Spring Trail

Spring Trail is a short, easy hike in Missouri, about 1.3 miles long, that makes a quick outing from the town of Hahatonka, which sits just 0.1 mile away. The trail is an out-and-back, and the round trip covers about 2.6 miles with a total elevation gain of 820 feet. The climb is steepest near the 0.7-mile mark, where the grade reaches about 27 percent, and the high point of the route is 886 feet. The trail is rated easy, and it is not open to bikes or horses. The trip takes about 1.5 hours, so it works well as a short stop in the area. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Lakeside show October highs around 70°F with lows near 49°F, and April is similar at about 69°F by day and 47°F at night. That station sits roughly 300 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the trail run a little cooler. Several other trails start close by. Castle Trail is 0.1 mile away, and Island Trail and Colosseum Trail are each about 0.3 mile off. For time on the water, the Niangua River fishing access is about 0.6 mile away.