Scouted out spots for a winter sunrise picture at Vilander Bluff. There was quite a bit of cloud cover at sunrise but seems like there is a lot of potential. Afternoon glow from sunset could also be good for pics facing upriver.
Hikes
South Cumberland State Park
Hiking and backpacking South Cumberland State Park's Fiery Gizzard & Savage Gulf for Christmas. Some pretty incredible features for only a six hour drive from St. Louis.
Exploring St. Genevieve County
Hit the sandstone of St. Genevieve county this weekend. Not much rain lately so spent a good amount of time scouting new areas. Found some promising wet weather falls for another trip.
La Barque Creek Sidewinder Cascade
This waterfall in near the border of La Barque Creek Conservation Area & Don Robinson State Park. This phone was taken Thanksgiving morning 2020 after an inch of rain the day before.
Sinking Creek Tower Trailhead
Stayed at Sinking Creek Tower trailhead with the trailer. Visited Coward's Hollow, Big Springs, Turner Spring & Big Barren Creek Natural Area (not pictured). Big Springs was somewhat flooded so iphone shot is actually of a lesser side spring.
Castor River Shut-ins
Castor River Shut-in is an impressive formation with a unique pink-ish color. While other shut-ins may cast red hues, the vibrant pink rhyolite here is absolutely striking. Before recognizing the native glade plant life, one might mistake photos of this area as being from another state.
Royal Gorge
North of Arcadia and only a few miles from the highest point in Missouri, Royal Gorge sits just off the side of the road. Its history is both ancient, on the order of 1.5 billion years old volcanic rock — and more recent, with a giant stone and mortar wall constructed during the Great Depression which still supports the roadway. Designated a natural area in 1973, the shut-ins and towering rhyolite outcroppings above Minor Creek are magnificent.
Little Rock Creek Shut-in
Little Rock Creek Shut-in is a spectacular formation of lichen covered boulders, straight edge rhyolite chutes and turquoise plunge pools. At the southern base of Black Mountain, this shut-in's proximity to the road should be ignored. Its considerable beauty, coupled with the sounds of falling water drown out even the loudest passerby.
Shut-in Creek
Bell Mountain is one of the most popular backpacking destinations in the state. It's rock fortress towers above a deep chasm with sweeping views to the east which make for a stunning sunrise. Shut-in creek below flows through some of the most rugged backcountry in the state. It's a 600 foot loss in elevation to reach the bottom in a little over 1/3 of a mile. The opposite bank is a near mirror image to the crest of Lindsey Mountain.
Klepzig Mill
That last of three shut-ins along Rocky Creek, Klepzig Mill is the more common name for Mill Mountain Shut-in. Built by Prussian German immigrant Walter Klepzig, the site contains an early 20th century sawmill house, cement spillway and various other old foundations.
