Pickle Springs is one of our favorite hiking locations close to home! Pickle Springs is located about an hour south of the St. Louis area (near Farmington, MO). It also happens to be situated near one of our favorite Missouri state parks: Hawn. We’ll often visit the two in the same trip. There is no camping at Pickle Springs Natural Area, but Hawn has a great campground (and great trails too)!
Hiking
- Quick Facts
- Length: 2 miles
- Trailhead: There is only one parking lot for Pickle Springs.
- Link to Missouri Department of Conservation website
There is only one trail and it is fairly short (2 miles), but it packs a lot in. Early on in the trail, you pass through a rocky box canyon. Then you come to two archway rock formations. After this, there are several creek crossings (with bridges) with some scattered rock formations/rock walls. Then the trail climbs to the top of a large rocky hill with great views at the top! From here, follow the trail to a short side path to a small overlook at a waterfall over a rock ledge. Finally, the trail loops back to the beginning.
This is another location that is spectacular year-round. We’ve hiked here in the Spring, Fall, and Winter. The park is full of green in the Springtime. The Fall is a great time to see the leaves changing, especially from the rocky hill lookout. In the Winter, there are so many fantastic locations for ice formations off the rocks along the trail. The creek can also freeze over.
