Explore two short trails around former mining lakes and discover stranded barges at the Catawissa Conservation Area, located south of Pacific, Mo.
The trails have a natural surface that is mostly level but can become overgrown.
History
The area was acquired by the state of Missouri in 1978 and was previously a gravel mining operation located in the floodplain of the Meramec River.
At the Parking Lots
The trailhead lot is at the end of Frisco Drive. There is an upper and lower lot. I parked at the upper lot and walked down.
A rocky beach area can be found at the front of the lower parking lot. It appears that this area is sometimes used for parties.
Lake Trail
To the right of the beach is an unmarked trail that follows the lake’s shoreline.
The hike is a 0.6-mile out-and-back walk on a natural surface with only ten feet of elevation gain.
As I walked along the lakeshore, I found other pebble beaches.
Then, the trail ends at a lookout, where the lake veers to the right. From here, you can see what looks like barges for mining, now overgrown with grass on top. I didn’t see a trail leading further onto the Meramec River, so I turned back.
Upper Parking Trail
At the upper lot, I noticed another trail leading to the left. Unfortunately, at the start, people have used it as a dump.
This is a 0.5-mile out-and-back hike.
I followed it through the woods as it went to the front of the lake.
Initially, I thought it might lead to other mining ponds, but it eventually fizzled out.
If you wanted to go further, it would mean doing some bushwhacking.
Final Thoughts
I would consider this hike as an addition to exploring nearby Robertsville State Park. While the hike wasn’t pristine, I appreciated discovering the old mining equipment. If you want to explore bottomland woods at a former mine, this hike offers a unique experience.
More Information
The area is predominantly forested with early successional bottomland species that have developed since its initial acquisition. It has about 53 acres of manmade lakes that used to be gravel mining pits in which the Meramec River controls the water level.
DETAILS
Drive: Take Interstate 44 southwest, then take exit 261 and make a left onto Allenton Road, and right onto Business Loop 44. Next, make a left onto First Street/ Missouri Highway F, right onto Missouri Highway O, and a right onto Missouri Highway N. Lastly, take a right onto Frisco Drive until it ends at the conservation area parking lot.
Hours: 4 a.m. – 10 p.m., Daily
Address: 9814 Catawissa Acc Rd, Catawissa, MO 63015
Dinner: Pacific Brew Haus
After exploring, I went for lunch here and had their signature Reuben with tater tots.
Hours: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., Friday-Saturday
Address: 220 S 1st St, Pacific, MO 63069
MORE NEARBY HIKES
Robertsville State Park: Lost Hill Trail Hike
Hiking through an upland forest, by an oxbow lake, and being spooked on the trail was part of my time at Robertsville State Park.
Robertsville State Park Cemetery Walk
Views of the Meramec River, walk through spicebush, lush forests, and creeks at Robertsville State Park along with a trip to an electrified cemetery.
Route 66 State ParK Hike
Hiking along a former street in a ghost town near the skeletal remains of a Route 66 bridge across the Meramec River was my destination. This area has a lot of history, from once being a resort town to becoming contaminated by the dangerous chemical dioxin.
