Clifty Creek Natural Area Maries County, Missouri - Natural Arches on Waymarking.com

Clifty Creek Conservation Area and Clifty Creek Natural Area offer the public 486 acres of scenic, but rugged Missouri Ozarks terrain near the Gasconade River in Maries County. In 2008 an excellent 2.5 mile loop trail to this remote area was developed by the cooperation of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Departments of the State of Missouri and the Federal Transportion Department's Recreational Trails Program.

I first learned about the area by an article in Rural Missouri magazine earlier this spring. It sounded like a great find so on a April Monday afternoon after a big weekend rain storm farther up US Highway 63, I decided to take a chance that the Clifty Creek and its tributary would not be swollen with flood water. They were not and their waters were clear and not too high.

I took some comfortable old Browning hiking boots for this journey, but also a bag with rubber farm boots in case I had to cross the streams to photograph both sides of the arch. That turned out to be a wise decision as I had to cross the stream twice on the loop trail and the farm boots turned out to be perfect for keeping my feet dry on a very cool day.

The trail was nicely constructed and well marked. Be advised that it undulates up and down in traveling from the high ground to the creek creek floor. The drop in elevation is over 200 feet.

I highly recommend a visit to this pristine natural area with its large stands of native woodlands, and flowering plants. April is a good month to visit, as was pointed out by the Rural Missouri article.
Take water, insect repellent, and be sure to pack out what you bring with you.

In the parking lot was this small sign that said the trail had been adopted by Jessica Adams and Kelly Sink. They must be doing their job well as I saw not a single piece of trash on the trail, which was rather remarkable.

The trail is for the sure footed and physically fit. You will be rewarded for the physical effort you exert in getting to the arch which has been eroded away by the action of water flowing down to meet Clifty Creek over centuries of time.

Looking at the interesting rocks in the creek bed reminded me of the concluding lines of Norman Maclean's "A River Runs Through It":
"Eventually all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters."

In summary, a very impressive natural arch in a gem of a setting. I understand volunteers from all over the state built the trail entirely by hand. They did a fine job, especially in setting rock steps at critical locations like getting down to the creek floor.

The rules of the Conservation Department pamphlet available in the the parking lot trailhead, state that groups of 10 or more need a special use permit. Contact MO Conservation Department, USDA Service Center, 1315 E. Main Street, Linn, Missouri (573)897-3797

Missouri Highway 28 East of Dixon, Missouri and Highway W. Take W as pavement ends and the road becomes a gravel road. Look for parking lot on left for trailhead parking. The loop trail forks early. Take the right fork (0.9 mile) and you don't have to cross the stream as I did. However, the total loop journey was worth the extra time to me.

Photo of the Arch by itself?: yes Type of Arch: Water Eroded Type of Material: Gasconade dolomite.

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Date Logged Log User Rating   02/21/2011 ozark4 visited it