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It is organized by trail, so that it will be easy for people to find information.
Please read our usage notes before starting. You can read reviews without joining the forum, but you have to join if you want to post. Click here to register.
Mark Twain Lake - Joanna Trail (partial)
Posted by: Nick Kasoff (IP Logged)
Date: October 29, 2005 09:22PM
Time: 2 3/4 hours
Distance: 6 3/4 miles (about 1/3 bushwhacking)
Official Site: [www.mvs.usace.army.mil]
Useful Site: [www.cannondam.com]
Trail Map: [www.cannondam.com]
Trail Condition: Good
GPS Tracks: Garmin: [www.mohiking.com] Text: [www.mohiking.com]
My Photos: [www.mohiking.com]
One of us wasn't feeling quite well, so we set out to do only part of the Joanna Trail at Mark Twain Lake - we began intending to hike 10 miles, but ultimately went only about 7. But it was an exceptional hike in many ways.
We started at the trailhead at the parking lot at the end of Oakland Road, off Highway J. We proceeded west on the trail, through a variety of vegetation and terrain not often found in our hikes in southern Missouri. Along with the usual forest and hills, there were huge meadows, little groves of cedar, and of course, the lake.
When we had gone about 3 1/2 miles, one of us was running out of gas, and we decided to turn back. But to that point, the trail had scrupulously avoided a decent lake view. We took a spur down to the lake, at which point the urge to bushwhack became irresistable. We walked along the lake for quite a while, crossing a couple of dry inlets, and rejoining the trail as it cut back away from the lake. Toward the end of the trail, we took another short bushwack across a dry inlet rather than taking the trail around the end.
General observations about the trail: First of all, while it was overgrown in a few places, it is an extremely well marked trail. There was only one occasion where we were uncertain of where the trail went, and aside from the exception, you were generally in sight of several trail markers. The Forest Service folks didn't skimp on the yellow spray paint on this trail. Because this trail is shared with horses, there were a few "hazards" along the way, but generally speaking, it was in good shape and easy to follow.
Bushwhacking was great fun here. I particularly enjoyed walking along the shore of the lake, something which the trail didn't do in the several miles we were on it. The rocks were not always as secure as they looked, so you had to be careful - and in one inlet, I sank several inches into what looked like dry dirt. But we saw lots of wildlife tracks, a couple of fishermen in boats, and some neat fossils. And bushwhacking the woods, at least at this time of year, was no worse than walking the trail.
One other note - when I looked at the topographic map, I was led to believe this was a pretty flat trail. Definitely not the case. Aside from several lengthy but gentle climbs, there were plenty of ravine crossings, several of which were extremely steep. This is definitely not a trail to do in tennis shoes.
All things considered, this was a very cool trail. A return to Mark Twain Lake to hike the complete trail, more than 20 miles total, is definitely on the agenda.
Distance: 6 3/4 miles (about 1/3 bushwhacking)
Official Site: [www.mvs.usace.army.mil]
Useful Site: [www.cannondam.com]
Trail Map: [www.cannondam.com]
Trail Condition: Good
GPS Tracks: Garmin: [www.mohiking.com] Text: [www.mohiking.com]
My Photos: [www.mohiking.com]
One of us wasn't feeling quite well, so we set out to do only part of the Joanna Trail at Mark Twain Lake - we began intending to hike 10 miles, but ultimately went only about 7. But it was an exceptional hike in many ways.
We started at the trailhead at the parking lot at the end of Oakland Road, off Highway J. We proceeded west on the trail, through a variety of vegetation and terrain not often found in our hikes in southern Missouri. Along with the usual forest and hills, there were huge meadows, little groves of cedar, and of course, the lake.
When we had gone about 3 1/2 miles, one of us was running out of gas, and we decided to turn back. But to that point, the trail had scrupulously avoided a decent lake view. We took a spur down to the lake, at which point the urge to bushwhack became irresistable. We walked along the lake for quite a while, crossing a couple of dry inlets, and rejoining the trail as it cut back away from the lake. Toward the end of the trail, we took another short bushwack across a dry inlet rather than taking the trail around the end.
General observations about the trail: First of all, while it was overgrown in a few places, it is an extremely well marked trail. There was only one occasion where we were uncertain of where the trail went, and aside from the exception, you were generally in sight of several trail markers. The Forest Service folks didn't skimp on the yellow spray paint on this trail. Because this trail is shared with horses, there were a few "hazards" along the way, but generally speaking, it was in good shape and easy to follow.
Bushwhacking was great fun here. I particularly enjoyed walking along the shore of the lake, something which the trail didn't do in the several miles we were on it. The rocks were not always as secure as they looked, so you had to be careful - and in one inlet, I sank several inches into what looked like dry dirt. But we saw lots of wildlife tracks, a couple of fishermen in boats, and some neat fossils. And bushwhacking the woods, at least at this time of year, was no worse than walking the trail.
One other note - when I looked at the topographic map, I was led to believe this was a pretty flat trail. Definitely not the case. Aside from several lengthy but gentle climbs, there were plenty of ravine crossings, several of which were extremely steep. This is definitely not a trail to do in tennis shoes.
All things considered, this was a very cool trail. A return to Mark Twain Lake to hike the complete trail, more than 20 miles total, is definitely on the agenda.
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