Conditioner” can be felt as the cool air travels out of its boarded up opening.

The walk down the trail comes with its challenges as the terrain can become rocky and steep in areas.

Woods said the trail is beautiful but warns folks that it is rated as a moderately difficult trail.

Climb at your own risk, as the trail has become worn and edges can become steep as you get closer to the dam.

The dam itself is worth the walk. As you come upon it, the questions of how it was built flood your mind. Being constructed in 1879, the task would have been a difficult one without modern tools.

Ewing said the dam was needed to divert the river to a turbine which powered machinery for hoisting and crushing ore.

If the area has had rain lately, the water will gush over the hole in the dam creating a spot for boaters to continue downstream, a favorite

The path along the west side of the St. Francis River winds through the woods bringing you through the old mining operations. among many locals. The boaters will start upstream at Millstream Gardens Conservation Area and continue downstream through Silver Mines Recreation Area.

According to Ewing, the St. Francis River is the only river in Missouri to be classified as “white water” making it a hot spot for kayaking.

Hikers coming up on the west side of the dam can walk across the portion of the dam that is still standing and watch the boaters as they make there way over the drop. If the water level is down, hikers can continue by walking through the broken portion of the dam and make a loop returning along the east side of the river.

Wednesday, June 12, 2019 | B3

On the east side of the dam hikers can enjoy the views atop the large boulders next to the water.

Woods said the park is managed in tandem with the United States Forest Service and Jim and Doris Rehkop, who hold the permit to manage the area.

“They are on year nine now proudly serving visitors,” Woods said. “Due to budget constraints with the Forest Service, Silver Mines and a few other recreation areas are concessionaired to permit holders in order to relieve the Forest Service.”

Woods said this is due largely to lack of adequate funding to employ the number of Forest Service employees needed.

Hiking, picknicking and river access areas are open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. with only registered campers allowed after those hours. Day-use fees are $3 per vehicle, $10 per bus and $20 for a season pass. Camping fees vary and can be found at www.fs.usda. gov Silver Mines Recreation Area is located off of Hwy. D in Fredericktown.

The old mine shaft still remains as you can still feel a cool breeze coming from the cave.

Victoria Kemper is a reporter for the Democrat News. She can be reached at 573-783-3366 or at vkemper@democratnewsonline. com

Kayakers frequent Millstream Gardens Conservation and Silver Mines Recreation Areas as they can start up stream and enjoy the ride all the way through both areas.

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| WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019

DEMOCRAT NEWS

Millstream Gardens

Conservation Area

VICTORIA KEMPER PHOTOS, DEMOCRAT NEWS

The view of Big Drop from the path at Millstream Gardens Conservation Area. The rocks that in March are filled with people to watch the kayak races are now covered with greenery.

VICTORIA KEMPER

M

vkemper@democratnewsonline.com

illstream Gardens Conservation Area is home to the Missouri Whitewater Championship held every March when the spring rains create desirable rapids for boaters from all over the country.

Missouri Department of Conservation Agent Alan Lamb said Millstream Gardens is a 916-acre tract of land which holds the large igneous rock of Tiemann Shutins and is part of the Missouri Natural Area System connecting to the USFS Silver Mines Recreation Area.

The beginning of the trail is a mile of paved path through the woods with a couple small bridges and benches to take a rest on. At the end of the mile you reach an observation deck which looks over the bluff at what is known as Cat’s Paw on the St. Francis River.

The trail from this point on is no longer paved but is still well maintained with few areas of rugged terrain.

Roughly halfway through the trail you will reach Big Drop. This area is the main viewing area for the annual Missouri Whitewater Championship. The large boulders act as the gallery where bystanders sit and watch the boaters navigate through the rapids.

This is also a good place to bird watch. A local blue heron has grown to favor Big Drop for fishing and can be seen sitting at the edge of the rocks plucking fish from the water.

Lamb said the area is home to a variety of wildlife and to remember any animal can become dangerous when it feels threatened or trapped. He said to be respectful and keep your distance.

