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Discover Shut-ins and History at Lon Sanders Canyon Conservation Area
Lon Sanders Canyon is a scenic and short hike located off the beaten path near Piedmont, Missouri. If you are looking for a quiet place to explore or a shallow place for kids to splash, the area contains rocky shut-ins along McKenzie Creek. Despite its rugged beauty, this place is relatively unknown compared to more popular parks such as Johnson’s Shut-Ins. History The canyon holds some interesting history. It is rumored that the Jesse James gang hid out in this…
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Beaver Dam State Park: A Hidden Gem in Central Illinois
Tucked away in the countryside of west-central Illinois, Beaver Dam State Park is a hidden gem filled with peaceful lake views, wooded hiking trails, and beautiful boardwalks winding through the marsh. Located just southwest of Carlinville, this 750-acre park doesn’t get nearly as much attention as some of Illinois’ more popular destinations, but it’s well worth exploring! We’ve visited in different seasons, but fall is my favorite time to explore Beaver Dam State Park. The colorful leaves reflecting off the…
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Find Caves and Waterfalls at Kress Farm Garden Preserve
Kress Farm Garden Preserve is a hidden gem in Hillsboro, Missouri. The 142 acres preserve is dedicated to maintaining native plants and wildlife habitat under a conservation easement through Ozark Land Trust. The preserve features gardens, fields, forests, wildlife habitats, streams, and scenic bluffs. Volunteers work daily to maintain this scenic place for all to enjoy. The preserve features four different hiking trails plus a trail that combines several of the trails together. All are of easy to moderate difficulty.…
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Giant City State Park – Devil’s Standtable and Indian Creek Nature Trails
Giant City State Park is one of the best state parks in all of Illinois. The park is filled with huge and rugged rock formations. All of the trails have something to offer, but two of the shortest and most kid-friendly trails at the park are the Devil’s Standtable Trail and the Indian Creek Shelter Nature Trail. Giant City Devil’s Standtable Trail The Devil’s Standtable Trail is located just down the road from the popular Giant City Nature Trail. The…
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Exploring Missouri’s Roaring River State Park
While Roaring River State Park may be most well known as a great place for fishing, we discovered that it contains many opportunities for recreation for all. This rugged park in southwestern Missouri is home to one of the deepest explored natural springs in the entire United States. In 2021, divers explored the the spring to a depth of 472 feet with no end in sight. This depth of 472′ became the record for the deepest explored spring in the…
