Loop 2
- 4.2 mi
- round trip
- 682 ft
- climb
- 891 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
- best months
Loop 2 is a 4.24-mile hike in Missouri, about a mile from the town of Old Bland. It is an out-and-back route that climbs to a high point of 891 feet, with a total elevation gain of 682 feet over the round trip. The steepest stretch comes at about 1.7 miles in, where the grade reaches 17 percent. The trail is rated hard, and the climb is the main challenge. The route is roughly 8.5 miles long, so plan on about three hours for the round trip. Bikes and horses are both allowed, which makes it a versatile option for riders and pack animals. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Freedom, Missouri, show October highs around 69°F with lows near 44°F, while May runs about 75°F by day and 53°F at night. Loop 1 lies just 0.1 mile away, and Loop 3 is about 0.8 mile off. For paddling, Third Creek is about 5.6 miles away.
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Walking Fern TrailHiking · ~50 min drivePhoto: teeks99, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- Wilderness TrailHiking · ~49 min drive
- Kaintuck Trail YellowHiking · ~1h 1m drive
Towering OakHiking · ~1h 6m drivePhoto: smays, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- Cedar Creek - SouthHiking · ~1h 14m drive
- Cedar Creek Trail - Smith CreeHiking · ~1h 17m drive
- Paved TrailHiking · ~1h 6m drivePhoto: smays, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Moreau Creek TrailHiking · ~1h 15m drive
- Gravel TrailHiking · ~1h 6m drivePhoto: smays, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Ozark Trail - Trace CreekHiking · ~1h 20m drive
Best time to visit Loop 2
Best months: March–June and September–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
40° / 21°
7 wet
Feb
46° / 24°
7 wet
Mar
56° / 33°
9 wet
Apr
67° / 43°
10 wet
May
75° / 53°
12 wet
Jun
83° / 62°
9 wet
Jul
88° / 66°
8 wet
Aug
87° / 64°
8 wet
Sep
80° / 55°
7 wet
Oct
69° / 44°
8 wet
Nov
56° / 34°
7 wet
Dec
44° / 25°
7 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Freedom, MO, 10.6 mi away at 805 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
