OUR NATURAL AREAS AND FOREST RESERVES

When the owner of Pioneer Forest, Leo Drey, began acquiring forest land in the Ozarks, he also acquired other areas significant to Missouri and the Midwest, such as fens, springs, sinkholes, caves, glades, bluffs, and natural bridges; an important petroglyph site in north Missouri; a complex karst area featuring a collapsed cave system; several remote sandstone canyons; a protected headwater stream; and old growth oak, eastern red cedar, and shortleaf pine forest sites.

Nine of these properties have been designated as Missouri Natural Areas in recognition of their significant biologic and geologic characteristics. One area, Grand Gulf State Park, is a National Natural Landmark and is managed as a Missouri State Park. A second area, Dillard Mill State Historic Site is also managed as a Missouri State Park. Two areas are registered in the Society of American Foresters’ National Natural Areas Program as Research Natural Areas. We also recognize significant forest reserves on the lands of Pioneer Forest.

The following is a listing and brief description of several of the more accessible areas.

BALL MILL RESURGENCE. The principal feature here is a resurgent sinkhole. Rainfall passes through the sinkhole until enough accumulated water fills the underground conduits and pressure forces the waters back up through the Ball Mill Resurgence. The area is 19 acres in size and located in Perry County, about six miles north of Perryville. There is a small parking area and a short loop trail. Ball Mill Resurgence is owned by the L-A-D Foundation and managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Collecting of geological specimens is prohibited.

CAVE SPRING. Cave Spring empties 32 million gallons of water into the Current River each day. With a spectacular river entrance at the base of a bluff, the nearly vertical natural well is just inside the mouth of the cave. Cave Spring is located in Shannon County and is best reached by river, about 2 miles below Aker’s Ferry.)

CLIFTY CREEK NATURAL BRIDGE. A tributary to Clifty Creek pirated a shortcut through a narrow ridge to the larger creek. The old creekbed was abandoned and the smaller tributary stream has formed this impressive natural bridge. Clifty Creek Natural Bridge is located in Maries County and is about six miles northeast of Dixon. There is a small parking lot and a trail leads from the parking lot to Clifty Creek where hikers can follow the creek downstream to the natural bridge.

CURRENT RIVER. A small forested area of virgin white oak with canopy trees originating between 1640 and the early 1700’s. The 10-acre tract is surrounded by a much larger north-facing slope of old-growth red oak, black oak, black gum, and white oak where minimal salvage has been the only management practice. A remote location in Shannon County, approximately 15 miles south of Bunker.

DILLARD MILL. One of the state’s most picturesque gristmills situated along a rocky stretch of Huzzah Creek. This site is a part of Missouri’s State Park System and is located in Crawford County, approximately 23 miles south of Steeleville.

DRIPPING SPRINGS. A spring/waterfall/seep issues from a north-facing sandstone and dolomite bluff above Piney River. This small 8-acre area is located in Texas County, about 7 miles southwest of Houston. (Directions: Access is by boat from the Piney River, perhaps 1 and 1/2 miles below the Baptist Camp Access.)

GRAND GULF STATE PARK. One of the most spectacular geologic areas in Missouri, this area features the collapsed remains of a major cave system. Found here are a sinkhole, cave, natural bridge, and the gulf itself which is often called the "Little Grand Canyon." This area is part of Missouri’s State Park System. Grand Gulf State Park includes picnic areas, walking, mill tours, and exhibits. The park is located in Oregon County, approximately 5 miles west of Thayer.

HORSESHOE BEND. This area includes approximately two miles of the Big Piney River extending around an almost mile-long arm of land which features a high dolomite bluff along with oak-pine, mixed oak-hickory, as well as mixed bottomland forest. Located in Texas County, the site is just 2.5 miles north of Houston.

LAXTON HOLLOW. This area represents an older age component of the forest, more typical of Pioneer Forest and this region following the logging activity which occurred during the 1930’s and 1940’s. Larger and older trees here dominate the canopy, including scarlet oak, black oak, hickory, and white oak. This area includes ridgetop to valley bottom of a northeast-facing hillside, karst features, and a pair of inventory monitoring plots which serves as a benchmark for direct comparison to the immediately adjacent managed forest. This area is located in Shannon County, south of Midridge and near the former Himont Firetower.

PINEY RIVER NARROWS. A sharply constricted rock bluff, extending perhaps 200 yards with exceptional dolomite pinnacles, and glade flora along a hogback ridge carved by the Big Piney River and Piney Creek. Located in Texas County, approximately 2 miles west of Houston.

PIONEER. Old-growth eastern red cedar and associated hardwoods along Current River. Most accessible from Current River and located just upriver from Big Creek along either side of long narrow ridge extending southeast to river valley; geographically about 1-mile west of Tip Top Mountain. The area is in Shannon County.

VIRGIN PINE. This area of large, old-growth shortleaf pine occurs in a one-mile long strip along either side of Missouri State Highway 19. Recent sampling of the age rings from several of the oldest trees here are more than 200 years old. This area is located in Shannon County. From Salem travel south on Highway 19 to Round Spring. Highway 19 continues south past the spring going uphill where you will enter the pine forest. Missouri Department of Transportation signs are posted at the north and south boundaries.