Castle ruins on a cliff above Lake of the Ozarks, a natural bridge, and a clear spring are some of the treasures at Ha Ha Tonka State Park.
Hiking here you will come across many manmade and natural wonders.
Castle History
In 1903, Robert M. Snyder, a wealthy Kansas City businessman, visited the area and was so impressed that he began purchasing land to build his private retreat.
This was to be a European-style castle with 60 rooms and a central atrium rising three and one-half stories to a skylight.
He also planned a water tower, greenhouses and stables. Sandstone was quarried nearby and transported by a mule-drawn wagon and miniature railroad.
Construction began in 1905 but was halted a year later with the death of Snyder in one of the state’s first automobile accidents.
Snyder’s sons finished the structure in 1922, although not quite as elaborate as planned.
The castle originally overlooked a small spring-fed lake. In the 1920s, Snyder’s fought to stop the construction of Bagnell Dam but failed. The resulting Lake of the Ozarks divided the estate and consumed the small lake.
Eventually, the property was leased for use as a hotel. In 1942, sparks from a chimney ignited the roof and the fire gutted the castle. The carriage house burned the same day and in 1976, the water tower was burned by vandals. Today only the ruins remain.
Ha Ha Tonka State Park was created in 1978.
Our Time Here
We first stopped at the Visitor’s Center, which was closed. Although, the clean restrooms were open and there was a gazebo area with information on the park. Most importantly, I found detailed maps in a wooden box near the front of the center.
Castle Trail
The Castle Trail is paved, wheelchair and stroller accessible. This .4 mile trail leads from the main parking to overlooks of the Lake of the Ozarks and the castle.
What We Saw
Along the way to the castle, there are overlooks of the spring and Lake of the Ozarks far below the cliffs.
We passed by the remains of the stone brick stables built in a similar matter as the castle and took the loop around it.
The castle is an amazing ruin. Stonewalls rise up to the sky with huge openings for what would have been windows.
You can still see the dark black engrained in the white stone bricks. The fire must have been intense.
You can walk mostly around it. When I was younger you could walk closer to the structure. The place has become popular and I can understand they want to keep people at a safe distance from the ruins.
As you walk there are informational signs explaining more about the castle.
Dell Rim Trail
Next we headed away from the castle to the Dell Rim Trail. This .30 mile trail goes through a rocky south-facing glade area with large grasses. The wooden boardwalk leads visitors to an overlook above the 150-foot deep Whispering Dell Sinkhole. The first section is wheelchair accessible.
The trail continues from the Whispering Dell overlook with a series of steps that connect the trail to Colosseum, Spring, and Devil’s Kitchen trails. The Spring Trail leads to the Ha Ha Tonka Spring.
How It Went For Us
We followed the Dell Rim Trail to the side trail with steps to a stone water tower. You cannot go inside the tower but can look up into it.
I put my phone camera through the bars and took a picture facing up to see a barred ceiling above.
We didn’t wander past the Whispering Dell since we were going to head to the spring from below.
Colosseum Trail
Colosseum Trail is .70 mile loop trail that winds under a natural bridge and through a large sinkhole, the Colosseum.
The Natural Bridge is a massive stone arch left behind when the cave system around it collapsed. It spans 60 feet, is 100 feet high and 70 feet wide.
Colosseum Sinkhole is 150 feet deep. As the trail exits out of the sinkhole, it goes between large boulders, evidence of the rocky ceiling that once covered this cave room.
Colosseum Trail is a long, steep climb out of the sinkhole to near the top of the ridge.
A separate parking area is for the trail, which we used. It can also be accessed by the Castle Trailhead parking lot.
Our Favorite Trail Here
My son Andrew loved going back and forth through the natural bridge.
Walking into the colosseum area after the natural bridge you really gain a sense that it had been a cave and how it feels like a colosseum.
We also shouted out and he did the same. This area is perfect for echoes.
Climbing up to the top is a lot of work, so a word of warning, in hiking here.
Spring Trail
The first .40-mile of the 1.50-mile loop trail is paved and accessible to visitors with physical limitations.
This trail follows the shoreline of the Lake of the Ozarks and Ha Ha Tonka Spring.
One of the first stopping points is the site of an old gristmill.
The trail squeezes between the large rocks that were once part of the ceiling over this collapsed chasm. Ha Ha Tonka Spring emerges from the water-filled cave at the base of a bluff.
The next section of the Spring Trail, which we’ve done in the past but not today, ascends 316 wooden steps, climbing 200 vertical feet, and is strenuous.
At the top, hikers can choose between following the Dell Rim Trail to the castle ruins or continue on the upper section of Spring Trail to form the loop back to the Spring Trailhead.
I pointed out the clear water and we looked for fish as we walked towards the spring.
