AR State Parks: Mammoth Spring State Park (+ Bonus Missouri Park)

This event IS PET-FRIENDLY.

Our goal in this series is to visit all 52 state parks. This month’s park is:

Mammoth Spring State Park
17 US-63, Mammoth Spring, AR 72554

We will meet at the Bass Pro Pyramid north parking lot off Front Street (the smaller parking lot close to auto bridge over to Mud Island) at 8:45 am for those who would like to carpool. We will leave at 9:00 am.

The walk around Mammoth Springs is short, so we will be slipping across the border to Grand Gulf State Park in Missouri afterward, and hiking the Natural Bridge Trail.

About this park:
A National Natural Landmark, Mammoth Spring is one of the world’s largest springs with nine million gallons of water flowing hourly. It forms a 10-acre lake then runs southward as the Spring River, a famous Ozark trout and float stream. Remnants of a mill and hydroelectric plant are part of Mammoth Spring’s history. The park also features an 1886 Frisco train depot and museum. Adding to the things to do here are a playground, picnic area, baseball field, walking trail, Arkansas Welcome Center, and gift shop.

Arkansas State Parks list:
https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks

Planned Hike: Grand Gulf State Park

Some people call Grand Gulf State Park the “Little Grand Canyon.” Some just call it “breathtaking.” The park is one of the natural wonders of the Ozarks, presenting the most spectacular collapsed cave system in the Ozarks. The "Grand Gulf" stretches for about three-quarters of a mile between 130-foot-high walls. Visitors can view the gulf from trails on top or from the floor where they can walk under the natural bridge, which spans 250 feet with a 75-foot-high opening. There is no official trail leading to the bottom, so visitors should use extreme caution when attempting to access the bottom. Interpretive signs detail the formation of the gulf.

Grand Gulf Natural Bridge & Interpretive Loop
1 mile (approx 25 min)
Moderate (124 ft elevation gain)

The Interpretive Loop trail offers four overlooks that show the sights of Grand Gulf sink hole and the remains
of the collapsed cave system as well as the remaining cave located in the Grand Gulf sink.

The trail's 119 steps allow visitors to view the bottom of the gulf and the wet-weather waterfall. A platform allows you to stop and take in the beautiful view of the gulf. While hiking down the steps look at the bluff next to the steps and check out the different layers of chert and dolomite.
Numerous stopping areas are available for enjoying the view as well as resting while coming back out.

Food: Stateline Plaza Restaurant
For those who would like to join us for a meal, we are planning on eating at Stateline Plaza Restaurant, 14605 US 63, Thayer, MO 65791
Gets good reviews in Yelp.