The Missouri Department of Conservation’s Pickle Springs
Natural Area is a special place with cool, moist canyons and
spectacular views from tall sandstone bluffs. Several rare plants
thrive here, including the beautiful wild azalea. But it is the
geology, and its effect on the plants that live here, that makes
the area truly unique.
Pickle Springs is a 180-acre area of rugged forested hills with
several barren sandstone exposures, box canyons and waterfalls.
Within a one-hour walk, there are many interesting geologic
features to see, including natural arches, sandstone caves,
chimneys, known locally as “hoodoos,” bluffs, box
canyons and springs.
It is named after William Pickles, an early settler, who was
killed by the notorious outlaw Sam Hildebrand and his gang during
the Civil War. Pickle Springs was a favorite hideout for the many
Confederate guerillas that roamed this area, attacking remote Union
Army outposts and terrorizing local Union sympathizers. The
guerillas were the remnants of General Sterling Price’s army
of 12,000 men, who were so badly defeated when they attacked Fort
Davidson, near Pilot Knob, On Sept. 26-27, 1864. Fort Davidson was
defended by a garrison of 1,450 men led by General Thomas Ewing
Jr., the brother-in-law of General William Tecumseh Sherman. The
Confederates lost nearly 1,000 men in attacking the small earthen
fort and its 11 cannons.
The rocks at Pickle Springs were formed nearly 500 million years
ago when sand deposited in an extensive maze of braided river
channels was cemented together to form sandstone. The sandstone
became buried under younger layers of limestone, which were
deposited on the floors of ancient seas. The area was then
uplifted, as it is today, and erosion has worn away the overlying
strata until the old sandstone is again exposed at the surface.
This sandstone, called the Lamotte Formation, outcrops in small
portions of the St. Francois Mountains. Pickle Springs is the best
known exposure of the Lamotte. Over millions of years, water, ice,
rain, wind and plants have worn away softer parts of the sandstone,
creating fantastic formations and deep canyons.
The weathered sandstone forms an acidic soil that supports many
unique plants. During the time of the great glaciers (10,000 to
300,000 years ago), plants and animals moved south ahead of the
advancing ice. Mammoths wandered in the cool canyons of Pickle
Springs, grazing on the lush northern vegetation supported by the
area’s acid soils. Today the Mammoths are gone, but many of
the plants remain, relicts of that earlier climate. As you walk the
trail through time you will see some of those relicts, along with
the unique geologic features carved by nature.
Because of this unique concentration of rare plants and geologic
features, this area has been designated a Missouri Natural Area and
a National Natural Landmark. The two-mile loop trail takes you to a
number of spectacular geologic features, including The Slot, Spirit
Canyon, Dome Rock and Rockpile Canyon, among others. The walk is
not particularly difficult, but the trail is narrow and steep in
places. Sorry, but it is definitely NOT wheelchair accessible.
Please note:
· This is a state natural area and a national landmark.
Please do not disturb animals, plants or rock formations.
· This area has dangerous cliffs and poison ivy. For your
children’s safety, please keep them on the trail.
· Camping, rock climbing, fires, horses, motorized vehicles
and littering are prohibited.
· Keep pets on leash.
Park at N 37°48.080, W 090° 18.090. Pick up a copy of
the excellent “Trail Through Time” brochure at the
trailhead. Bring a camera – you’ll definitely want
photos of this unique and beautiful area.
To claim your find, send me an email (know_future@juno.com))
with the name of the feature located at:
N 37°48.072, W 90°17.564
This feature is on the trail and its name is on a small sign.
[21 Jan 10: The sign is long gone, but if you can grab a map at the
trailhead you won't have much trouble identifying the feature.] The
heavy tree canopy may give you a different reading at this
location. Just come as close as you can while staying on the trail
and you will find it.