The spring at the end is Missouri’s 12th largest, and discharges more than 48 million gallons of water daily into the stream that flows into the Lake of the Ozarks.
After checking out the spring we headed to the Island Trail.
Island Trail
This .50 mile rugged loop trail goes to the confluence of Ha Ha Tonka Spring and the Lake of the Ozarks and then follows the spring channel to another small breached dam where the spring water runs over large boulders.
Doing the Trail
We entered this trail crossing a former dam from the Spring Trail. The trail immediately heads up into the cliffs.
We went left going towards Balanced Rock, a large cylinder-shaped dolomite boulder with a eroded bottom. Then we rounded the bend and went towards the spring away from the Lake of the Ozarks.
Near the bottom here is a tree that is near the rushing spring water. It was a good place to take a break.
Next we headed back up into the cliffs and then took a side trail to Island Cave a small gated cave. My son and I peered into see the cave go into darkness.
Then we headed back off the island.
Island Trail Thoughts
I find this stint on the island interesting with the different rock formations and the rushing water of the spring going near the high cliffs where the castle stands above. It is definitely worth the climbing around to checkout.
This was our last trail to checkout that day. We had lunch at a picnic table near the start of the trailhead by the spring branch of the Lake of the Ozarks.
Other Trails At Ha Ha Tonka State Park
Acorn Trail
A .90-mile loop that goes through a open woodland and glade area. Several interpretive stops point out different natural features and can be reached by Colosseum Trailhead parking area.
Boulder Ridge Trail
This 1.50 mile loop that shares a trailhead with the Spring Trail and makes a loop around the long narrow ridge top southwest of the lake parking area.
Cedar Trail
A .20 mile one way interpretive trail that goes through a open woodland and a glade and can be reached by the Post Office parking area along Highway D.
Devil’s Kitchen Trail
This 1.25 loop trail goes through dry chert woodland and glade communities before entering Devil’s Kitchen sinkhole. The trail also leads to a steep concave bluff known as the Devil’s Promenade.
After Devil’s Promenade, the trail climbs out of the sinkhole and crosses a county road. It continues to the Post-Office Use area, where it crosses Highway D. The trail then joins other trails from there. The trail can be accessed by parking for the Oak Woodland Interpretive Trail or the Post Office.
Lake Trail
For visitor’s coming by boat, the .40 mile Lake Trail is the main access to the castle ruins and the park’s trail complex. The trail is located at the 15 mile marker on the Niangua Arm of the lake. This trail climbs 250 feet through open oak woodlands.
Oak Woodland Interpretive Trail
A .20 mile one way trail that is paved and wheelchair accessible and features an interpretive kiosk and interpretive signs and can be accessed along Highway D from a parking lot for the trail.
Quarry Trail
Visitors on this 1.75-mile loop trail can access two quarry sites where sandstone was mined to build the castle, carriage house and water tower. At the trailhead near the castle ruins, the trail passes next to the site where ten greenhouses were constructed. White Connectors 5 and 6 can be used to shorten the hike.
Turkey Pen Hollow Trail
Turkey Pen Hollow Trail is a 6.50-mile loop trail that passes through dolomite glades and woodland plant communities. The trail goes by sinkholes and near an intermittently wet seep area.
White Connector 1 will shorten the hike to 4.75 miles. A spur leads to a primitive backpack camping area. This trail can be accessed from the Oak Woodland Interpretive trailhead parking lot or from the Post Office parking area using the Devil’s Kitchen Trail.
Final Thoughts on Ha Ha Tonka State Park
This is one of my favorite parks in Missouri and at the Lake of the Ozarks. If you are staying at the lake this is a worthy site to see. If you enjoy hiking, the different topography, the springs, caves and historic castle are all worth checking out. You can also really gain a workout if you go down and up the stairs from the upper parking area to the spring. You also can make it an easier day if you park up by the castle check areas above and then head to the springs parking area and check the area below separately. Here is a LINK for trail maps for the park.
Details
Drive: Take Interstate 44 out of St. Louis and take exit 135 and go north on Highway F and then continue onto Highway BB. Then go north on Highway 5 and then make a right onto Highway 54 and then a left onto Highway D which leads to the state park.
Hours: 7 am to sunset
Address: 1491 Missouri D, Camdenton, MO 65020
Hiking Trails Between St. Louis and Lake of the Ozarks
Prehistoric Graham Cave State Park
Graham Cave State Park is right off Interstate 70 and is a hike into ancient history. Hiking through the park you walk in the footsteps of hunters-gathers thousands of years ago who found shelter in Graham Cave.
Grand Bluffs: Hiking High Above the Missouri River
A view from 300-foot high bluffs, some of the highest along the Missouri River, awaits you at Grand Bluffs Conservation Area near Hermann, Mo.
