WALKING A JOPLIN PARKS TRAIL - North Street to Royal Heights

My Sunday afternoon walk this week started at a parking area off of North Street in East Joplin.  This area is located west of St. Louis Street and north of Broadway near the Tamko manufacturing plant.

I began my one hour walk at 5:20 PM.  It was a beautiful afternoon, suitable for short sleeves and I was even a little warm on the return, since I was in jeans.  There were several bicyclists, joggers, people on horseback and other walkers sharing the trail.  A young boy and middle aged woman, probably the boy's grandmother, were riding their bicycles.  I met them coming and going, and the lad, who was probably no more than 5 or 6 years old, was peddling like crazy.  I was impressed with his endurance, because there were several places along the trail with an upward slope!

I walked over the old railroad bridge at Turkey Creek and then turned east onto the paved trail that ended at St. Louis Street.  I believe the other section leads to the parking area at St. Louis and Zora where the Frisco trail heads toward Webb City.

When the trail ended, I crossed St. Louis and walked down Kensington Street to Highland then right on a street that followed the creek back west to St. Louis where I crossed back over to access the trail for the return trip.  However, as I was driving home after my hike, I saw that I could have walked across the St. Louis Street bridge going south, walked two or three hundred yards, and picked up another part of the trail that goes eastward into the wooded area.  I am not sure where this section ends up, but I think it might go over to Florida Street near the Newman intersection.  This will be good to explore on another day.

Once again, I was surprised to discover hidden beauty right here in Southwest Missouri, so very close to home! This was a surprisingly scenic hike with excellent trails which for the most part seem to follow the old rail beds.  The surfaces are well-maintained, and other than the familiar smell wafting from the roofing plant, I couldn't have asked for a more pleasant route.  I plan to return to this area, and in addition to the main walkways, I may check out some of the smaller paths that branch off into the woods. I am curious as to where they may lead.

King Jack Park in Webb City, MO

This afternoon I decided to check out a local park that is close to home.  One of my friends had mentioned that King Jack Park in Webb City had some pleasant walking trails, so with an hour or so to spend, I made the five minute drive and parked near the street car station which is east of the praying hands sculpture.

Even though there is a lot of construction going on in that area, and the road work interfered with some of the normal trails, I found it to be a good place to walk with options for hikes of various lengths, depending on how much time you want to spend.  Most of the trail was paved, though on the return trip I opted to walk on an old railroad bed and even in the street of an adjoining subdivision for a ways.  It was not a secluded location, yet there was enough nature to make it pleasant.

Until this afternoon, I had no idea there was a very large body of water southeast of the praying hands!  It appears to be an old strip mining pit.  An amphitheater tops the hill on the south side of the pit which looks like a great place for a group to meet for an evening vespers meeting, nature lesson, or whatever.  There is also a clubhouse next to the amphitheater that can be reserved and rented by groups also.

There is another small lake with a steel bridge spanning one end where a couple of guys were fishing.  The paved trail encircled this lake.  Baseball fields were located to the south across the park.  I don't yet know if there are actually any fish in the lake or not.  If so, it would be a great place to take the kids or grandchildren for an fishing expedition if you only had a couple of hours to spend.  I didn't see any evidence of success, but did not stop my walk to watch or ask either.

My walk lasted about one hour.  I estimate that I traveled about three miles or more without walking the same path twice, except when the construction disrupted the normal trail and I had to back track.  It was a pleasant hike.

Walking in the Shawnee Trail Conservation Area on a Windy Day

I challenged myself a little more today since it is Saturday and I could steal some time for a longer walk. When at the Audubon Center a week or so back, I picked up a couple of Missouri Conservation Department brochures.  One of them was written about Shawnee Trail Conservation Area in Barton County.  So I drove up 43 highway north to 160, then west to M, then south to one of the parking areas along M highway where there was trail access.  From there I began my 1 hour and 45 minute walk.  I estimate that I covered about 5 miles round trip.

The Shawnee Trail area was all flat land like Kansas, about 3,645 acres.  This isn't my favorite terrain, as I prefer some hills,

but nonetheless it was nice, especially with the grasses turning green at this time of year. I saw white tail deer at the beginning and end of my hike, and also saw Canadian geese,Teal, and perhaps some other breeds of ducks.  On one of the lakes, I spotted two very large white geese, I'm not a goose expert, so not sure what kind they were.

Pin Oak Lake at Shawnee Trail Conservation Area

Since there were small lakes along the way, the scenery was much more interesting than it would have been otherwise.  Without the water, I don't think I could have brought myself to begin this hike, as it would have been nothing more than walking through some flat wheat fields for five miles!  Pin Oak lake had public access and looks like a prospective fishing hole for me and the grandkids.  There are two or three land piers out into the 14 acre lake and one wooden pier. There is easy access off of SW 50th Road and it looks like a restroom near the parking area.

It was an extremely windy day.  Otherwise, the weather was perfect at about 70 degrees.  From Joplin, the drive took about 30 minutes, I guess.  Not bad, but not a trip I would take after work unless I could get an early start and have a late dinner or eat on the way.


I'm not sure what this is but the locals would know.  Perhaps a Droid?

Look closely and you will see flying water fowl.  You can see how the wind was rippling the water of one of the small lakes.

Walking in the Neighborhood

Well, sure enough, I found myself getting around too late to drive to a scenic trail for an after dinner walk!  Rather than skip the exercise on a fairly pleasant day with the temperature at 50 degrees Fahrenheit, I swallowed hard and set out to walk around my subdivision.  I live outside the city limits.  The lots are large and there is the feel of being in the country.  The Bradford Pear trees have blossomed and there was an attractive weeping willow tree at the round-a-bout.

The walk along my selected route took about 35 minutes, and I made it back to the house just as darkness fell.  On the final stretch, the scenery was enhanced by my neighbor Curt's beautiful pond with walk bridge on the far end and a concrete spillway on the north end near the road.  A few years ago he erected one of those white vinyl fences which contrasts beautifully with the lush green grass that surrounds the pond and blankets the lawn of his new home.

As I descended the gentle grade approaching our property, two deer crossed the roadway in front of me at the driveway, preparing to bed down for the night as is their custom.  Sometimes there are as many as 12 or more in our backyard.  All things considered, I must admit...it was a pleasant walk, and I returned energized and in good spirits.

Kellogg Lake, Carthage, MO

March 21, 2013

Since Dr. Carter keeps asking me if I exercise, and since my answer to be truthful must always be “no”, I decided to take a walk today. One of my problems with exercise, such as walking, is that I am easily bored and don’t enjoy walking around the subdivision or round and round a track. So, if I’m going to do this, I need some interesting scenery.

Since I have never been to Kellogg Lake in Carthage, and since I need to scout out places to take my grandkids this summer, this was my choice for number one hike. I was well-pleased and impressed with the park. I plan to return with the family for a picnic some time soon.

Kellogg Lake, Carthage, MO

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Back to Reddings Mill

On Good Friday I had the opportunity to take Ian and Owen, two of my grandsons, on a hike.  I chose the Reddings Mill trail again.  This time we walked on the south side of the river.  It wasn't as scenic as the north side that leads up to Wildcat Glades and the Audubon Center, but it was a pleasant walk. After our walk we visited the Audubon Center and the boys had a great time there.

Add captionhttp://www.wildcatglades.audubon.org/