Park Trails

Thompson River Trail

The North Loop of the trail can be accessed from the equestrian trailhead or from the south loop connector. Much of this trail is on the open, low-lying floodplain to the Thompson River and crosses through a mature mesic bottomland forest including cottonwood, hackberry, silver maple and pin oak. The floodwaters of the Thompson River, easily visible from the trail, provide nourishment to the bottomland forest. A small section of the trail crosses a level ridge top that has been restored to native tallgrass prairie to reflect the historic vegetation that once dominated the highest elevations. The Thompson house and cemetery are accessible a short distance from this trail. This trail may be susceptible to periodic flooding.  To reach the equestrian trailhead from the park entrance, travel west on Highway 146 for 1.3 miles and turn right (north) on NW 52nd  Avenue. Travel 2.1 miles and turn right (east) on Dove Lane.  Dove Lane ends at the equestrian trailhead after 0.4 miles. 

The South Loop is marked with green blazes and can be accessed via the 0.8-mile white connector 4 from the North Loop or from Tall Oaks Trail by either the 0.8-mile Northwest Passage or the 0.8-mile Steep Creek connectors. The majority of this trail traverses loess/glacial till woodlands dominated by white oak and hickory. In places, it provides  a scenic view of the wooded valley below. A small section of the trail crosses an old agricultural field on the ridgetop. 

If you traverse both loops and use the white connector 4 twice, the trail is a total of  8.6 miles.

Redbud Trail

Moderately rugged, this trail takes you into an area similar to the Ozark Highlands of southern Missouri. It follows a headwater stream through rich bottomland forest, lined with prominent sandstone outcrops mantled in ferns and mosses, and ascends a hill through woodlands dominated by white oak and hickory trees. White connector 1 allows for a shorter hike of approximately one mile. 

River Forks Trail

On this trail, you will travel the rugged, hilly terrain through a woodland of loess/glacial till soils dominated by white oak and shagbark hickory. In the spring, the ground is carpeted with wildflowers and ferns from valley floor to ridge top. The Thompson River is briefly visible from the trail’s farthest point. 

Tall Oaks Trail

This trail traverses a wide variety of the natural communities found throughout the park. It follows the shoreline of Crowder Lake on the north and west, and leads through a mesic bottomland forest composed of sycamore, river birch, cottonwood and black walnut trees. Rising out of the bottoms, the trail traverses a mature woodland dominated by white oak and hickory trees and, at the summit of the ridge, an old field. The South Loop to Thompson River Trail can be accessed from this trail via the Steep Creek Connector (0.8 mile) or the Northwest Passage Connector (0.8 mile). Additional trail mileage includes the 0.2-mile spur across Crowder Lake dam and the 0.4-mile spur from the campground.