In the spring before the green-

ery grows up, climbing down the rocks is slightly challenging but worth the view. Once down by the water the boulders along the river bank create a natural playground that can be followed up and down the river.

Once the area has grown up, it is important to watch for poisonous plants and snakes. Lamb said general safety rules always apply to all hiking trails.

“Have a game plan, tell someone where you are going and when you expect to arrive, stay on established trails, know your limits, utilize bug spray and take plenty of water,” Lamb said.

“Keep an eye out for wildlife along the trail and remember to be bear aware.”

As you continue down the path you will find other lookouts on the way to the Turkey Creek Picnic Area which has a pavilion for parties and a restroom. The entire trail is 2.5 miles long but does not make a loop so hikers will have to make their way back to the parking areas regardless of which parking lot they start from.

“Growing up in Madison

County, I spent countless hours with my grandfather fishing and playing on the rocks around Millstream Gardens,” Lamb said. “He would tell stories about when he was a young man fishing in the same river and take me back to some of the fishing holes he frequented years ago.”

Lamb said, years later, he is now taking his own children to the same places for memories of their own.

“There are so many opportunities for outdoor recreation on our areas,” Lamb said. “One thing people may not know about Millstream Gardens is that it has an archery range.”

To reach the archery range keep right at the fork at the Millstream Gardens Conservation sign, turning left takes you to the parking lot for the paved pathway.

Hunting is allowed on the conservation area with proper

permits during the appropriate seasons.

More information about Millstream Gardens Conservation Area can be found at nature.mdc. mo.gov or at the signs in the park off Hwy 72.

Victoria Kemper is a reporter for the Democrat News. She can be reached at 573-783-3366 or at vkemper@democratnewsonline. com

Beautiful views of the St. Francis River can be seen along the unpaved portion of the trail at Millstream Gardens Conservation Area.

Cat’s Paw marks the end of the paved walking trial and gives hikers a view This unusual tree with its twisted trunk welcomes visitors to the park as you walk down the hill to the rivers edge. of the St. Francis River at Millstream Gardens Conservation Area.

Lizards could be seen hanging out on the many rocks at Millstream Gardens Conservation Area.

This blue heron was seen fishing along Big Drop at Millstream Gardens Conservation Area.

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019 |

B5

Amidon Memorial Conservation Area

VICTORIA KEMPER PHOTOS, DEMOCRAT NEWS

The view down the Castor River from the Cedar Glade trial at Amidon Memorial Conservation Area VICTORIA KEMPER

S

vkemper@democratnewsonline.com

imilar to other recreation spots in the area, Amidon Memorial Conservation is home to many large boulders.

As you enter the site, paths are clearly marked and surrounded by forest. The canopy of green above provides a serene feeling and also protects from the beating rays of the sun.

Walking down the Cedar Glade Trail, you will notice wildflowers, mushrooms, insects, birds and possibly other wildlife such as deer, squirrels or chipmunks.

Missouri Department of Conservation Agent Alan Lamb said Missouri is home to a variety of wildlife and it would not be out of the ordinary to see any one of the area’s native species.

“Just remember that wildlife belongs in the wild and deserves our respect and distance,” Lamb said.

“Any animal can become dangerous when it feels threatened or trapped, so please give it space.”

The igneous rock formations of the shut-ins along with the related ecosystems have made Amidon a very unique place for bird watching, camping, fishing, hiking, and even hunting.

The shut-ins can be heard well before they are seen as the sound of the flowing waters carry through the forest.

Once you arrive at the end of the mile-long path you will see the granite shut-ins located on the Castor River. There is plenty to see and plenty to do with the large pink boulders to climb on and water to cool off in.

“Amidon is a 1,630 acre tract of land located on the upper reaches of the Castor River,” Lamb said.

“The area was donated to the Missouri Department of Conservation

by Evelyn and Ellsworth Amidon.

The granite shut-ins are a highly popular swimming destination for many visitors.”

Amidon Memorial Conserva-

tion Area has two trails, Cedar Glade which is 1 mile and Old Mill which is 2.5 miles. The shorter trail is a fairly easy trail with flat terrain leading directly to the shut-ins and the famous pink rocks.

