Saturday, August 8, 2015
Ha Ha Tonka Spring
Camdenton, MO
11:00 am
This aquatic trail is offered to encourage people to see the beauty and fun that they can experience on our Missouri waterways. Interesting natural, historical, and geological spots can be seen all along the water trail.
Everyone is invited to attend the celebration on August 8. Jefferson City's Missouri State Park officials will have kayaks available for public use. Free paddling lessons and lunch will be a part of this fun outdoor event. Maps of the trail featuring exciting points of interest along it will be available at Ha Ha Tonka, and should soon be downloadable on the LOWA website.
There are various lengths sectioned out to experience this trail, along which you will experience many points of interest clearly marked by signs sponsored by Ameren Missouri. Whether you want to make an entire day of it, or just spend a couple of hours, there is an option for you.
Float Choices:
- 13.3 miles - Whistle Bridge to Ha Ha Tonka State Park
- 9.3 miles - Mother Nature's Wild Side to Ha Ha Tonka
- 6.2 miles - Casa de Loco to Ha Ha Tonka
Points of Interest:
- Ha Ha Tonka State Park
- Two spring-fed creeks - Spencer Creek and Bank Branch - where in the 1800s a gang of counterfeiters hid out.
- Sugarloaf Vineyard, offering wine tasting, kayak and paddle boat rentals and a shuttle service.
- Onyx Cave, where onyx was mined in the late 20th century. Paddlers can actually float into the cave.
- A wetland area featuring specialized plants and opportunities to view herons, osprey ducks and geese as well as other aquatic life such as turtles, carp and gar.
- 3,700 acres of managed woodlands park landscape
- Rooffener Tie Chute, a natural site where logs were slid down a hill into the river on their way to market.
- The Lake of the Ozarks and Big Niangua River boundary
- Slough area, a smaller alternate channel for the river to follow.
- Roger Ford, a wide shallow section to cross or “ford” to the other side of the river, named after a family that settled in the area in the 1840’s.
- Tie bank and wetland area. At this site railroad ties were launched into the river on their way to the market.
- Gauge House, where an old gauge tower was decommissioned in 1969.
- Power House, constructed in 1929 by Show-Me Power Electric Cooperative.
- Mother Nature’s Riverfront Retreat – Wild Side Access, offering a takeout for float trips, parking, canoe/kayak rental and camping.
- Flat Rock Hole, a good place to find bass and an occasional walleye.
- Nettle Hole a deep, slow pool that might just be the home of lunker bass, catfish or walleye.
- Mother Nature’s Riverfront Retreat – Family Access, offering a boat ramp, a beach for picnicking, floating, fishing, rentals, shuttles, showers and lodging.
- Whistle Bridge, a low water crossing.
LOWA hosts free Kayak Meet-Ups the 2nd Saturday of each month. These begin at 8:30 am at the LOWA Kayak Launch Rip Rap Demonstration site at Ha Ha Tonka Spring. The LOWA Paddlers will be at the celebration to offer their experience and assistance to anyone that is interested in learning more about kayaking at the Lake of the Ozarks.
Mission Bay is proud to be able to offer beautiful homes near amazing outdoor adventure possibilities such as this. Our waterfront development at the Lake of the Ozarks is just a a short trip from Ha Ha Tonka State Park. The Big Niangua River Trail launch celebration is sure to be the beginning of many incredible days out on the water for anyone living here.
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Phone: (573) 873-3465
237 Mission Bay Blvd.
Camdenton, MO 65020
