One of the things that I miss most about our time in the Pacific Northwest AND our time in Korea was ALL the hiking that we did while there. You might remember hikes like Crocodile Peak or Pinnacle Four (oh, how I miss those hikes). And truthfully, I have yet to see anything in Missouri that is that same level. Still, there ARE a lot of parks, trails, and hikes in the area. And I finally feel like we are starting to get into it again. (Brandon and I even have a 15-miler coming up, so stay tuned for that one!) And so, last week, we ventured out as a family to hike the Blossom Rock Trail.
Hiking Blossom Rock Trail
Blossom Rock Trail is a 1.3-mile loop located in Mark Twain National Forest. About a 45-minute drive from St Robert, it’s fairly easy to get to. I’ll share more directions and information in the “Directions” section at the bottom of this post. This trail is classified as “easy” according to AllTrails, and I would agree… if you’re not hiking with five children. But, we were hiking with all of our children and, while they DID do amazing and even our 3-year-old hiked almost the entire thing by herself, be mindful that there is a decent amount of up and down during this hike – especially compared to other hikes we’ve done here which are flatter.
There is a parking fee of $5 when you get to the park, which is waved if you have an America the Beautiful National Parks Pass. It was after arriving at the park that we realized our pass had expired the month before, and unfortunately there is not a booth to get a new one at this particular location. And, because all I had was a $20 bill and cash was the only way to pay… we made a nice little contribution to the park. So all that to say, BRING CASH in the form of small bills, or risk getting a ticket. We DID see a worker checking for parking permits after we got back to the car.
The trail itself was relatively easy to follow, thanks to the blue diamonds posted on the trees in various areas. We parked at one of the first lots we found (because we were in need of a bathroom and there was one there), but if you drive a little further into the park you can park right by the Blossom Rock trailhead. Bear in mind that if you’re visiting in the off-season, the bathrooms near the trailhead may be closed, due to the camping area being closed, but the bathrooms when you first enter the park will likely be open.
We parked near the bathrooms and it was just a short walk to the trailhead. I recommend using the AllTrails app to figure out the direction you should head. Once you get to the trailhead, it is clearly marked with a sign that says “Blossom Rock” and it is easy to follow the blue markers from there. There will be times on the trail that you may wonder whether you’re actually still ON the trail – as the ground itself does not seem like a great indication of where the trail is. Keep AllTrails handy to periodically check. But, for the most part, when there was a question as to which way we should go, there were blue markers guiding the way. When in doubt, just remember that years ago my husband got himself lost in the woods for a few days… If we can figure it out, anyone can.
Because we were visiting at the beginning of March, the plants were dead and the trail was covered in dead leaves from the winter. This, to me, was more ideal than what the reality will be in the spring and summer – which would likely be dense forest, overgrown trails, and ticks up the wazoo. Still, it will be much prettier in the spring and summer, so I don’t blame you if you choose to visit then. Just prepare accordingly with light-colored clothing, long pants tucked into your socks, long-sleeved shirts, and hats. Plus, I would plan ahead of time and treat all your clothes with permethrin… but maybe I’m just paranoid.
It will be darn-near impossible to avoid contact with bushes and branches on this hike in the spring and summer. Again, I don’t see that as a problem necessarily, as long as you are well prepared for it and the ticks that unfortunately come along with that in the Midwest.
Overall, it was a fantastic hike. Here’s to more exploring and more hiking!
’til next time…
Ash
Know before you go
Directions: If you use Google Maps, typing in “Blossom Rock Trailhead” and selecting the option in Lecoma, MO should get you to the trailhead. You can choose to park at the Lane Spring Recreation Area where you will find picnic tables, a bathroom, and outdoor grills, or you can follow the GPS all the way to the trailhead itself and park. Either location requires a $5 CASH payment to park – unless you have certain parks passes (including the America the Beautiful National Parks Pass). Even if you have a park pass, be sure to fill out one of the permits and include your pass number.
Amenities: There are bathrooms located at the Lane Spring Recreation Area, as well as in the camping area of the park. However, we found the camping area bathrooms to be closed because it was the off-season.
Other things to know: This trail is absolutely not stroller friendly, so plan accordingly for your little ones. Dogs are allowed, but must be leashed at all times. Our 6-month-old poodle handled the terrain just fine – although I do recommend using a leash that can wrap around your waist, especially for some of the more precarious parts of the trail.