At the end of the Cedar Glade Trail, hikers can either turn back and make their way to the parking lot or continue up the hill through some glades to take a higher look.

The pink granite is the highlight of the area as it creates the beautiful scenery of natural sculptures.

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, the pink rocks tell a story of a volcanic eruption and molten lava which occurred some 1.5 billion years ago.

The magma cooled under ground and was later exposed and shaped by the flowing water of the Castor River.

MDC says the pink color of the rocks is from the iron minerals within them.

While exploring the area, it is obvious certain places had been altered. MDC said it has been using various forest improvement practices in order to improve wildlife habitats and maintain watershed quality. They said any physical disturbance is only temporary and will return to its normal appearance.

Lamb said the MDC works hard spending many hours each year to maintain the area and asks everyone to do their part by being good stewards of the land. He said if you see trash please pick it up, and if you see illegal activities, report them.

The many opportunities for outdoor recreation at Amidon Memorial Conservation Area, such as primitive camping, can be discovered at nature.mdc.mo.gov or on the area information boards at the site.

Amidon Memorial Conservation Area is located in Madison County east of Fredericktown on Rte. J, then south on Rte. W and east on This bench allows a spot to rest along the trail at Amidon Memorial Conservation Area.

County Rd. 208.

The environment of woodland, stream and lake creates a unique ecosystem providing visitors with the opportunity to see many species of wildlife.

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Honeysuckle is seen growing along the path at Amidon Memorial Conservation Area.

The granite glade area contains more than 136 plant species.

The flowing water into Castor River provides a beautiful sound as you admire the shut-ins of pink granite.

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| WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019

DEMOCRAT NEWS

The Marble Creek Recreation Area

VICTORIA KEMPER, DEMOCRAT NEWS

The concrete remains of the grist mill dam provide an interesting view of Marble Creek.

VICTORIA KEMPER

vkemper@democratnewsonline. com

M

arble Creek Recreation Area is a hidden gem lying halfway between Taum Sauk and Wappapello with no foreseeable way of being connected to either.

Forest Service Recreation and Watershed Manager Chris Woods said the recreation area is unique because it is really not that well known to folks and provides a certain amount of solitude during the weekdays.

“What sometimes gets lost is that the first parking lot as one enters the recreation area serves as a trail head for the Marble Creek

section of the Ozark Trail,” Woods said. “Folks can park at Marble Creek and then hike to Crane Lake.”

Woods said the trail is approximately nine miles long and some hikers opt to leave a shuttle vehicle at Crane Lake for the return ride.

The trail is constructed for foot, cycling and equestrian, but no motor vehicles are allowed.

Woods said horses are allowed at the trail head but not within the campground or picnic area.

“I have personal childhood memories of camping at Marble Creek and spending several summers swimming at the old grist mill dam,” Woods said.

Look closely and you will find creatures all around at Marble Creek.

“The recreation area serves campers, swimmers and fisherman.”

The trail to the dam is small and hikers may need to walk single file, but it is

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beautiful as it winds next to the creek and through the woods. Wild flowers can be seen along the path and butterflies and dragonflies flutter by.

Once you reach the opening, the beauty of the old grist mill dam compliments the natural beauty of its surrounding rocks, forest and waterway.

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019 |

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Rock Pile Mountain Wilderness Area

VICTORIA KEMPER PHOTOS, DEMOCRAT NEWS

Rock Pile Mountain is a rugged wilderness area fit for the adventurous.

VICTORIA KEMPER

R

vkemper@democratnewsonline.com

ock Pile Mountain Wilderness Area is the smallest of only eight wildernesses in Missouri.

According to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) a wilderness is a special area designated and set aside by Congress as an area affected primarily by the forces of nature with little evidence of man.

Rock Pile Mountain Wilderness Area is a primitive site for the most adventurous among us. The trail is not for the novice hiker. Those planning a visit should come prepared.

United States Forest Service District Ranger Becky Ewing said the area is 4,238 acres, and it takes its name from an ancient circle of granite rock, piled on top the mountain by early man.

