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Take a run back in time to 1.4 billion years ago.


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Map Key

0.9

Miles

1.4

KM

81%

Runnable

1,192' 363 m

High

811' 247 m

Low

381' 116 m

Up

20' 6 m

Down

9%

Avg Grade (5°)

21%

Max Grade (12°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Geological Significance · Views · Wildflowers

Need to Know

No restrooms at the parking lot.

Runner Notes

Rocky at the top. Don't twist your ankle!

Description

This Missouri "mountain" towers 380 feet above the nearby Big River floodplain. In addition to the view from the top, you are coming to see the crazy rock formations. A long-forgotten volcano spewed lava into this area which cooled under just the right conditions to create rhyolite rocks which fractured into columnar formations. This type of geologic activity is found in well-known sites like Devil's Tower in Wyoming and the Giant's Causeway in Ireland, but you don't have to travel that far since you can find it right here in southern Missouri.

This is an out and back run to the top of the mountain. You pass through some wet forest with a wide variety of mushrooms before coming out into a rocky glade. Bring your camera. Eat your lunch at the top, but pack out your trash.

Flora & Fauna

Birds. Evidently lizards hang out here too.

Contacts

Shared By:

Rick Ihnat

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 1 vote

#16359

Overall
  4.0 from 1 vote
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Trail Rankings

#350

in Missouri

#16,359

Overall
15 Views Last Month
222 Since Aug 2, 2020
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Photos

Columnar rhyolite.
Aug 2, 2020 near Bismarck, MO
Nice.
Aug 2, 2020 near Bismarck, MO
Ready, set, go!
Aug 2, 2020 near Bismarck, MO

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