Call of the wild: Five places for nature lovers to explore

Whether you want to relax on a river, hike cross country or just observe wildlife in its natural habitat, Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois are loaded with opportunities. The Missouri Department of Conservation has nearly 50 conservation areas spread among Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Perry, Scott, Stoddard and Ste. Genevieve counties. And that doesn't include state parks or nature areas operated by other entities. Here's a look at five popular destinations for nature lovers:

Trail of Tears State Park

Address: 429 Moccasin Springs, Jackson

Phone: 573-290-5268

Website: mostateparks.com/park/trail-tears-state-park

Trail of Tears State Park in Cape Girardeau County commemorates a dark chapter in American history. It was here that nine of 13 Cherokee Indian tribes being forcibly relocated by the American government crossed the Mississippi River in the winter of 1838-1839. The park's visitors center shares the tale of the thousands who died on the forced march west. The park, while preserving a piece of history, is home to an abundance of natural features. Four trails -- ranging from the easy half-mile Nature Trail to the more difficult 10-mile Peewah Trail -- traverse a diverse landscape ranging from valleys to river bluffs. The park's flora and fauna runs the gamut from common (wildflowers, squirrels and deer) to unusual -- pennywort, a rare plant, can be found in the spring and bald eagles can be spotted during winter months.

Fishing is a popular pastime at Trail of Tears. Those in search of catfish, perch and carp head for the Mississippi River. Lake Boutin, which covers 20 acres, is stocked with bass, bluegill and catfish. Boat ramps are available at both locations.

Lake Boutin was reopened to swimmers in July 2011 after being closed for three years for repairs to the beach. In addition to the beach renovation, other facility additions, including new restrooms, were made so the area is accessible to the disabled.

Basic, electric and sewer/electric/water campsites are available, as well as a primitive campsite for backpackers on the Peewah Trail. There are numerous picnic areas throughout the park.

Horse riders are welcome on the Peewah Trail but are asked not to travel on the trail when conditions are wet and to use caution while riding on the bluffs above the river.

Shawnee National Forest

Address: 50 Highway 145 South, Harrisburg, Ill.

Phone: 618-253-7114

Website: www.fs.fed.us/r9/shawnee/

The Shawnee National Forest covers a swath of Southern Illinois -- about 280,000 acres -- and is an outdoor-lover's dream. The forest's landscape features rolling hills, forests, open lands, lakes, creeks and rugged bluffs, and is inhabited by a variety of wildlife and plants.

Camping options in the forest range from primitive backpacking sites to campgrounds with showers and electricity. Most of the campgrounds are located near one of the lakes in the forest's boundaries or close to areas of exceptional beauty, like the Garden of the Gods -- sandstone rock formations that are 320 million years old. If you need accommodations that are a little more luxurious, as camping goes, many private campgrounds operate near the forest with cabins and camper/RV sites available.

Hiking options are plentiful, allowing visitors to find trails that suit their ability and interests. Trailheads are located at the multiple recreation areas within the park; some trails, like the Observation Trail at Garden of the Gods, also include interpretive signs. Of course, there are many trails that take hikers deep into nature, winding through various ecosystems found in the forest. The 160-mile River to River Trail, which links the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, also passes through the Shawnee National Forest. It is open to hikers and equestrians (for more on horse riding in the forest, see the trail guide on page 33).

The forest is public land, providing sports enthusiasts a range of hunting opportunities. Each year thousands of hunters are attracted to the forest to hunt everything from trophy bucks to upland game and waterfowl. Because there is private land interspersed with the forest, hunters are responsible for making sure they remain on public property. All Illinois hunting regulations must be followed.

Boating, fishing, swimming and rock climbing are also popular within Shawnee National Forest.

Ozark National Scenic Riverways

Address: P.O. Box 490, Van Buren, Mo., 63965

Phone: 573-323-4236

Website: www.nps.gov/ozar/

Hop in a tube and let your worries float away. The relaxation of an afternoon spent floating down a river is what draws many of the 1.5 million visitors a year to Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

The riverways protect 134 miles of the Current and Jacks Fork rivers and some 80,000 acres of river, forest, open field and glade environments. The spring-fed rivers are ideal for floating, canoeing and kayaking, teeming with self-proclaimed river rats on weekends in the summer. Due to lack of access, Jacks Fork is the most primitive of the rivers and is better suited to canoeing or kayaking than floating. It is generally considered a Class I-II difficulty river. Locally operated companies rent tubes, canoes and kayaks to visitors and provide transportation upriver. Private campgrounds abound, with amenities ranging from cabins to primitive tent sites.

