Pavement Ends: Hikes within a half-hour drive of Cape Girardeau

In Southeast Missouri, we are blessed with interesting scenery in every direction. To the west we have the ancient Ozark Mountains with shut-ins and tall peaks. To the east, the Shawnee National Forest in Illinois features bluffs and canyons. The north includes the rolling hills and historic towns in Perry and Ste. Genevieve counties. And even the south -- although flat as a pancake -- offers a unique experience.

Despite this, sometimes you feel like going outdoors, but don't feel like driving very far. That's fine: Plenty of worthwhile destinations can be found only a short drive away.

Here is a selection of hiking trails within a 30-minute drive from Cape Girardeau. (Tip: Detailed maps for all of these places are available online from the Missouri Department of Conservation or the Shawnee National Forest.)

Cape LaCroix Bluffs Conservation Area

Cape LaCroix BluffsJames Baughn

The Scott City area is home to a large natural arch.

Yes, really.

Cape LaCroix Bluffs Conservation Area, located adjacent to the SEMO Port, features limestone bluffs that tower over the old channel of Cape LaCroix Creek. One spot along the bluff includes a natural arch tall enough to walk through.

Although the conservation area has a marked hiking trail, to find the bluffs and natural arch, you will need to carefully leave the trail to the right (north) and explore.

__Directions:__ Take Interstate 55 to the Airport/Route AB exit (mile marker 91). Follow Route AB (Nash Road) east for 3.5 miles. Look for the big SEMO Port Authority sign and turn left on the first gravel road. This leads to the small parking area for the conservation area.

Sand Prairie Conservation Area

Sand Prairie Conservation AreaBy James Baughn

Arizona isn't the only place to find sand dunes and cactuses. We have a pocket of desert -- of sorts -- right in Scott County.

Sand Prairie Conservation Area near Benton, Missouri, preserves a 200-acre tract of sandy terrain, a small relic of a landscape that once covered a significant portion of the Missouri Bootheel.

This area doesn't have a marked trail, but scrambling across sand dunes is fun. Watch out for the prickly-pear cactus, though.

__Directions:__ Take Interstate 55 south to the Benton exit (mile marker 80). Turn left on Highway 77 and drive just over 2 miles to the intersection with County Road 333. Make a sharp left on County Road 333 (paved) and go north for 2 miles. Look for the small parking area on the right.

Juden Creek Trail

Juden CreekJames Baughn

Don't be fooled: just because the Juden Creek Trail is within the city limits of Cape Girardeau doesn't mean it is easy or boring.

Starting at a trailhead on Cape Rock Drive, this trail climbs to a ridge between Juden Creek to the north and the Cape Girardeau Country Club to the south. The trail eventually ends at private property, but not before providing a quality workout. This is a good place to find spring wildflowers and fall color.

__Directions:__ Take Highway 177 north from Cape. Turn right on Old Route V and then make another right on Cape Rock Drive. Cross the one-lane bridge and look for the parking area and trailhead on the right.

Maintz Wildlife Preserve

Located southwest of Oak Ridge, this 804-acre conservation area features a summer bonus: large fields of planted sunflowers. Although the area doesn't have any designated hiking trails, a series of parking lots provide easy access to wander around and explore. Parking lot No. 4 is perhaps the best starting point, as it is only a short walk from a picturesque barn and pond.

__Directions:__ Take Highway 72 through Jackson toward Millersville. Just before reaching Millersville, turn right on Route B. After 2 miles, turn left on Route BB near the water tower. Go 1 mile and look for County Road 471 on the right. Parking lot No. 4 is 1.3 miles down this county road on the left. Other parking lots can be found along County Road 472 and County Road 473.

Tywappity Lake Trail

Tywappity LakeJames Baughn

This man-made recreational lake sits in the hills above Chaffee, Missouri. A convenient 2.5-mile trail circles the lake, providing photogenic views from all angles. The trail also allows exploring the boulder-strewn tributaries that feed into the lake.

"Tywappity" (sometimes spelled "Zewapeta") is the original name for the town of Commerce, Missouri, as well as a general name for the bottomlands along the Mississippi River below Commerce.

__Directions:__ Take Interstate 55 south to the Scott City exit. Turn right on Route M and drive to Chaffee. At the main intersection in Chaffee, turn left on Route A, cross the railroad tracks and make two zigzag turns to stay on Route A. Just outside of town, turn left on Route RA. This road ends at the Tywappity Lake parking area.

Apple Creek Conservation Area

Apple Creek Conservation AreaJames Baughn

Located in the northeast corner of Cape Girardeau County, this sprawling conservation area offers a 5-mile multiuse trail open to hiking, biking and horseback riding. The trail, which can be broken into shorter sections, traverses a mix of open fields and deep woods.

__Directions:__ Take Interstate 55 to the Fruitland exit (No. 105). Turn right on Highway 61 and continue north 3 miles to the turnoff for Route C. Turn right and take Route C north for 6 miles to New Wells. Turn right to stay on Route C, then turn right on Route CC. After 1 mile, turn right on County Road 525. Go 1.2 miles and turn left at the turnoff marked "Horse Trailer Parking." Drive past the equestrian parking area and continue on the access road (making a right turn) until the road ends at the parking lot and gate.

Horse Creek Trail

Horse CreekJames Baughn

The Shawnee National Forest encompasses vast acreage within the river hills along the opposite side of the Mississippi River. These hills and hollows are crisscrossed by many miles of trails. Of these, the most easily accessible trail from Cape Girardeau is the Horse Creek Trail southeast of McClure, Illinois. Forming a 5-mile loop, the trail's eastern half follows Horse Creek within a deep hollow while the western half runs along a ridge top.

__Directions:__ Cross the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge into Illinois and turn left at Highway 3. After entering McClure, turn right on Grapevine Trail. Go 4.7 miles and turn right on Oxford Road. This turnoff is a bit hard to see in advance -- it comes immediately after the left turn for County Line Road. Climb to the top of the hill on Oxford Road and bear right at the intersection to stay on the main road. Look for the trailhead on the left and park on the side of the road where safe.

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About James

The webmaster of seMissourian.com and its sister newspapers, James Baughn has lost track of the number of websites he manages. On the side, he maintains even more sites, including Bridgehunter.com, LandmarkHunter.com, TheCapeRock.com and Humorix.