Camping at Roaring River State Park during the last week of 2021

 A bit of cooler air has settled over central Missoui as we finish off this first week of 2022. I find it hard to believe that we enjoyed three nights of wonderful camping just last week. We stayed at Roaring River State Park in the southwestern part of the state and it was perfect weather for hiking.

And Annie, our new to us 1996 Roadtrek, performed flawlessly in our second and farthest excursion to-date.  We didn't de-winterize for the trip and chose Roaring River as a destination because it is one of a handful of Missouri State Parks that have heated shower and bathroom facilities. 

We also enjoyed trying out several of our Christmas presents. Linda decided the rocking camp chair performed flawlessly and we cooked steaks on our new Solo stove.

Roaring River State Park is well known for its large natural spring and trout hatchery. It was also a site for CCC and WPA activity in the 1930s and many structures remain from that period. There is also a very nice lodge constructed in recent years that was unfortunately closed for the season when we visited. 

Most of our time was spent hiking and we walked on five of the park's seven trails. You can find brief descriptions of each trail along with trail maps that can be printed.

I am also including links below for a couple of our routes recorded on AllTrails.

Our route on the Devil's Kitchen Trail

Our route on the Springhouse Trail

Here's to a New Year!

 We send well wishes for your new year as we begin 2022. We were fortunate to end this last year in good health and took full advantage of December weather that was unseasonably warm. 

Family members were able to gather for several days and we enjoyed a beautiful afternoon walk on Christmas Day on the Grindstone Trail in Columbia, MO. You can follow along by clicking the video below or view a shorter GoPro Quick edit of the Christmas Day Walk.

 

After family members returned home, we left in our 1996 Roadtrek for three nights of camping and hiking at Roaring River State Park in southwest Missouri. 

 

Linda tried out her new rocking camp chair and Solo stove.  And, El Halcón, our spirit animal, flew in to check up on our well being.  We were also able to hike on five different trails in the park. 

We then returned home just before lower temperatures and freezing precipitation arrived on New Years Day. We just finished a video and it will be live on our YouTube channel before too long.

We'll be watching the weather for windows of warmer temperatures and see if we can squeeze in additional camping trips here in Missouri or a bit further south in Arkansas. Stay tuned and let us know what adventures you are planning for 2022.