Although the rivers themselves are the major draw, the area around the riverways also offers hiking and equestrian trails and fishing opportunities. There also are many spots of interest for history and geology buffs. Alley Mill, built in 1894, gives a glimpse of the past and makes visitors appreciate the ease of getting a bag of flour at the grocery store. The Civilian Conservation Corps was active in the region during the Great Depression, and many of its efforts, such as Big Spring Lodge, are still in use today. Springs and caves dot the landscape throughout the Ozarks and the Riverways feature prime examples of both geological features. Big Springs, near Van Buren, pumps an average of 278 million gallons of icy water into the Current River each day. In the Eminence area, Alley Spring, Round Spring and Blue Spring attract their own share of visitors.

Wildlife abounds on land and in the water, and the Riverways are home to something unusual in the Midwest: Two herds of wild horses. These wild and beautiful animals can be spotted in areas around Eminence and are protected and maintained by the Missouri Wild Horse League.

Several state parks adjoin or are close to the Riverways, providing additional camping as well as hiking and equestrian trails and other resources.

Mingo National Wildlife Refuge

Address: 24279 Highway 51, Puxico, Mo.

Phone: 573-222-3589

Website: www.fws.gov/midwest/mingo/

More than 100,000 people visit Mingo National Wildlife Refuge each year to observe waterfowl, hike through bottomland forests or admire fall foliage on the auto tour.

The primary purpose of the refuge, established in 1944, is to provide food and shelter for migratory waterfowl and to protect bottomland forest. It goes far beyond that, however, with several opportunities to get closer to nature.

The refuge is a prime spot to view wildlife, ranging from majestic bald eagles to reclusive bobcats. It is home to turkeys, otters, deer and an array of waterfowl, as well. Wildflowers carpet the refuge in spring, while fall foliage highlights the hills and swamps in fall. Observation platforms are scattered throughout the area for maximum viewing potential.

Visitors can view the refuge by land or by sea, as it were. Hiking trails wind through the area, accessing some of the remote areas of the refuge. For the less intense nature experience, the Boardwalk Nature Trail is the best option. This one-mile loop is an easy hike and it is handicap-accessible.

Canoeing and kayaking allow visitors to experience the swamp from the water, traveling through marshes and ditches.

Fishing and limited hunting are allowed on the refuge, but there are regulations.

The refuge covers 21,592 acres of swamp, marsh and bottomlands. In 1976, 7,730 of those acres were designated as a Wilderness Area by Congress under the 1964 Wilderness Act. This is the most pristine area of the refuge and is not accessible by motorized vehicles or boats.

Wappapello Lake

Address: 10992 Route T, Wappapello, Mo.

Phone: 573-222-8562 or 877-525-3463

Website: www.mvs.usace.army.mil/wappapello/

If you enjoy the outdoors, Wappapello Lake offers something for everyone. Activities at the lake include fishing, hunting, swimming, camping, picnicking and more, on more than 44,000 acres of public lands and water.

The Corps of Engineers operates the lake and its dam and maintains many recreation areas around the lake's shore. Boating is one of the most popular pastimes at the lake, whether you've got a speed boat or a pontoon. The Corps has commercial lease agreements on the lake to provide a variety of services to boaters. Some of these privately run marinas also offer boat rentals, ranging from waverunners to johnboats for fishing.

Wappapello is stocked with largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish, making it a fisherman's paradise. There are access points around the lake for those who wish to fish from the shore, as well as numerous boat ramps. Three sand beaches around the lake are popular with swimmers, who must stay within designated areas. Beaches generally open in May and close at the end of July. The exception is Peoples Creek beach, which closes Sept. 10.

A 33-mile section of the Ozark Trail passes through the area and is open to hikers, bicyclists and equestrians. Additional trails can be found at recreation areas around the lake or at nearby Lake Wappapello State Park.

Hunting is permitted around the lake during specified seasons. Sportsmen will find whitetail deer, turkey, dove, quail, rabbit, squirrels and many species of waterfowl. Missouri hunting laws and regulations must be observed.