Ha Ha Tonka State Park, just minutes from Camdenton, Missouri, offered my family a fun, and much needed, day away.
3 Things To Do At Ha Ha Tonka State Park
First off, most state parks offer a wide variety of activities and attractions. As a day-visitor with limited time, you will need to carefully pick and choose what sites you will see and what trails you will hike.
I was fortunate to catch a park ranger standing outside of his vehicle. Even though the visitor station was closed due to Covid 19, the park ranger was kind enough to tell me the three sites he recommended for newbies to the park. He also unlocked his office and handed me a park map - what a lifesaver!
Second, you need to have an understanding of the composition of my family. My wife and I will hit 40 this summer. We have shed quite a few pounds over the last 12 months and continue to work hard to get fit. We also have six kiddos, ranging from 18 months old to 13 years old. I carried the little man on my back the entire time. That added 25 pounds of weight and gave me a good workout. We took breaks to hydrate and enjoy some snacks, but we kept a steady pace throughout the entire day. My 5-year-old rocked the trails. I am so proud of all of my kiddos.
Ha Ha Tonka Castle and Carriage House
The castle-like mansion greatly contrasts the rustic, forest scenery. In 1905, Robert M. Synder began construction of a European style castle. Mr. Synder was not able to complete his grand plans because he died in a car accident (one of the first car accidents in Missouri). Although less grand than initially planned, the "castle" was completed in 1922 by Synder's sons.
Eventually leased for use as a hotel, the castle caught fire in 1922 when a spark jumped out of the chimney. Both the castle and carriage house burned on the same day.
Ha Ha Tonka Natural Bridge
A natural bridge, spanning 60 feet long over 100 feet in the air, is the cornerstone of the yellow trail that we followed. With the ability to walk over and walk under the natural bridge, visitors will be sure to get some great photos. We did!
We enjoyed the cool breeze that made its way under the bridge. It was a sweet resting spot from the sun.
Ha Ha Tonka Spring
The Ha Ha Tonka spring ranks as Missouri's 12th largest and pumps more than 48 million gallons of water each day into a stream that flows into Lake of the Ozarks.
Visiting the spring is not for the faint of heart. At one end of the spring trail, a sign reminds visitors that they must take 316 steps with a change of elevation of over 200 feet to view the spring. Going down was not a problem. Thanks, gravity! But going up was a different story. We stopped twice (after going up roughly 100 steps) to take a breather and let our stragglers catch up. I was a proud papa when I reached the top. My brave hikers did a great job!
Final Thoughts
In total, our family hiked about 3 miles over the course of three hours. With 15 miles of trails, Ha Ha Tonka offers more than we could enjoy in one day.
Even though the trails were well marked, I recommend getting a map (if possible). I also recommend going with the flow. We did not always end up where were thought we were going, but somehow we still ended up where we were supposed to be.
Thanks for stopping by!
@SumatraNate
Sources: Information available along the trail and Ha Ha Tonka State Park Brochure.
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