The area is located within the St. Francois Mountains with ranging elevations from 520 to 1,305 feet.

USDA said the area is heavily forested and other than flow from

surplus rainfall has no significant natural permanent water source other than the St. Francis River that touches the southwestern border.

There is one maintained trail on the site at a distance of two miles with additional unmaintained trails and old logging roads for the adventuresome to explore.

With the area being described as rugged, it is important to have bug spray on hand and to watch for poisonous plants and snakes.

Rock Pile Mountain Wilderness Area is the perfect area for back country exploration and

unrestricted camping. This enviUSDA said all hikers and camp- it was before them. ronment is considered primitive ers should ensure that others will Wilderness regulations and where nature can be met on its see no evidence of their visit after they have left, leaving the area as own terms.

Please see ROCK PILE, Page B8

The large boulders are speckled throughout the entire forest.

The boulders at Rock Pile Mountain Wilderness Area look as if they were purposefully placed among the trees.

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VICTORIA KEMPER PHOTOS, DEMOCRAT NEWS‌

The grist mill dam at Marble Creek Recreation Area was in operation until 1935.

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U.S. Forest Service District Ranger Becky Ewing said the remains of the dam are of the third to be built in that spot. She said the first dam was made of wood, the second of rock and earth and the present of concrete and iron.

The dam, which was restored by the Forest Service in 1966, was operational until 1935. It is easy to see the age of the dam, as the water has began to work away at the concrete slowly deteriorating what it was and making it what it is today.

Signs around the dam urge hikers to use caution and refrain from walking on the dam or swimming underneath it.

The foundation of what once was the old building gives the dam even more character.

As you continue down the path, each lookout area is just as spectacular as the last. The sounds of the water and the trees create a relaxing environment and

S

The view of Marble Creek from the bridge on Hwy E a wonderful contrast from busy city life. Large boulders can be climbed to create your own path as you continue down the creek.

Ewing said Marble Creek rushes 20 miles through the St. Francis Mountains and is named after the deposits of colored dolemites which were mined and traded as Taum Sauk Marble.

Hiking, picknicking and river access areas are open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. with only registered campers allowed after those hours. Day-use fees are $2 per vehicle, $10 per campsite and $20 for double site per day.

Ewing said, due to emerald ash borer (an exotic beetle which has already killed more than 50 million ash trees in the northern United States) being detected in Marble Creek, all firewood brought into the park is considered quarantined and must not leave the county.

Marble Creek Recreation Area is located off of Hwy E in Fredericktown.

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Victoria Kemper is a reporter for the Democrat News.

She can be reached at 573783-3366 or at vkemper@ democratnewsonline.com

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The drive up the mountain turns into a steep dirt road and 4 wheel drive is recommended.

Rock Pile From B7

manners include no more than 10 individuals should travel or camp together, no camping within 100 foot of trails, streams or occupied campsites, avoid overuse of popular ares, protect the solitude, pack your own shelter, keep campfires low and much more. For a complete list of regulations and manners visit fs.usda.gov Ewing said common creatures in the area include white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, squirrels, rabbits, hawks, owls, turkey vul-

tures, pileated woodpeckers, lizards, turtles and snakes.

Rock Pile Mountain Wilderness Area is located off Hwy C. Go 4.7 miles to County Road 406 on the right and then travel 2.3 miles to Forest Road 2124 where the trailhead will be at the top of the mountain roughly 1 mile up.

The last half mile of the drive is a very steep climb and not recommended for anyone without 4-wheel drive. There is a parking area to the left side just before the steep grade.

USDA says wilderness rangers occasionally

visit trail heads to patrol the area and are there to assist you and answer questions. It is asked that all overnight and day use visitors sign in at the self-registration station located at the trailhead entrance.

“Have a pleasant wilderness experience and remember, leave only footprints and take only photographs and memories,” Ewing said.

Victoria Kemper is a reporter for the Democrat News.

She can be reached at 573783-3366 or at vkemper@ democratnewsonline.com

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Beautiful moss can be seen growing along all the rocks in the forest.

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