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Trail of the Month Program
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Hikers' Comments on Acorn Trail
Ha Ha Tonka State Park

	Month Hiked	Comments from participants of the 2007 Trail of the Month Program
	November 2007	We had a gorgeous view of the hillsides, clear to the horizon. The fall leaves were gorgeous; it was a great leisurely walk. There are many other trails in the area as well and we're looking forward to taking some of them as well.
	September 2007	Don't forget to wear sunscreen. While the savanna landscape is beautiful, it's not very shady. However; there are trees along other parts of the trail, and it branches out into more trails if you feel up to a longer hike. The parking lot can be easy to miss if you're coming around the back side of Ha Ha Tonka State Park, so look for a small, paved lot on the east side of the road. As you make your way to the trailhead, there's a short interpretive trail that is also paved (for disabled persons' access) as well as a kiosk that explains the markers that are posted along the way. Walk clockwise and when you get to the clue you're almost back to where you started.
	September 2007	We really liked the self-guided trail pamphlet available at the start of this hike, and liked reading the information provided about the surrounding trees and vegetation of the savanna. Trail is narrow and alternates shady and very open areas. Be sure to allow extra time for other trails in this park, including the castle trail and rock bridge area--we really liked this park overall.
	August 2007	Easy trial to hike with some good views of Ozark glades.
	August 2007	Very nice as are all the trails at Ha Ha Tonka State Park. My family and I consider this one of our favorite parks.
	July 2007	Loved this short trail. First time with book telling about parts of the trail. This is great with information about the savanna landscape and trees. Lots of ticks but no snakes.
	July 2007	We enjoyed the trail, but were hot and tired by the time we got there. Had already walked another trail at another park that day. We did visit the castle ruins, and that was amazing! Enjoyed it. An unusual thing happened, though, in that we got about an hour and a half away from the park when I discovered that my keys with my credit and debit cards and over $100 in cash was missing. I called the park office and was told that someone had turned them in, and everything was still there! So we turned around and drove back to get them. The person didn't leave a name, so if my comment is published and they read it, I want them to know how much we appreciate it!! We said some prayers of thanksgiving and for their intentions on the way back to the park.
	July 2007	Wonderful trail across a Missouri savanna. The wildflowers and views were fantastic. My daughter loved "flying" down the hills like a bird. The hills may be a bit tough for toddlers, but my children (ages five and seven) had no problem. My son saw a turtle crossing the trail.
	July 2007	Trail was mostly open and it got very hot. Rough at start, good in the middle, and rough at the end. Nice views from the backside of the trail. Visiting the castle is a great other hike in this park.
	July 2007	This is one of those trails that I never would have thought of visiting had it not been for this program. It's a loop around a hilltop. There are tons of oak seedlings. The highlight was seeing a fawn and being able to take pictures of it up close.
	June 2007	It was a beautiful trail with lots of flowers, spiderworts, touch-me-not, coneflowers, blacked eyed Susans, just so many we could not even name them all. Also, we woke a deer up who had been sleeping on the trail. He was so happy to greet us and to have some company he did not run away. We also saw a few birds and lots of different trees.
	June 2007	I saw a fawn take off over the hillside. The views of the hillside provided some nice overlooks. The rain shower on our walk allowed us to listen to the sound of raindrops bouncing off the leaves in the covered part of the trail. This trail was not too challenging.
	July 2007	Savanna -- very cool trail. Open and grassy, interesting oak trees and great views. Neat rock formations. Take along the self-guided tour book and read the highlights at different vistas!
	June 2007	Saw a large turtle on the trail. Lots of wildflowers. We were camped at Lake of the Ozarks State Park. Really nice park and trails.
	June 2007	We love all the trails in Ha Ha Tonka. There are always different types of flowers. This time we believe we saw purple starburst and sensitive brier.
	June 2007	This was my favorite trail that we've hiked so far. The wildflowers were blooming throughout the trail and there were great views of the surrounding area. It was very quiet and peaceful.
	June 2007	This is one of our favorite trails that we've walked so far. There were great views of the hills in the distance and lots of wildflowers blooming when we were there.
	June 2007	The trail was a little rocky at first then very easy. We saw a lot of butterflies on this trail. We got back to car just as it started pouring rain. It was nice to cool off. Be sure to see the castle and the natural bridge.
	June 2007	It was a very easy trail, but actually worth it. I would like to go back and do the Devil's Trail that branches off. Nice views of rolling hills.
	June 2007	It was our second trail of the day on our way back to St. Louis. Saw and heard a number of birds and enjoyed viewing the savanna. Will come back to this lovely park to do more exploring.
	June 2007	I learned about the Ozark landscape and there was a lot of information on what a savanna is. This hike will give you a good exercise. Make sure you visit the castle while you are there.
	June 2007	The self-guiding brochure was so informative. The trail was easy to hike with wide variety of wildflowers, views of a savanna landscape, the water tower and the castle ruins.
	June 2007	This was a fairly easy trail even though the humidity was high today. Beautiful vistas of the Ozark hills and a meadow full of yellow coneflowers.
	June 2007	Fairly easy trail, even for older folks. Humidity was high though.
	May 2007	Bring your camera! I forgot mine and kicked myself for it. The trail is really narrow but the wildflowers grow right up to it so you have a close up view. Butterflies were everywhere. When I stopped long enough, a black/dark blue butterfly circled my legs and landed between my sneakers. A single Missouri evening primrose was flowering right along the trail. The bright spot of yellow was striking. Bring along your Missouri wildflower book - it'll come in handy.
	May 2007	Very nice trail with pretty views. Make sure and stop by the visitor center and pick up a self-guiding trail brochure for this trail. There are numbered stations that won't mean much without the brochure. We missed the clue the first time we went by because the sign was turned with the thin side towards the trail.
	May 2007	Gorgeous views of the landscape of the Ozarks. The trail is also very informative because it is a self-guided trail. This meant that they have stations posted along the trail that you look up in a book you can get from the park office and it explains to you what it is you're looking at. It made the hike not only enjoyable but educational, too.