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CAMDENTON, Mo. – The second annual Women Owning Woodlands field trip is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3, at Ha Ha Tonka State Park in Camdenton. The free event includes lunch and is open to all, says Sarah Higgins, University of Missouri Extension field specialist in natural resources.
Ha Ha Tonka is a wonderland of sinkholes, caves, a natural bridge, sheer bluffs and one of Missouri’s largest springs, Higgins says.
In addition to being the state’s premiere showcase of karst geology, the park showcases the ruins of a turn-of-the-century castle and an impressive view of the Lake of the Ozarks, she says. Attendees will find the Ha Ha Tonka Oak Woodland Natural Area to be of special interest.
The landscape features gnarled post oak, black oak, white oak and black hickory, some more than 300 years old, along with a variety of native wildflowers. The park’s woodlands are managed and restored to their historical natural condition using carefully planned prescribed burns.
A series of moderately difficult trails give visitors access to view the park’s open, rocky glades and woodlands, she says. She advises attendees to wear sturdy shoes and bring a hiking stick if necessary.