THE FLIP SIDE

Hiker finds path less traveled at Roaring River State Park

The River Trail at Roaring River State Park runs for 1.1 miles along spring-fed Roaring River in the Missouri State Park for a 2.2-mile out and back hike.
The River Trail at Roaring River State Park runs for 1.1 miles along spring-fed Roaring River in the Missouri State Park for a 2.2-mile out and back hike.

Discovery is one of the joys of hiking an Ozarks path. Could be you'll find a whole new trail.

That was the case during a recent trip to Roaring River State Park, tucked away in the hills northeast of Seligman, Mo. There's no telling how many times I've visited the park to fly fish during the winter catch-and-release trout season. The agenda this trip was the same as every outing. I'd fish in the morning, take a hike around noon, then fish some more in the afternoon.

I've always been fond of the Devil's Kitchen Trail at Roaring River, a 1.5-mile loop. I'd bet a handful of fishing flies there isn't a speck of level ground. The trail goes up, up, up for the first half of the hike, then down to complete the loop.

It's nice to pack a lunch and enjoy fine dining in a rock garden of boulders and cliffs on the second half of the hike.

Early during this visit, I noticed a little sign tacked up by the old Roaring River Lodge that workers are busy remodeling. The sign said, "River Trail." Hmmm. Never seen that before. After fishing in the morning, I decided to skip Devil's Kitchen and hike the River Trail.

No telling how many years I've fished at Roaring River and never knew this trail existed. It's hidden from the view of fishermen on the stream because it runs high above the water. The River Trail had been right above my nose. It was my discovery on this trip.

The trail starts to the right of the Roaring River Lodge in the heart of the park. The path runs 1.1 miles above spring-fed Roaring River, for a 2.2-mile out and back hike. The tread rises gradually until the it is high above the water for nice views of the stream and park.

It's easy to see how this trail can be invisible to fishermen. Anglers mostly have their eyes on the water, watching their line for a twitch, which may be a strike from a trout. They rarely look up.

We'd had some rain, and the temperature was below freezing. That created some fine icicle sculpture. Frosty daggers were everywhere along a bluff where most of the trail runs. The path hugs this bluff to the end of the trail, near Missouri Highway F.

Sunshine shimmered on the clear water of Roaring River this brisk winter day. Most of the scenery was beautifully back-lit because the sun was so low in the southern sky. On the return hike, the views looked totally different with the sun behind me.

Now I've got a dilemma. Next trip, do I hike my beloved Devil's Kitchen Trail, the River Trail, or fish less and do both?

I drove home with memories of leaping trout and the joy of finding a new path to hike.

Flip Putthoff can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWAFlip

Sports on 02/09/2016

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